Report Title:

Election Advisory Council

 

Description:

Establishes the election advisory council to advise the chief election officer.  Requires a ballot design review process.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1051

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that in the 2006 elections, absentee voters were significantly confused due to ballot design and unclear instructions.  Voter experience in other states indicate that clarity in ballot design is important to avoid confusion and ambiguity.  The legislature finds that the voting process should be clear to ensure that voters' preferences are accurately expressed, and to provide a satisfying experience for voters in fulfilling their civic duty.

     Although the office of elections has occasionally convened meetings of an ad hoc elections advisory council to provide input informally, the elections advisory council is not a statutory body.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish:

     (1)  The elections advisory council in statute; and

     (2)  Provide a ballot design review process.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part   .  ELECTION ADVISORY COUNCIL

     §11-    Election advisory council; creation; composition.  (a)  There is established an election advisory council under the office of elections to be appointed by the chief election officer. 

     (b)  The elections advisory council shall be composed of representatives from the following entities, who shall be selected by the entity:

     (1)  Alu Like;

     (2)  Association of Clerks and Elections Officers of Hawaii;

     (3)  Association of Information Technology Professionals;

     (4)  Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii;

     (5)  Common Cause of Hawaii;

     (6)  Hawaii Newspaper Agency;

     (7)  Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants;

     (8)  Hawaii State Bar Association;

     (9)  Honolulu Community – Media Council;

    (10)  Information Systems Audit and Control Association;

    (11)  League of Women Voters;

    (12)  Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

    (13)  Auditor;

    (14)  Office of Ombudsman;

    (15)  Democratic Party of Hawaii;

    (16)  Hawaii Green Party;

    (17)  Libertarian Party of Hawaii;

    (18)  Natural Law Party of Hawaii; and

    (19)  Republican Party of Hawaii;

provided that the chief election officer appoint other entities to be represented on the election advisory council, if the chief election officer determines that another entity is be appropriate and would contribute to the work of the council.  Any appointed entity may relinquish its membership by written notice to the chief election officer.

     Section 26-34 shall not apply to this section.  The members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (c)  Members of the election advisory council shall serve temporarily for each primary and general election, and shall dissolve on the day after the general election.

     §11-    Duties of the election advisory council.  The election advisory council shall serve as an advisory group to assist the chief election officer, as follows:

     (1)  Provide the chief election officer with comments and recommendations on matters pertaining to federal, state, and county elections;

     (2)  Provide the chief election officer with comments and recommendations on adopting rules and procedures;

     (3)  Serve as the core group of the official elections observer team to watch over the counting center team activities to ensure adherence rules and procedures on election day;

     (4)  Conduct logic and accuracy tests to verify that the ballot counting program is making accurate counts; and

     (5)  Observe other election related activity, as authorized by the chief election officer or designated representative."

     SECTION 3.  Section 11-112, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Prior to an election, the chief election officer shall prepare a draft ballot and draft ballot instruction for use in the upcoming election in consultation with a graphic design expert, after which the draft ballot and draft ballot instruction shall be submitted to the election advisory council and the general public for comment.  Upon the recommendation of the election advisory council, the chief election officer may redesign the ballot or redraft the ballot instruction into a final form, if necessary, with the assistance of a graphic design expert.

     At the chief election officer's discretion, the ballot may have a background design imprinted onto it."

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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