Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1746, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve voter turnout in Hawaii by requiring the Office of Elections (OE) to develop and implement a temporary Vote-by-Mail Pilot Program (Pilot Program) for the 2006 elections that would replace traditional polling places in the three representative districts with the lowest voter turnout rate in the last two election cycles. In addition, this bill requires the OE to submit a report on the Pilot Program and appropriates funds for the Pilot Program.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association supported this bill. The Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO opposed this measure. The OE and a concerned citizen offered comments.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1746, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.