STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2521

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3226

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3226 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Office of Elections to prepare a digital voter registration guide to be posted on its website;

(2) Require the Office of Election to mail a notice with each ballot notifying voters that a voter information guide may be found on its website; and

(3) Make an appropriation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Common Cause Hawaii, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, and Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Budget and Finance, Office of Elections, and Disability and Communication Access Board.

Your Committee finds that all states make an effort to inform the electorate about upcoming elections, where and when the elections will be held, and how to cast a vote. Your Committee further finds that some states provide information to registered voters that contain valuable information such as candidate information or background information on constitutional amendments or ballot measures. This measure will provide for a digital voter information guide to registered voters of the State, which will create a more informed voting public and increase voter participation in elections.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the digital voter information guide be posted in a screen reader accessible format for voters with special needs unable to read standard print due to disability;

(2) Specifying that the Office of Elections is required to provide a translation of the digital voter information guide in ‘Olelo Hawai‘i on its website;

(3) Clarifying that Office of Elections shall print and mail a physical copy of the digital voter information guide to voters upon request;

(4) Clarifying that the candidate running for office shall prepare the candidate statement; provided that the Office of Elections may uniformly limit the number of words for the candidate statement based on the race the candidate is in;

(5) Specifying that the County Corporate Counsel shall prepare a clear and concise explanation for each proposed county charter amendment, or proposed initiative or referendum issue;

(6) Specifying that the notice of the digital voter information guide be sent by email to all voters with special needs who have registered to receive alternate format ballots;

(7) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2023, for section 1;

(8) Inserting an effective date of July 30, 2075, to encourage further discussion; and

(9) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 3226, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3226, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair