STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2695

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2562

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2562, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize permanent absentee voting.

     More specifically, the measure allows a registered voter to request permanent absentee voter status, in order to receive an absentee ballot for all subsequent elections conducted in that precinct.  The measure appropriates an unspecified amount of funds for implementing and administering this new program.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the State of Hawaii Office of Elections.  The Elections Division, Office of the County Clerk, County of Kauai, submitted comments.

     Your Committee supports the goal of encouraging voter participation, and this measure helps achieve that goal by increasing voter convenience and accessibility for all citizens in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2562, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair