STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1092-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 3226

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Reform, to which was referred S.B. No. 3226, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Office of Elections to prepare a digital voter information guide to be posted on its website, in compliance with certain accessibility standards; and

(2) Require and appropriate funds for the Office of Elections to mail a notice with each ballot notifying voters that a digital voter information guide may be found on its website.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Common Cause Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Office of Elections, and Disability and Communication Access Board.

Your Committee finds that the distribution of a digital voter information guide to registered voters of Hawaii will create a more informed voting public and may help increase voter participation in elections.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity, consistency, and style.

Should your Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure, your Committee on Government Reform respectfully requests that it consider appropriating $95,000 to the Office of Elections for the preparation, posting, and upon request physical distribution of the voter information guide required by this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Reform that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3226, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3226, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Reform,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair