Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 595 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to implement a training program for poll watchers as well as change the deadline for qualified political parties to submit its list of poll watchers from ten days to ninety days prior to an election.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Office of Election and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii. Testimony in opposition to the measure was submitted by the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committee finds that it is crucial that poll watchers be properly trained in election laws and procedures to ensure that these individuals do not become a distraction for voters or hinder the ability of precinct officials in carrying out their duties and responsibilities on election day. This training will minimize any potential disruptions and allow for the orderly administration of an election at each polling location. This measure also changes the submission deadline for qualified political parties to submit names for poll watchers from ten days to ninety days before an election.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the submission deadline by which qualified political parties must submit the names of individuals who will serve as poll watchers to thirty days before an election.

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. 595, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 595, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.