Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1500 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $300,000 in fiscal year 2003-2004 to the Office of Elections for the purpose of establishing a voter registration and education program.

Your committee received testimony supporting this measure from the Chief Election Officer, Officer of Elections, and the League of Women Voters.

Your Committee finds that the 2000 election statistics show Hawaii ranked last in the nation in voter turnout. Just one-half of Hawaii's citizens of voting age participated in the presidential election. Few state resources are allocated to coordinate and implement voter registration and education programs.

Your Committee further finds that a state-funded community-based program could focus on increasing voter registration, educating voters on candidates and question on the ballot, informing voters about their polling locations and methods of voting, and encouraging voters to participate in elections.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1500 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.