Report Title:
Primary Election
Description:
Move the date of primary election to August and date of the availability of nomination papers to January in order to allow additional time between primary and general elections.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1246 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Primary elections are held on the second to the last Saturday of September of every even-numbered year in the State of Hawaii. Amending the law to enable elections to be held slightly earlier would facilitate:
(1) The smooth logistical operation of the primary and general elections by providing for a greater amount of time between them; and
(2) Greater knowledge among the general public of candidates in the general election by allowing the general public a greater amount of time to get to know the candidates and their platforms, enhancing the voters' ability to make informed decisions.
The purpose of this Act is to move the date of the primary elections forward from the second to the last Saturday of September of every even-numbered year to the second Saturday of August of every even-numbered year.
SECTION 2. Section 12-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§12-2 Primary held when; candidates only those nominated. The primary shall be held at the polling place for each precinct on the second [to the last] Saturday of [September] August in every [even numbered] even-numbered year[; provided that in no case shall any primary election precede a general election by less than forty-five days].
No person shall be a candidate for any general or special general election unless the person has been nominated in the immediately preceding primary or special primary."
SECTION 3. Section 12-2.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§12-2.5 Nomination papers; when available. Nomination papers shall be made available from the first working day of [February] January in every even-numbered year; provided that in the case of a special primary or special election, nomination papers shall be made available at least ten days prior to the close of filing."
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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