STAND. COM. REP. NO. 768

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 855

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 855, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase voter participation.

     Specifically, the measure amends the absentee voting law by:

     (1)  Providing that the submission of a voter registration application to either register to vote or update the voter's registration information shall constitute a request for permanent absentee voter status, unless the applicant specifically indicates the applicant does not wish to be a permanent absentee voter; and

     (2)  Replacing the requirement that the application to register as a voter include a space to request a permanent absentee ballot with a requirement that the application include a space for the applicant to decline permanent absentee ballot status.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Elections; Common Cause Hawaii; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action; Americans for Democratic Action; and twelve individuals.

     Your Committee believes that this measure will make voting more convenient, and thus improve voter participation, by ensuring that every registered voter will receive a ballot by mail, unless the voter affirmatively opts out of receiving absentee ballots and chooses to vote in person.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by replacing the word "person" with the word "applicant," as appropriate, in section 2 of the measure for the purpose of using consistent terminology.

     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 S.B. No. 855, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 855, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair