Bill Text: HI HB24 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Elections
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB24 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-HB24-Introduced.html
Report Title:
Elections
Description:
Requires department of health to send annual list of death certificates to county clerks to assist in removing names from voter registration lists. Requires chief election officer to review compensation for election officials annually. Mandates training and certification for political party watchers. Clarifies voting hours in absentee polling places.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
24 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to elections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 338, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§338- Death certificate compilation; removal of deceased as registered voter. (a) No later than November 10 each year, the director shall compile a list of all residents eighteen years or older for whom a death certificate has been issued in the preceding twelve months. The list shall include the name, date of birth, and last known residence of each deceased. Within ten days of compilation, the list shall be submitted to the county clerk of the respective counties to be used to identify and remove the name of any registered voter from the general county register under section 11-23.
(b) This section shall not prohibit any county clerk from requesting from the department any information affecting a voter's status, as provided in section 11-20(a)(3)."
SECTION 2. Chapter 11-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
"(d) The chief election
officer shall be responsible for public education with respect to voter
registration and information[.] and shall publish a voter's election
guide that shall be mailed to all registered voters no less than fourteen days
before each primary and general election."
SECTION 3. Section 11-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) Any qualified person unable for any
cause to be present [oneself] in person before the clerk for
registration may register to vote by mail, not later than thirty days prior to
a primary or general election, through the affidavit on application for voter
registration or other form prescribed by the chief election officer. The form
shall include a self-subscribing oath for the applicant to swear to the truth
of the allegations in the application[.] and shall not require
postage if an applicant submits the form to the clerk by the United States Postal Service. An applicant unable to write for reason of illiteracy,
blindness, or other physical disability shall have the applicant's mark
witnessed by a person who shall sign the affidavit in the space provided.
Application forms shall be made available to any qualified person through
community groups, political parties, and other groups prescribed by the chief
election officer. Application forms shall be made available to any qualified
person at the time of that person's driver's license application or renewal
through the examiner of drivers."
SECTION 4. Section 11-76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) Electronic ballot and voting machine elections. Precinct officials and related election day nonprofit groups or employees shall be compensated pursuant to a schedule established by the chief election officer. The schedule shall be contained in rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91. The chief election officer shall review the compensation schedule no later than June 30 each year and shall make revisions as necessary to reflect cost of living increases."
SECTION 5. Section 11-77, Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by amending subsection (a) as follows:
"(a) Each
qualified political party shall be entitled to appoint no more than one watcher
who may be present at any time in each precinct and absentee polling place in
which the candidates of that political party are on the ballot. Each party
shall submit its list of watchers not later than 4:30 p.m. on the tenth day
prior to any election to the chief election officer or to the clerk in county
elections. All watchers shall serve without expense to the State or county.
All watchers so appointed shall be registered voters. No person shall serve
as a watcher unless that person has received instruction and has been certified
by an authorized instructor. No person shall serve as a watcher who could
not qualify to serve as a precinct official under section [[]11-72(b)(3)[]]."
SECTION 6. Section 11-131, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§11-131 Hours of voting. The
polls shall be opened by the precinct officials at 7:00 a.m. of the election
day and shall be kept open continuously until 6:00 p.m. of that day[.];
provided that hours of voting in absentee polling places shall be as provided
in section 15-7. If, at the closing hour of voting, any voter desiring to
vote is standing in line outside the entrance of the polls with the desire of
entering and voting, but due to the polling place being overcrowded has been
unable to do so, the voter shall be allowed to vote irrespective of the closing
hour of voting. No voter shall be permitted to enter or join the line after
the prescribed hour for closing the polls. If all of the registered voters of
the precinct have cast their votes prior to the closing time, the polls may be
closed earlier, but the votes shall not be counted until after closing
time unless allowed by the chief election officer."
SECTION 7. Section 15-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§15-7 Absentee polling place[.];
hours of voting. (a) Absentee polling places shall be established at
the office of the respective clerks[,] and may be established at such
other sites as may be designated by the clerk under the provisions prescribed
in the rules adopted by the chief election officer. Section 11-21 relating to
changes and transfers of registration shall apply to the absentee polling place
as though it were the precinct at which a person's name properly appears on the
list of registered voters.
(b) The absentee polling places shall be open no later than ten working days before election day, and all Saturdays falling within that time period, or as soon thereafter as ballots are available; provided that all absentee polling places shall be open on the same date statewide, as determined by the chief election officer.
(c) On each day that absentee polling places are open before election day, the absentee polling places shall be opened at 7:00 a.m. and shall be kept open continuously until 7:00 p.m. of each day. If, at the closing hour of voting on the last day that absentee polling places are open, any absentee voter desiring to vote is standing in line outside the entrance of an absentee polling place with the desire of entering and voting, but due to the absentee polling place being overcrowded has been unable to do so, the absentee voter shall be allowed to vote absentee irrespective of the closing hour of the absentee polling place. No absentee voter shall be permitted to enter or join the line after the prescribed hour for closing the absentee polling places."
SECTION 8. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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