Bill Text: HI HB2128 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Elections.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-03-16 - The hearing on this measure has been cancelled until further notice. [HB2128 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB2128-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2128 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
H.D. 2 |
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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:
PART I
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that
Act 136, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, required all elections statewide to be
conducted by mail beginning with the 2020 primary election. The purpose of this part is to make various
housekeeping amendments to clarify and improve the administration of elections
by mail in Hawaii.
SECTION 2. Section 11-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended 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. "Ballot"
includes [a]:
(1) A ballot
summary that is produced by a voter using a web-based ballot or similarly
accessible ballot;
(2) 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; and
(3) 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 as follows:
1. By amending subsection (c) to read:
"(c) The registration clerk shall process applications for any person not registered to vote who submits a signed affidavit in accordance with section 11-15, which shall include a sworn affirmation:
(1) Of the person's qualification to vote;
(2) Acknowledging that the person has not voted and will not attempt to vote again in that election, and has not cast and will not cast any absentee ballot pursuant to chapter 15 in that election; and
(3) Acknowledging that
providing false information may result in a class C felony, punishable by a
fine not exceeding [$1,000] $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding
five years, or both."
2. By amending subsection (g) to read:
"(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 subsections (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]:
(1) Listing all
voter service centers and places of deposit as may have been determined by the
clerk as of the proclamation date[.]; and
(2) 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 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 under chapters 15 or 15D if the voter complies with the 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. The clerk may continue to mail ballots to those who have updated
their voter registration address after the seventh day, if:
(1) The clerk
believes there is sufficient time for the voter to return the ballot by the
applicable deadline; or
(2) Another statute
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 to read as follows:
"[[]§11-104[]] Ballot instructions; ballot return. (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.
(b) The instructions shall include information on election fraud and voter fraud, as provided in sections 19-3(5) and 19‑3.5, and notice that violation of either section may subject the voter, upon conviction, to imprisonment, a fine, or both.
(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[:] in any manner:
(1) [By mail so]
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] 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] 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 to] 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.
(d) Once a voter has returned a return identification envelope containing the secrecy envelope or secrecy sleeve with the marked ballot, that voter's ballot shall be deemed cast and may not be recast in the election.
(e) Before opening the return identification envelopes and counting the ballots, the return identification 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."
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[:] in any manner:
(1) [By mail so]
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] 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 to] 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 to] 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 ballots using the provisions of section 11-107 or chapters 15 or 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 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; 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;
(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 ballots shall be validated beyond the seventh day following an election."
SECTION 19. Section 11-109, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By amending subsections (a) and (b) to read:
"(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 clerk] by
the clerks 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[.]; provided that beginning with
the 2022 primary election, at least two voter service centers shall be open in
each county having a population greater than one hundred fifty thousand 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 service the voters of particular areas
that could not otherwise support the operation of a voter service center for
ten business 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 with the intent of
voting shall be allowed to vote. A
person eligible to vote but who is not registered to vote and is 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 will be
permitted to vote a regular ballot. If
additional time is required to process the application, the applicant will be
provided a provisional ballot."
2. By amending subsection (d) to read:
"(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. The clerks may provide for places of deposit having varying or shorter days or hours of operation."
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] precinct
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 by amending its title and subsections (a) and (b) 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."
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 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 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, 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. (a) Following the 2020 general election, the office of elections shall review the process for the electronic transmission of ballots, including its vulnerability to hacking or cyberattacks.
(b)
The office of elections shall submit a report of its findings and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021.
PART II
SECTION 38. The legislature finds that voter turnout in the State remains low and continues to decline. In 2016, Hawaii had the lowest voter turnout in the United States. Only 52.7 per cent of registered Hawaii voters cast ballots in the 2018 general election. This represents a sharp decline in voter turnout over the years, as approximately ninety-four per cent of registered voters cast ballots in the State's first gubernatorial election in 1959.
Additionally, the State has a historically low rate of registered voters. According to a 2016 estimate from the United States Census Bureau, Hawaii had the lowest percentage of registered voters in the country at 49.8 per cent, well below the national average of 64.2 per cent. Therefore, of the 1,064,000 people in Hawaii who were qualified to vote in the 2016 election, 534,128 were not registered to vote.
The legislature further finds that voting at a young age creates and empowers lifelong voters. Data shows that after an individual votes once, the individual often becomes a habitual voter. Therefore, by facilitating the ability of those sixteen years of age and older to preregister or register to vote, the State will be empowering a new generation of lifelong voters.
