STAND. COM. REP. NO.  733

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1401

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1401, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce the logistical issues related to conducting elections at polling places by:

(1)  Requiring all elections statewide to be conducted by mail beginning with the 2020 primary election;

(2)  Providing places for personal delivery of mail-in ballots during the postal "service gap" period in the final week before an election;

(3)  Establishing a limited number of voter service centers that would remain open on the day of an election; and

(4)  Appropriating funds for the program.

The Office of Elections; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Office of the County Clerk, County of Kauai; Office of the County Clerk, County of Maui; Office of the County Clerk, County of Hawaii; Americans for Democratic Action; League of Women Voters; Common Cause Hawaii; and three individuals testified in support of this measure.  Two individuals opposed this measure.  The Office of the City Clerk commented on this measure.  

     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. 1401, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair