STAND. COM. REP. NO.  853

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 545

      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. 545, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to work to improve voter participation in the democratic process by:

     (1)  Requiring the Chief Election Officer to create, implement, and maintain a publicly available electronic voter registration system by January 1, 2014; and

     (2)  Establishing requirements for electronic voter registration, including identification requirements.

     The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, The League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Americans for Democratic Action/Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii, Media Council of 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. 545, 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