STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3347

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1755

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1755, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to update the voter registration laws to establish a convenient means for individuals to register to vote and increase voter participation.

Among other things, this measure:

(1)  Authorizes the county clerk to accept electronic voter registration applications;

(2)  Deletes requirements that the county clerk maintain segregated records for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs registered voters and that a person voting for the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs affirm that the person is Hawaiian;

(3)  Makes an unspecified appropriation for fiscal year 2012-2013 for the purpose of planning and designing an online voter registration system; and

(4)  Repeals the requirement that a list of registered voters in each precinct be posted at precinct polling places.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Elections; Office of the County Clerk, County of Kauai; Office of the County Clerk, County of Maui; Office of the County Clerk, County of Hawaii; and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that this measure establishes a convenient method for registering to vote, which will expedite the voter registration process for registrants as well as election officials.  Additionally, an online voter registration system may encourage more people to register to vote and participate in voting.  The measure also repeals obsolete provisions regarding elections for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Making a conforming amendment to section 12-5(c), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to reflect the amendments to section 11-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in this measure;

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2012, and clarifying that the amendments relating to voter registration shall apply to all primary, special, nonpartisan, and general elections, beginning with the primary election of 2016; and

(3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 H.B. No. 1755, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1755, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair