CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 132

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 216

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 216, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the chief election officer or county clerk to conduct a recount of all votes in any election contest or ballot measure if the margin of victory is equal to or less than one hundred votes or one-half of one percent of the total number of votes cast for the contest, whichever is greater, without requiring a complaint to the court.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the results of recent elections highlight the need for an ability to authorize a recount when the results of an election are very close. Your Committee on Conference further finds that the ability for the chief election officer to authorize a recount would promote confidence in the electoral system and potentially save time and resources of the court system.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing the margin of victory triggering a mandatory recount from one hundred votes or one-half of one percent, whichever is greater, to one hundred votes or one-quarter of one percent, whichever is greater.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 216, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 216, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CHRIS LEE Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Chair
____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair