STAND. COM. REP. NO.1370

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 756

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 756, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require an automatic recount of all ballots cast in an election when a small vote difference exists.

Specifically, this bill:

(1) Requires the Chief Election Officer or the County Clerk, in county elections, to order a ballot recount no later than seven days after an election if:

(A) The difference in votes cast for the winning and losing candidate is one-eighth of one per cent or less; or

(B) In an election for multiple seats to an office, the difference in votes received by the lowest winning candidate and the highest losing candidate is one-eighth of one per cent or less;

(2) Requires automatic recount complaints in primary and special primary election contests, and county elections held concurrently with a regularly scheduled primary or special primary election, to be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court no later than 4:30 p.m. on the sixth day after completion of the recount;

(3) Requires automatic recount complaints in general, special general, special, or runoff elections to be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court no later than 4:30 p.m. on the twentieth day after completion of the recount; and

(4) Changes the date of the primary election from the second to the last Saturday of September to the second Saturday in August in every even numbered year.

Your Committee finds that automatic recounts in close elections will reassure candidates and the public of election results. Your Committee also finds that an earlier primary election date will provide the Office of Elections sufficient time to prepare ballots in the event that an automatic recount is required between a primary and general election.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of style and clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 756, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 756, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair