STAND. COM. REP. NO.  707

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 1613

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1613, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to help encourage voter participation by:

     (1)  Requiring an application to vote, including a mail-in application to vote, to include an option for a permanent absentee ballot; and

     (2)  Removing the time limit to request an absentee or permanent absentee ballot, provided the request is made prior to 4:30 p.m. on the seventh day prior to the election.

     The Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans, Common Cause Hawaii, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Office of Elections and County of Maui Office of the County Clerk provided 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. 1613, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair