Bill Text: HI SB846 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Voting.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-01-24 - Referred to JDC, WAM. [SB846 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB846-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	846
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to VOTING.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 26-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Except as otherwise provided by law, the lieutenant governor is designated the secretary of state for intergovernmental relations and shall perform the duties and functions heretofore exercised by the secretary of Hawaii.  The duties and functions shall include but not be limited to recordation of all legislative and gubernatorial acts, certification of state documents, [and] maintenance of an official file of rules adopted by state departments as provided in chapter 91[.], and establishing a system to track the mailing and receipt of ballots returned by mail.  The lieutenant governor may employ staff as necessary without regard to chapter 76."

     SECTION 2.  Section 15-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§15-5  Delivery of ballots.  (a)  Immediately upon receipt of a request for absentee ballot within the time limit specified in section 15-4, the clerk shall examine the records to ascertain whether the voter is lawfully entitled to vote as requested.  If the clerk ascertains that the voter is lawfully entitled to vote as requested, no earlier than thirty days before the election, the clerk shall mail in a forwarding envelope, or deliver in person if the voter appears at the office of the clerk, an official ballot and other materials prescribed in section 15-6, except that an incapacitated voter may send a representative to obtain the voter's ballots pursuant to the rules adopted by the chief election officer; provided that official ballots and other materials prescribed in section 15-6 shall be mailed or delivered:

     (1)  To uniform military and overseas voters pursuant to section 15D-9; and

     (2)  No later than twenty-four hours after receipt of the request for absentee ballot for requests received on the last day specified in section 15-4.

     (b)  If absentee ballots requested under section 15-4 are not received by a voter within five days of an election, if a voter requires a replacement ballot within five days of an election, or if a voter would otherwise not be able to return a properly issued ballot by the close of polls, then a voter may request that absentee ballots be forwarded by electronic transmission.  Upon receipt of such a request and confirmation that proper application was made, the clerk may transmit appropriate ballots, together with a form requiring the affirmations and information required by section 15-6, and a form containing a waiver of the right to secrecy, as provided by section 11-137.  The voter may return the voted ballots and executed forms by electronic transmission or mail; provided that they are received by the issuing clerk no later than the close of polls on election day.  Upon receipt, the clerk shall verify compliance with the requirements of section 15-9(c) and prepare the ballots for counting pursuant to section 15-10; provided that if the voter returns multiple voted absentee ballots for the same election, the clerk shall, for purposes of counting ballots, prepare only the first absentee ballot returned that is not spoiled.

     (c)  Immediately upon mailing an absentee ballot to a voter, the clerk shall notify the office of the lieutenant governor of that fact."

     SECTION 3.  Section 15-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(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.  Upon receipt of a return envelope by mail, the clerk shall immediately notify the office of the lieutenant governor of that fact."

     SECTION 4.  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 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 as a grant-in-aid to the counties to establish a system for the county clerk for each county to notify the lieutenant governor's office of the mailing and receipt of ballots returned by mail.

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

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Office of the Lieutenant Governor; County Clerks; Duties; Absentee Ballots; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the office of the lieutenant governor to establish a system to track the mailing and receipt of ballots returned by mail.  Requires the county clerks to notify the office of the lieutenant governor immediately upon mailing and receipt of absentee ballots by mail.  Appropriates funds to the counties.

 

 

 

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