HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2236
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to elections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 15-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§15-3.5[]]  Federal write-in absentee ballot[.]; emergency authority. (a)  Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter and chapters 11 and 16, the federal write-in absentee ballot for overseas voters in general elections for federal office which must be prescribed under section 1973ff of title 42, United States Code, as amended, may be used in general elections for federal offices.

(b)  If an international, national, state, or county emergency or other situation arises that makes substantial compliance with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 United States Code section 1973ff et seq., impossible or impracticable, as confirmed by the existence of armed conflict involving United States armed forces or the mobilization of those forces, including national guard and other reserve component members of, or residing in, this State, or by the occurrence of a natural disaster or the existence of a state of emergency, civil unrest, war or other exigency in a foreign country, or by an official declaration by the governor that a state of emergency exists, the governor, directly or by delegation to the chief election officer, may prescribe, by executive order or rule, a special procedure or requirement as may be necessary to facilitate absentee voting by those absent uniformed services voters or overseas voters directly affected who are eligible to vote in this State.  The chief election officer shall take reasonable steps to provide absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters with timely notice of any special procedure or requirement prescribed by this subsection."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Absentee Voting; Emergency Authority

Description:

Authorizes the governor or chief election officer to designate alternate methods of handling federal absentee ballots during periods of declared emergency.

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