HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

199

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to elections by mail.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 11-91.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§11-91.5[]]  Federal, state, and county elections by mail.  (a)  Any federal, state, or county election [held other than on the date of a regularly scheduled primary or general election] may be conducted in whole or in part by mail[.], including the designation of specific precincts or counties for elections conducted in whole or in part by mail.

     (b)  The chief election officer shall determine whether a federal [or] election, state election, [other than a regularly scheduled primary or general election,] an election for both state and county offices, or an election for both federal and county offices, may be conducted by mail [or], at polling places[.], or by a combination of mail and polling places.

     (c)  The county clerk shall determine whether a solely county election[, held other than on the date of a regularly scheduled primary or general election,] may be conducted by mail [or], at polling places[.], or by a combination of mail and polling places.  An election by mail in the county shall be under the supervision of the county clerk.

     (d)  Voters may vote by absentee ballot at an absentee polling place.  For purposes of an election by mail, the county clerk, or the chief election officer in the case of an election by mail for only state or federal offices, shall designate at least one absentee polling place to be open on the day of the election.

     (e)  Expenses for elections by mail shall be shared as follows:

     (1)  Expenses related to an election by mail involving both state and county offices, or both federal and county offices, and unrelated to voter registration and absentee voting, shall be divided in half between the State and the counties.  Each county shall pay a proration of expenses as a proportion of the registered voters at the time of the general election.  The counties shall separately be responsible for expenses associated with voter registration and absentee voting.

     (2)  All expenses for a county election by mail that does not involve state or federal offices shall be borne by the county and paid out of such appropriations as may be made by the council.

     (3)  All expenses for a state or federal election that does not involve county offices, including expenses attributable to registration of voters by the county clerk, shall be borne by the State and paid out of such appropriations as may be made by the legislature.

     (f)  Election responsibilities for elections by mail shall be shared as follows:

     (1)  In an election by mail involving both state and county offices, or both federal and county offices, the counties shall be responsible for voter registration and absentee voting, and the State shall be responsible for the mailing, receipt, processing, and tabulation of ballots;

     (2)  The county shall be responsible for elections by mail involving only county offices; and

     (3)  For elections by mail involving only state or federal offices, the counties shall be responsible for voter registration and absentee voting, and the State shall be responsible for the mailing, receipt, processing, and tabulation of ballots.

     [(d)] (g)  The chief election officer shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to provide for uniformity in the conduct of federal, state, and county elections by mail."

     SECTION 2.  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 2013-2014 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 to research and plan an election by mail system.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of elections for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2013.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Office of Elections Package; Elections by Mail; Appropriation

 

Description:

Expands the authority to conduct elections in whole or in part by mail.  Specifies state and county responsibilities for conducting elections by mail.  Makes an appropriation.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.