Bill Text: HI SB2676 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Elections.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-27 - Referred to JDC. [SB2676 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-SB2676-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2676 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
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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. The legislature finds that Act 136, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, established that all elections shall conducted by mail beginning with the 2020 primary election. This Act is a housekeeping measure to address various inconsistencies in elections law to clarify and improve the administration of elections by mail.
SECTION 2. Section 11-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
1. By adding two new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read:
"Ballot
summary" means a complete record of ballot selections that is verified by the
voter.
"Precinct"
means the smallest political subdivision established by law."
2. By amending the definition of "ballot" to read:
""Ballot" means a ballot,
including an absentee ballot, that is a written or printed, or partly written
and partly printed paper or papers containing the names of persons to be voted
for, the office to be filled, and the questions or issues to be voted on. A "ballot" includes a ballot summary
reflecting a completed record of the ballot selections made by a voter utilizing
a hypertext markup language ballot or similar accessible ballot that produces a
ballot summary. A "ballot" also
includes a voter verifiable paper audit trail in the event there is a discrepancy
between a voting machine's electronic record of the voted ballot and the voter verifiable
paper audit trail. "Ballot"
includes a ballot used in an election by mail pursuant to part VIIA, including
a ballot approved for electronic transmission. A ballot may consist of one or more cards or
pieces of paper, or one face of a card or piece of paper, or a portion of the
face of a card or piece of paper, depending on the number of offices,
candidates to be elected thereto, questions or issues to be voted on, and the
voting system in use.
3. By amending the definition of "district" to read:
"District" means, unless otherwise
specified, the district of political representation [with the fewest
eligible voters in a particular election.] associated with a state representative."
SECTION 3. Section 11-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) Any person qualified to and desiring to register as a voter in any county shall make and subscribe to an application in the form of an affidavit.
The affidavit shall contain the following information:
(1) Name;
(2) The applicant's Hawaii driver's license number or Hawaii state identification card number; provided that:
(A) If no driver's license or identification card has been issued to the applicant, the last four digits of the applicant's social security number; and
(B) If no social security number has been issued to the applicant, an election official or county clerk shall assign the applicant a unique identification number for voter registration purposes and enroll the applicant in the State's computerized voter registration list, if any;
(3) Date of birth;
(4) Residence, including mailing address;
(5) That the residence stated in the affidavit is not simply because of the person's presence in the State, but that the residence was acquired with the intent to make Hawaii the person's legal residence with all the accompanying obligations therein; and
(6) That the person is a citizen.
[An application to register to
vote shall include a space to request a permanent absentee ballot.]"
SECTION 4. Section 11-15.2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:
"(g) The clerk of each county shall add persons
who properly register under this section to the respective general county register. Within thirty days of registration, the clerk
shall mail to the person a notice including the person's name, current street
address, district[,] and precinct, and date of registration. A notice mailed pursuant to this subsection
shall serve as prima facie evidence that the person is a registered voter as of
the date of registration."
SECTION 5. Section 11-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) The clerk shall also identify or remove the name of any registered voter if the clerk, after mailing a notice or other correspondence, properly addressed, with postage prepaid, receives the notice or other correspondence as return mail with a postal notation that the notice or other correspondence was not deliverable. On election day, any person identified or removed shall have the person's name corrected or restored in the register and shall be allowed to vote if the person completes an affidavit or other form prescribed by the chief election officer affirming that the person:
(1) Claims the person's legal residence at the address listed on the register;
(2) Changed the person's legal residence after the closing of the register for that election; or
(3) Moved to a new residence
within the same [district] precinct as the person's residence as
listed on the register."
SECTION 6. Section 11-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) and (d) to read as follows:
"(c) Any person whose name appears on the
registered voters list whose residence has changed since the last election, and
whom the clerk has not transferred under section 11-20, may apply on a form
prescribed by the chief election officer on the day of the election for
transfer of registration to the [district] precinct of the new
residence. Any person so transferring
voter registration shall be immediately added to the register of the new [district.]
precinct.
(d)
Where a person was incorrectly placed on a list of voters of a [district]
precinct in which the person does not actually reside, the person may
correct the registration."
SECTION 7. Section 11-22, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) The clerk shall correct the register if at any
time it shall be manifest to the clerk that the name of a person registered has
been accidentally misspelled, or that the person has been misnamed therein, or
that the person has been accidentally registered under the wrong [district,]
precinct, or that the person was accidentally removed pursuant to section 11‑17(a),
or that the name of the person should be corrected or restored pursuant to
section 11-17(b)."
SECTION 8. Section 11-25, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) Any registered voter may challenge the right of a person to be or to remain registered as a voter in any precinct for any cause not previously decided by the board of registration or the supreme court in respect to the same person. The challenge shall be in writing, setting forth the grounds upon which it is based, and be signed by the person making the challenge. The challenge shall be delivered to the clerk who shall immediately serve notice thereof on the person challenged. The clerk shall, as soon as possible, investigate and rule on the challenge."
SECTION 9. Section 11-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsection (a) to read:
"(a) In cases where the clerk, or [precinct]
voter service center officials, rules on a challenge on election day,
the person ruled against may appeal from the ruling to the board of
registration of the person's county for review under part III. The appeal shall be brought before the
challenger and challenged party leave the [polling place.] voter service
center. If an appeal is brought,
both the challenger and the challenged voter may be parties to the appeal."
2. By amending subsection (c) to read:
"(c) If the appeal is sustained, the board shall immediately
certify that finding to the clerk, who shall thereupon alter the register to
correspond to the findings of the board, and when necessary, the clerk shall
notify the [precinct] voter service center officials of the
change in the register."
SECTION 10. Section 11-92.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§11-92.1
Election proclamation; establishment of a new precinct; voter
service centers and places of deposit; changes to [district] precinct
boundaries. (a) The chief election officer shall issue a
proclamation listing all voter service centers and places of deposit as may
have been determined by the clerk as of the proclamation date[.] and whenever
a new precinct is established in any representative district. The clerk shall make arrangements for the
rental or erection of suitable shelter for the establishment of a voter service
center whenever public buildings are not available and shall cause these voter
service centers to be equipped with the necessary facilities for lighting, ventilation,
and equipment needed for elections on any island. This proclamation may be issued jointly with
the proclamation required in section 11-91.
(b)
No change shall be made in the boundaries of any [district] precinct
later than 4:30 p.m. on the tenth day before the close of filing for an
election.
(c)
Notwithstanding subsection (a), and pursuant to section 15-2.5, the clerk
is not required to establish voter service centers for [districts] precincts
affected by natural disasters, as provided in section 15-2.5."
SECTION 11. Section 11-92.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§11-92.3
Natural disasters; postponement; consolidation of [districts;] precincts;
special elections. (a) In the event of a flood, tsunami, earthquake,
volcanic eruption, high wind, or other natural disaster, occurring before an
election where the extent of damage caused is such that the ability of voters,
in any precinct, district, or county, to exercise their right to
vote is substantially impaired, the chief election officer or clerk in the case
of county elections may postpone the conducting of an election in the affected [area]
precinct for no more than twenty-one days; provided that any postponement
shall not affect the conduct of the election, tabulation, or distribution of
results for those precincts, districts, or counties not designated
for postponement. The chief election
officer or clerk in the case of county elections shall give notice of the postponement
by whatever possible news or broadcast media are available.
(b)
[In the event] If the chief election officer or the clerk
in a county election determines that the number of candidates or issues on the
ballot in a special, special primary, or special general election does not
require the full number of established [districts,] precincts, the
[districts] precincts may be consolidated for the purposes of the
special, special primary, or special general election into a small number of
special, special primary, or special general election [districts.] precincts.
A special, special primary, or special
general election [district] precinct shall be considered the same
as an established [district] precinct for all purposes. No later than 4:30 p.m. on the tenth day before
the special, special primary, or special general election, the chief election
officer or the clerk shall give public notice, in the area in which the special,
special primary, or special general election is to be held, of the special,
special primary, or special general election [districts] precincts."
SECTION 12. Section 11-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§11-101[]] Elections
eligible to be conducted by mail.
Beginning with the 2020 primary election, all elections shall be
conducted by mail in accordance with this title. A voter in an election conducted by mail shall
not be precluded from voting by absentee ballot pursuant to chapter 15 or chapter
15D if the voter complies with applicable requirements."
SECTION 13. Section 11-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) To the extent practicable, the clerk shall
mail a ballot package by non-forwardable mail to each registered voter in the
county so as to enable voters to receive the ballot package approximately
eighteen days before the election. The
clerk shall continue mailing ballot packages to voters who update their voter
registration address no later than [fourteen] seven days before
the date of the election. However, the
clerk may continue to mail ballots to those voters who have updated their voter
registration addresses after the seventh day if the clerk believes there is sufficient
time for the voter to return the ballot by the applicable deadline or if another
statutory section provides for the transmittal of the ballot during that time frame. In determining the initial mailing date of
the ballot packages, the clerk shall consider the mailing place of origin and the
most recent postal service delivery standards.
The clerk shall not mail a ballot package to any voter in the county register
who is identified as having an outdated or non-deliverable mailing
address. Nothing in this part shall be
construed to change the responsibilities of the clerk or chief election officer
under chapter 15 with respect to voters requesting to vote by absentee ballot
or chapter 15D with respect to uniform military and overseas voters."
SECTION 14. Section 11-104, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsection (a) to read:
"(a)
After a voter receives a ballot package, the voter shall comply with the
instructions included in the ballot package in order to cast a valid vote. The instructions shall include directions
for:
(1) Marking the ballot;
(2) Inserting the marked ballot in the secrecy envelope or secrecy sleeve;
(3) Inserting the secrecy envelope or secrecy sleeve with the marked ballot in the return identification envelope; and
(4) Signing the affirmation on the return identification envelope before mailing or delivering the return identification envelope containing the secrecy envelope or secrecy sleeve with the marked ballot. The affirmation shall consist of a statement to be subscribed to by the voter that affirms the fact that the voter is the person voting and that the voter's employer or agent of the employer, agent of the voter's labor union, or any candidate listed on the ballot did not assist the voter, as described in section 11-139, along with the instruction that the voter's ballot will be valid only if the affirmation statement is signed."
2. By amending subsection (c) to read:
"(c) To cast a valid ballot, the voter shall return the return identification envelope containing the secrecy envelope or secrecy sleeve with the marked ballot:
(1) [By mail] In
any manner so that the return identification envelope is received [at
the office of] by the clerk or the clerk's designee no later
than the closing [time provided] hour on election day in accordance
with section 11-131 [on the date of the election]; provided that anyone
who is standing in line at 7:00 p.m. on the date of the election with the intent
of returning a ballot shall be permitted to do so;
(2) [By personal
delivery at] In any matter to any place of deposit no later than 7:00
p.m. on the date of the election; provided that [any
voter] anyone who is standing in line at a place of deposit at 7:00
p.m. on the date of the election with the intent of returning a ballot [and
casting a vote] shall be [allowed to vote;] permitted to
do so; or
(3) [By personal delivery]
In any manner to any voter service center no later than the closing time provided in section 11-131 on the date
of the election; provided that [any voter] anyone who is standing
in line at a voter service center at the closing time provided in section
11-131 on the date of the election with the intent of returning a ballot [and
casting a vote] shall be [allowed to vote.] permitted to do so."
SECTION 15. Section 11-105, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:
"(b) [Upon receipt of a completed replacement
ballot application form, the] The clerk shall:
(1) Verify the registration of the voter and ensure that another ballot has not been returned by the voter;
(2) Record that the voter has requested a replacement ballot;
(3) Mark the return identification envelope as containing a replacement ballot; and
(4) Issue the replacement ballot package by mail or make the ballot package available for pick-up by the voter.
(c) Voters who obtain a replacement ballot shall return the return identification envelope containing the secrecy envelope or secrecy sleeve with the marked replacement ballot:
(1) [By mail] In
any manner so that the return identification envelope is received [at
the office of] by the clerk or the clerk's designee no later
than the closing [time provided] hour on election day in accordance
with section 11-131 [on the date of the election]; provided that anyone
who is standing in line at 7:00 p.m. on the date of the election with the intent
of returning a ballot shall be permitted to do so;
(2) [By personal delivery]
In any manner to any place of deposit no later than 7:00 p.m. on the
date of the election; provided that [any voter] anyone who is
standing in line at a place of deposit at 7:00 p.m. on the date of the election
with the intent of returning a ballot [and casting a vote] shall be [allowed
to vote;] permitted to do so; or
(3) [By personal delivery]
In any manner to any voter service center no later than the closing time
provided in section 11-131 on the date of the election; provided that [any
voter] anyone who is standing in line at a voter service center at
the closing time provided in section 11-131 on the date of the election with
the intent of returning a ballot [and casting a vote] shall be [allowed
to vote.] permitted to do so."
SECTION 16. Section 11-106, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§11-106[]] Deficient return identification envelopes. If:
(1) A return identification envelope is returned with an unsigned affirmation;
(2) The affirmation signature does not match a reference signature image; or
(3) A return identification envelope contains another condition that would not allow the counting of the ballot,
the clerk shall make an attempt to notify the voter by first class mail, telephone, or electronic mail to inform the voter of the procedure to correct the deficiency. The voter shall have five business days after the date of the election to cure the deficiency. The chief election officer may adopt rules regarding requirements and procedures for correcting deficient return identification envelopes. The counting of ballots and disclosure of subsequent election results may continue during the time period permitted to cure a deficiency under this section. The clerk's inability to contact voters under this section shall not be grounds for a contest for cause under section 11-172. This section shall apply to all return identification envelopes, including return identification envelopes returned pursuant to section 11-107, chapter 15, or chapter 15D."
SECTION 17. Section 11-107, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:
"(a) If a ballot package is not received by a
voter by the fifth day before the date of the election or a voter otherwise
requires a replacement ballot within five days of an election, the voter may
request that a ballot be forwarded by electronic transmission; provided that a
voter with special needs may request that a ballot be forwarded by electronic
transmission at any time[.], but no earlier than the date that the voter's
initial ballot package was or would have been transmitted. Upon receipt of such a request and
confirmation that [proper application was made,] the voter has not already
voted, the clerk may transmit the appropriate ballot, together with a form
containing the affirmations, information, and a waiver of the right to secrecy
under section 11-137.
(b) The voter may return the completed replacement ballot and executed forms:
(1) By electronic transmission
so that the completed replacement ballot and executed forms are received [at
the office of] by the clerk or the clerk's designee no later
than the closing [time] hour provided in section 11-131 on the
date of the election;
(2) [By mail] In
any manner so that the completed replacement ballot and executed forms are
received [at the office of] by the clerk or the clerk's designee
no later than the closing time provided in section 11-131 on the date of the election;
(3) [By personal
delivery] In any manner to any place of deposit no later than 7:00
p.m. on the date of the election; provided that [any voter] anyone
who is standing in line at a place of deposit at 7:00 p.m. on the date of the election
with the intent of returning a ballot [and casting a vote] shall be [allowed
to vote;] permitted to do so; or
(4) [By personal
delivery] In any manner to a voter service center no later than the
closing time provided in section 11-131 on the date of the election; provided
that [any voter] anyone who is standing in line at a voter
service center at the closing time provided in section 11-131 on the date of
the election with the intent of returning a ballot and casting a vote shall be [allowed
to vote.] permitted to do so."
SECTION 18. Section 11-108, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c)
Any ballot the validity of which cannot be established upon receipt
shall be retained by the clerk and shall not be commingled with ballots for
which validity has been established until the validity of the ballot in
question can be verified by the clerk.
No ballot shall be included in an initial tabulation until the clerk has
determined its validity. The clerk shall
make reasonable efforts to determine the validity of ballots within seven days
following an election day. No ballot shall
be validated beyond the seventh day following an election."
SECTION 19. Section 11-109, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
"[[]§11-109[]] Voter service centers; places of deposit.
(a) Voter service centers shall
be established [at the office of the clerk, and may be established at
additional locations within a county as may be designated] by [a] each
clerk to service the particular needs of [a] each county's
voters.
(b) [Voter]
In each county, a voter service [centers] center shall be
open from the tenth business day preceding the day of the election during
regular business hours until the time provided in section 11-131 on the date of
the election and at the same times statewide. The clerks may operate additional voter service
centers with varying days or hours of operations to serve the voters of particular
areas that otherwise could not support the operation of a voter service center for
days or the same times statewide. Any voter
standing in line at a voter service center at the closing time provided in section
11-131 on the date of the election shall be permitted to apply under section 11-15.2
to register to vote and subsequently vote that election day. To the extent the registration clerk determines
the applicant to be registered at that time, the applicant shall be permitted to
vote a regular ballot. If additional time
is required to process the application, the applicant will be provided a provisional
ballot.
(c) Each voter service center shall provide the
services specified in section 11-1 under the definition of "voter service
center".
(d) The clerks may designate and provide for places of deposit to be open five business days before the election until 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election; provided that the locations and apparatus for receiving voted ballots can be securely maintained during the period of use for each election, and as may be permitted by the operational hours. As such, the clerks may provide for places of deposit with varying or shorter days or hours of operations."
SECTION 20. Section 11-117, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) On receipt of the notice of death, withdrawal,
or upon determination of disqualification, the chief election officer or the
clerk shall inform the chairperson of the political party of which the person
deceased, withdrawing, or disqualified was a candidate. When a candidate dies, withdraws, or is
disqualified after the close of filing and the ballots have been printed, the
chief election officer or the clerk may order the candidate's name stricken
from the ballot or order that a notice of the death, withdrawal, or disqualification
be prominently posted at the appropriate [polling places] voter service
centers on election day."
SECTION 21. Section 11-138, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§11-138
Time allowed voters. A voter
shall be allowed to remain in the voting booth for five minutes, and having
voted the voter shall at once emerge and leave the voting booth. If the voter refuses to leave when so
requested by a majority of [precinct] voter service center officials
after the lapse of five minutes, the voter shall be removed by the [precinct]
voter service center officials."
SECTION 22. Section 11-153, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c) The chief election officer or the clerk shall
make a list of all [districts] precincts in which an overage or
underage occurred and the amount of the overage or underage. This list shall be filed and kept as a public
record in the office of the chief election officer or the clerk in county
elections.
An election contest may be brought under part XI, if the overage or underage in any district could affect the outcome of an election."
SECTION 23. Section 11-155, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§11-155 Certification of results of election. On receipt of certified tabulations from the election officials concerned, the chief election officer, or county clerk in a county election, shall compile, certify, and release the election results after the expiration of the time for bringing an election contest. The certification shall be based on a comparison and reconciliation of the following:
(1) The results of the canvass of ballots conducted pursuant to chapter 16;
(2) The audit of [pollbooks
(and related record books)] records and resultant overage and
underage report;
(3) The audit results of the manual audit team;
(4) The results of the absentee ballot reconciliation report compiled by the clerks;
(5) The results of any mandatory recount of votes conducted pursuant to section 11-158; and
(6) All logs, tally sheets, and other documents generated during the election and in the canvass of the election results.
A certificate of election or a certificate of
results declaring the results of the election as of election day shall be
issued pursuant to section 11-156; provided that in the event of an overage or
underage, a list of all precincts in which an overage or underage occurred
shall be attached to the certificate.
The number of candidates to be elected receiving the highest number of
votes in any election district shall be declared to be elected. Unless otherwise provided, the term of office
shall begin or end as of the close of [polls] voter service centers
on election day. The position on the
question receiving the appropriate majority of the votes cast shall be reflected
in a certificate of results issued pursuant to section 11-156."
SECTION 24. Section 11-172, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§11-172
Contests for cause; generally.
With respect to any election, any candidate, or qualified political
party directly interested, or any thirty voters of any election district, may
file a complaint in the supreme court.
The complaint shall set forth any cause or causes, such as but not
limited to, provable fraud, overages, or underages, that could cause a
difference in the election results. The
complaint shall also set forth any reasons for reversing, correcting, or
changing the decisions of the [precinct] voter service center
officials or the officials at a counting center in an election using the electronic
voting system. A copy of the complaint
shall be delivered to the chief election officer or the clerk in the case of
county elections."
SECTION 25. Section 11-173.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) In a primary and special primary election contest,
or a county election contest held concurrently with a regularly scheduled
primary or special primary election, the complaint shall be filed in the office
of the clerk of the supreme court no later than 4:30 p.m. on the thirteenth day
after a primary or special primary election or a county election contest held
concurrently with a regularly scheduled primary or special primary election,
and shall be accompanied by a deposit for costs of court as established by the
rules of the supreme court[; provided that a complaint for a contest for
cause that arises from a mandatory recount pursuant to section 11-158 shall be
filed no later than 4:30 p.m. on the third calendar day following the public
announcement of the results of the mandatory recount pursuant to section 11-158(c)]. The clerk shall issue to the defendants named
in the complaint a summons to appear before the supreme court no later than
4:30 p.m. on the fifth day after service of the summons."
SECTION 26. Section 11-174.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) In cases involving general, special general, special, or runoff elections the complaint shall be heard by the supreme court in which the complaint was filed as soon as it reasonably may be heard. On the return day, the court, upon its motion or otherwise, may direct summons to be issued to any person who may be interested in the result of the proceedings.
At the
hearing, the court shall cause the evidence to be reduced to writing and shall
give judgment, stating all findings of fact and of law. The judgment may invalidate the general,
special general, special, or runoff election on the grounds that a correct
result cannot be ascertained because of a mistake or fraud on the part of the [precinct]
voter service center officials; or decide that a certain candidate, or
certain candidates, received a majority or plurality of votes cast and were elected. If the judgment should be that the general,
special general, special, or runoff election was invalid, a certified copy
thereof shall be filed with the governor, and the governor shall duly call a
new election to be held not later than one hundred twenty days after the
judgment is filed. If the court shall
decide which candidate or candidates have been elected, a copy of that judgment
shall be served on the chief election officer or county clerk, who shall sign
and deliver to the candidate or candidates certificates of election, and the same
shall be conclusive of the right of the candidate or candidates to the offices."
SECTION 27. Section 15-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§15-2 Who may vote by absentee ballot. Any person registered to vote may cast an absentee ballot in any election, including an election conducted by mail, in the manner provided in this chapter and rules adopted by the chief election officer."
SECTION 28. Section 15-2.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§15-2.5
Voting by mail in [district]
precinct affected by natural disasters. (a) If
the chief election officer and clerk of a county affected as a result of a
natural disaster determine that the opening of a designated voter service
center will adversely affect the health and safety of voters or precinct
officials, the chief election officer and county clerk, by written order, may
require the registered voters of any [district] precinct to vote
by mail as provided in part VIIA of chapter 11.
(b)
Within thirty days after the issuance of such an order, the chief
election officer and county clerk shall notify all registered voters in the
affected [district] precinct of the issuance of the order.
(c) The chief election officer shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to implement this section."
SECTION 29. Section 15-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§15-9
Return [and],
receipt, processing, and treatment of absentee ballots. [(a)
The return envelope shall be:
(1) Mailed and must
be received by the clerk issuing the absentee ballot no later than the closing hour
on election day in accordance with section 11-131; or
(2) Delivered other
than by mail to the clerk issuing the absentee ballot, or to a voter service
center no later than the closing hour on election day in accordance with
section 11-131.
(b) Upon receipt of the return envelope from any
person voting under this chapter, the clerk may prepare the ballots for
counting pursuant to this section and section 15-10.
(c) Before opening the return and ballot
envelopes and counting the ballots, the return envelopes shall be checked for
the following:
(1) Signature on
the affirmation statement;
(2) Whether the
signature corresponds with the absentee request or register as prescribed in
the rules adopted by the chief election officer; and
(3) Whether the
person is a registered voter and has complied with the requirements of sections
11-15 and 11-16.
(d) If any requirement listed in subsection (c)
is not met or if the return or ballot envelope appears to be tampered with, the
clerk or the absentee ballot team official shall mark across the face of the
envelope "invalid" and it shall be kept in the custody of the clerk and
disposed of as prescribed for ballots in section 11-154.]
An absentee ballot shall be returned, received, processed, and treated in the same manner as a return identification envelope in an election by mail under part VIIA of chapter 11."
SECTION 30. Section 15-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§15-11
Voting by absentee voter at [polls] voter service centers
prohibited. Any person having voted
an absentee ballot pursuant to this chapter
shall not be entitled to cast a ballot at [the polls] a voter service
center on election day. An absentee
voter who does cast a ballot at [the polls] a voter service center
shall be guilty of an election offense under section 19-3(5)."
SECTION 31. Section 15D-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§15D-10[]] Receipt of voted ballot. A valid military-overseas ballot
shall be counted if it is received by the close of the [polls] voter service
centers on the day of the election and meets the requirements [prescribed
under] applied to absentee ballots pursuant to section 15-9."
SECTION 32. Section 16-23, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§16-23 Paper ballot; voting. Upon receiving the ballot the voter shall proceed into one of the voting booths provided for the purpose, and shall mark the voter's ballot in the manner prescribed by section 16-22.
The voter
shall then leave the booth and deliver the ballot to the [precinct] voter
service center official in charge of the ballot boxes. The [precinct] voter service center
official shall be sufficiently satisfied that there is but one ballot enclosed,
whereupon the ballot shall be immediately dropped into the proper box by the [precinct]
voter service center official."
SECTION 33. Section 16-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§16-26 Questionable ballots. A ballot shall be questionable if:
(1) A ballot contains any mark or symbol whereby it can be identified, or any mark or symbol contrary to the provisions of law; or
(2) Two or more ballots are found in the ballot box so folded together as to make it clearly evident that more than one ballot was put in by one person, the ballots shall be set aside as provided below.
Each
ballot [which] that is held to be questionable shall be endorsed
on the back by [the chairperson of precinct officials with the chairperson's]
a voter service center official with the official's name or initials,
and the word "questionable".
All questionable ballots shall be set aside uncounted and disposed of as
provided for ballots in section 11‑154."
SECTION 34. Section 16-27, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§16-27
Number of blank and questionable ballots; record of. In addition to the count of the valid
ballots, the [precinct] voter service center officials [shall],
as to each separate official ballot, shall also determine and record the
number of totally blank ballots and the number of questionable ballots."
SECTION 35. Section 16-28, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§16-28
Declaration of results. When
the [precinct] voter service center officials have ascertained
the number of votes given for each candidate they shall make public declaration
of the whole number of votes cast, the names of the persons voted for, and the
number of votes for each person."
SECTION 36. Section 11-181, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.
["§11-181
Capital equipment. The
State shall pay for all voting system capital equipment. This shall include, but not be limited to
voting machines, voting devices, and initial computer programs."]
SECTION 37. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 38. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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Report Title:
Elections; Voting; Voter Service Centers; Mail; Absentee Ballots
Description:
Addresses various inconsistencies in existing elections law to clarify and improve the administration of elections by mail.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
