STAND. COM. REP. NO.219-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2843

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2843 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Change the date of the primary election from the last Saturday in September to the second Saturday in August; and

(2) Provide a mechanism for automatic recount in close races.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the state Office of Elections, the Hawaii Elections Review Task Force, Common Cause Hawaii, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, and a concerned individual.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's elections system provides accurate, professional, timely, and reliable results. However, upon the recommendation of the Hawaii Elections Review Task Force, your Committee finds that an automatic recount will lend greater public confidence in the elections process. Your Committee further finds it necessary to allow additional time between the primary and general election to resolve disputes and appeals, and to prepare for the general election.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2843 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

____________________________

ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair