STAND. COM. REP. NO. 693

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1541

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1541 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOTING MORE THAN ONCE DURING AN ELECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to specify that Hawai‘i voters are prohibited from casting more than one ballot during an election, even if one of those ballots is cast in an election outside of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from West Hawaii GOP and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that existing law prohibits voters from voting again after having already voted. However, the law does not expressly address the possibility that a person could cast a single vote in Hawai‘i and an additional vote in another state or territory of the United States. This measure will make it clear that Hawai‘i voters can only vote once during an election and strengthen voter protection.

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. 1541 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair