STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2939

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2251

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2251 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the county clerk of any county to mail absentee ballots to all registered voters residing in population areas of less than one hundred thousand voters on an island county that is not contiguous with the county seat of government.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Elections, Office of the County Clerk of the County of Kauai, Office of the County Clerk of the County of Maui, and League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that this measure addresses the logistical and administrative issues associated with establishing polling places in areas on an island county that are not contiguous with the county seat of government.  For the island of Niihau, these issues include the delivery and return of ballots, voting machines, and associated election materials in addition to the recruitment of on-island precinct officials to operate the polling place.  Authorizing the county clerk to mail absentee ballots to registered voters residing in such areas encourages more eligible voters to register and participate in voting.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2251, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

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CLAYTON HEE, Chair