STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1751

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 7

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.R. No. 7 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF ELECTIONS TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF CONDUCTING ALL ELECTIONS BY MAIL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the feasibility of conducting all elections by mail.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Interim Chief Election Officer, the City & County of Honolulu City Clerk and the Chair of the Disability and Communication Access Board.  No one testified in opposition.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii has the lowest voter turnout rate in the nation with just over forty per cent of eligible voters casting their ballot in the last two elections.  In contrast, Oregon enjoys an eighty-four per cent rate of registered voters who voted in 2004.  Oregon also has a vote-by-mail system which was approved in 1998. 

     There are many challenges that our election system faces.  For example, finding people willing to work in a polling place is an increasing challenge in each election.  A vote-by-mail system may alleviate some challenges and may allow more voters to participate in our election system.  Therefore your Committee agrees with the intent of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 7 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair