STAND. COM. REP. NO.  537-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2590

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2590 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase voter participation by permitting late voter registration at absentee polling places beginning in 2016, and additionally authorizing late voter registration at precinct polling places on election day beginning in 2018.

The Office of Elections, Common Cause Hawaii, League of Women Voters, Open Law Alliance, and numerous concerned citizens testified in support of this measure.  A concerned individual submitted testimony in opposition.  The Office of the City Clerk of the City and County of Honolulu, County Clerk of the County of Hawaii, and County Clerk of the County of Kauai provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Clarifying that late voter registration at absentee polling places is limited to those polling places in a county associated with the registering person's residence, or on the day of election, at the polling place in the precinct associated with the person's residence;

(2)  Clarifying that the registering person is required to submit substantiating evidence of residence upon registration;

(3)  Clarifying that identification or documents qualifying as substantiating evidence of residence must include the person's current street address;

(4)  Clarifying the procedure under which a registered voter may challenge the registration or right to vote of another to apply to registration or voting conducted at absentee polling places;

(5)  Appropriating funds to the Office of Elections to assist the counties in implementing the late voter registration process; and

(6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2590, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair