THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	194
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF ELECTIONS TO PROVIDE AN INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING AND DEMONSTRATION TO THE APPROPRIATE SENATE AND HOUSE COMMITTEES REGARDING THE OPERATION AND USE OF NEW ELECTRONIC VOTING systems and to provide information PRIOR TO CONTRACTING TO PURCHASE ANY NEW VOTING SOFTWARE OR EQUIPMENT RELATED TO any new VOTING SYSTEM.

     WHEREAS, the American system of representative democracy relies on an engaged citizenry and the accurate representation of its people; and

     WHEREAS, all elections should be fair and open, and that means that all eligible voters should be allowed to cast their ballot and have their ballot be counted; and

     WHEREAS, the State, over the past decade, has gone from punch-card voting machines to paper ballots with electronic readers; and

     WHEREAS, electronic voting machines were used successfully by handicapped voters in the 2004 and 2006 elections; and

     WHEREAS, the key complaint with the electronic voting system is that the system does not provide a reliable way to audit the results to check whether the tallies accurately reflect the votes cast; and

     WHEREAS, several nongovernmental election observers questioned the use of this technology in Hawaii since the previous voting system allowed for the ballots to be manually recounted; and

     WHEREAS, the State Chief Elections Officer stated there is a system that allows the Office of Elections to provide an audit even though there will be no paper ballot generated for each electronically cast ballot; and

     WHEREAS, some election software experts and observers questioned the reliability of the electronically stored ballots claiming the data stored could be flawed by a computer virus or bug and still result in a satisfactory audit; and

     WHEREAS, with the upcoming primary and general 2008 elections, where the voters may be divided, it is prudent, in a state like Hawaii to have a voting system that is dependable and accurate; and

     WHEREAS, the Office of Elections may be looking to purchase new electronic voting system software and equipment that will be utilized and relied upon in future elections; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature requests the opportunity to investigate, review, and approve any proposed changes and contract purchases relating to the electronic voting systems; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Office of Elections is requested to provide an informational briefing and demonstration regarding the operation and use of the new  electronic voting systems to the appropriate Senate and House of Representatives committees; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Elections provide answers to any questions or information prior to the purchase of any new technology or equipment related to the electronic voting systems; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chief Elections Officer of the Office of Elections.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Requesting Office of Elections for information on voting system.