Report Title:

Elections

 

Description:

Creates taskforce to explore alternative forms of voting.  Mandates report to the legislature by the 2010 regular session.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1410

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

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 the budget outlook for the forthcoming biennium is sparse.  All executive departments will be facing budget cutbacks, as will the legislature.  One of the greatest challenges facing the legislature in this, and the next session, will be finding areas within the state budget to make additional reductions in the event that the Council of Revenues predicts even less revenue coming into the state treasury.

     One such area may be in elections.  Currently, the State of Hawaii offers the traditional election day polling at over 300 locations statewide with paid staff, early voting locations at selected central sites with staff, and absentee voting by mail.

The state of Oregon conducts their elections entirely by absentee ballot by mail.  With the saturation of the internet, there has also been thoughts about conducting an election via the internet.  In light of a shrinking budget, less expensive methods to conduct elections without sacrificing voter privacy are desirable.

     The purpose of this Act is to convene a task force to explore alternate forms of conducting elections and to report findings to the legislature for possible enactment.

     SECTION 2.  There shall be convened a task force for the purpose of exploring alternate forms of conducting elections as a means to reduce the costs of conducting elections.  The members of the task force shall include:

     (1)  The chief elections officer, who shall also serve as the chairperson of the task force;

     (2)  A representative of each political party recognized by the Office of Elections during the last gubernatorial election, as selected by the political party;

     (3)  A representative as selected by the governor;

     (4)  A representative as selected by each of the respective county clerks;

     (5)  A representative as selected by Speaker of the House;

     (6)  A representative as selected by the President of the Senate;

     (7)  A representative as selected by the Minority Leader of the House;

     (8)  A representative as selected by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

     (9)  A representative of the League of Women Voters; and

     (10) A representative of the Hawaii Chapter of Common Cause.

     The task force shall develop criteria for evaluating alternative forms of conducting elections, however, such criteria shall include factors such as cost, risk of election and voter fraud, and voter privacy.  Decisions shall be adopted by majority vote.

     SECTION 3.  The task force shall issue a report of findings and proposed legislation, if any, to the legislature no later than the twentieth day prior to the opening of the 2010 regular session.  The legislative reference bureau shall assist the task force in drafting any proposed legislation, if any.

     SECTION 4.  Task force members shall receive no compensation.  Task force members shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expenses incurred in the conduct of official task force business.

SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 for the purposes of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Office of Elections for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2009.

 

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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