STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO.901

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1149

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1149 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS BY MAIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow any federal, state, or county election other than a regularly scheduled primary or general election to be conducted by mail.

Specifically, this bill:

(1) Authorizes the chief election officer to determine whether a federal or state election may be conducted by mail or at polling places;

(2) Authorizes the county clerk to determine whether a county election may be conducted by mail or at polling places; and

(3) Requires the chief election officer to adopt rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes), to provide for uniformity in the conduct of federal, state, and county elections by mail.

Your Committee finds that special elections in Hawaii are particularly notorious for their low voter turnout. This measure will reduce the high cost of running special elections and encourage greater voter participation by providing voters with the ease and convenience of voting by mail.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1149 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

		____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair