Bill Text: HI SB672 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Elections; Citizens' Right to Vote
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [SB672 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2012-SB672-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
672 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO VOTING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the citizens of the State of Hawaii do not have an absolute constitutional right to vote. The constitution allows a citizen to vote if that person is a "voter registered as provided by law". In Hawaii and all other states, and on the federal level, voting is a privilege granted to citizens at the discretion of government through the enactment of laws.
The legislature believes that citizens have an inherent right to vote as part of their responsibility as citizens of the State, and that this right should not be hindered without just cause. The right to vote is necessary to effectuate the rule of one person, one vote, and to enable citizens to govern through a representative form of government. The legislature, therefore, believes that a statutory right to vote should be established, that barriers to the exercise of this right should be removed, and that government should encourage citizens to exercise this right.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Establish a statutory right to vote for the citizens of the State of Hawaii;
(2) Require high schools to provide students with voter registration forms prior to graduation;
(3) Require colleges and universities to provide voter registration forms to students during course registration;
(4) Require the provision of online requests for absentee ballots; and
(5) Require additional locations for early voting if funding is available.
SECTION 2. Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§11‑ Citizens' right to vote. All persons residing in Hawaii who are United States citizens and eighteen years of age or older shall have the right to vote in any primary, general, or special election held in the State. No state agency or political subdivision shall deny such a citizen the right to vote; provided that laws may be enacted and administrative rules may be adopted to be narrowly tailored to produce efficient and honest elections."
SECTION 3. Section 11-15.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§11-15.5[]] Duties
of all state agencies; voter registration. (a) Each state agency
that deals with the public shall make available to each member of the public
eighteen years of age or older an application in the form of an affidavit for
voter registration pursuant to section 11-15. The application shall be
available by mail or in person depending on the manner in which the agency's
services are requested by the person. The form of the application may be
identical to that described and found in public telephone directories.
(b) Every high school in the State shall provide voter registration forms to its students who are qualified to register prior to graduation. All colleges and universities in the State shall provide voter registration forms to their students who are qualified to register during course registration."
SECTION 4. Section 15-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) Any person registered to vote may request an absentee ballot in person, online, or in writing from the clerk not earlier than on the sixtieth day and not later than 4:30 p.m. on the seventh day prior to the election. Any mailed requests for an absentee ballot shall be mailed by the person directly to the clerk. The clerk may waive any or all of the foregoing requirements in special cases as provided in the rules adopted by the chief election officer.
The request shall include information such as the person's social security number, date of birth, and the address under which the person is registered to vote. The request shall also include the address to which the person wishes the requested ballot forwarded. The request, when made for any primary or special primary election, may include an additional request for an absentee ballot to be voted at any election immediately following the primary or special primary; provided the person so indicates in the person's request.
Subsequent to the closing of registration for each election, the clerk may mail a request form for an absentee ballot to each voter in a remote area who has not already made such a request. The request form shall be accompanied by:
(1) A stamped, self-addressed envelope; and
(2) Instructions regarding the manner of completing and returning the request form."
SECTION 5. Section 15-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) Absentee polling places shall be
established at the office of the respective clerks, and [may] shall
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[.] and as funds permit. 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."
SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Elections; Citizens' Right to Vote
Description:
Establishes citizens' statutory right to vote. Requires high schools, colleges, and universities in the State to provide voter registration forms to their students.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