SECTION 39. Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§11-
Automatic voter preregistration
and registration; opt out. (a) Beginning January 1, 2021, any person who:
(1) Is enrolled in a public high school or public charter school;
(2) Is otherwise qualified to preregister or register to vote under this part;
(3) Is at least sixteen years of age; and
(4) Properly completes and submits a voter registration affidavit,
shall be automatically preregistered or
registered to vote as provided in this section.
(b) Between January 1 and January 31 of each
year, the superintendent of education shall provide and may collect from each public
school student who is at least sixteen years of age a voter registration affidavit containing the information required by section
11-15 to allow the student to preregister or register to vote or opt out of
preregistering or registering to vote. The
department of education shall collect and transmit any voter registration affidavit
provided to the department to the clerk of the county in which the applicant
resides, as necessary; provided that the superintendent of education shall not
maintain, scan, review, or copy any voter registration affidavit nor transmit
any information maintained by the department of education.
(c) Between January 1 and January 31 of each
year, an authorizer, as defined in section 302D-1, shall provide and may
collect from each charter school student who is at least sixteen years of age a
voter registration affidavit containing the information required by section
11-15 to allow the student to preregister or register to vote or opt out of
preregistering or registering to vote. The
authorizer may transmit the voter registration affidavit to the clerk of the
county in which the applicant resides; provided that the authorizer shall not
maintain, scan, review, or copy any voter registration affidavit nor transmit
any information maintained by the state public charter school commission.
(d) The clerk shall determine whether the
applicant is currently preregistered or registered in the general county
register."
SECTION 40. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart C, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Automatic voter preregistration and registration. The superintendent, in consultation with the office of elections, may adopt and communicate guidelines as necessary to maximize and facilitate the preregistration and registration of qualifying students to vote as provided in section 11- ."
SECTION 41. Chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302D- Automatic
voter preregistration and registration.
The commission, in consultation with the office of elections, may
adopt policies as necessary to maximize and facilitate the preregistration and
registration of qualifying students to vote as provided in section
11- ."
PART III
SECTION 42. Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§11- Ranked choice voting; application;
procedure. (a) Any:
(1) Federal
election not held on the date of a regularly scheduled primary election or
general election;
(2) Special
election for a vacant state senate or state house of representatives seat;
provided that the special election for the vacant state senate or state house
of representatives seat shall be conducted on the same timetable as a vacant
seat in the federal house of representatives; and
(3) Special
election for a vacant seat on a county council;
shall be conducted by ranked choice voting. For any election conducted by ranked choice
voting, the election proclamation required pursuant to section 11-91 shall
state that votes shall be cast and tabulated using ranked choice voting and
provide an explanation of ranked choice voting.
(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and
(d), the following procedures shall be used to determine the winner of an
election conducted by ranked choice voting:
(1) Tabulation of
votes shall proceed in rounds;
(2) In each round,
the number of votes for each continuing candidate shall be counted, with each
continuing ballot counting as one vote for its highest-ranked continuing
candidate for that round;
(3) Inactive
ballots shall not be counted for any continuing candidate; and
(4) The round shall
end with one of two potential outcomes:
(A) If
there are two or fewer continuing candidates, the candidate receiving the most
votes is declared the winner of the election; or
(B) If
there are more than two continuing candidates, the last-place candidate is
defeated and a new round begins.
(c) A tie under this section between candidates
for the most votes in the final round or a tie between last-place candidates in
any round shall be decided by lot, and the candidate chosen by lot shall be
defeated.
(d) The office of elections may modify a
ranked-choice voting ballot and tabulation; provided that:
(1) The number of
allowable rankings may be limited to no fewer than six; and
(2) Two or more
candidates may be defeated simultaneously by batch elimination in any round of
tabulation.
(e) For the purposes of this section:
"Batch elimination"
means the simultaneous defeat of multiple candidates for whom it is
mathematically impossible to be elected.
"Continuing ballot"
means a ballot that is not an inactive ballot.
"Highest continuing
ranking" means the highest ranking on a voter's ballot for a continuing
candidate.
"Inactive ballot" means
a ballot that does not rank any continuing candidate, contains an overvote at
the highest continuing ranking, or contains two or more sequential skipped
rankings before its highest continuing ranking.
"Last-place candidate"
means the candidate receiving the fewest votes in a round of ranked-choice
voting tabulation.
"Mathematically impossible
to be elected", with respect to a candidate, means that:
(1) The candidate
cannot be elected because the candidate's vote total in a round of the ranked-choice
voting tabulation plus all votes that could possibly be transferred to the
candidate in future rounds from candidates receiving fewer votes or an equal
number of votes would not be enough to surpass the candidate receiving the
next-higher vote total in the round; or
(2) The candidate
has a lower vote total than a candidate described in paragraph (1).
"Overvote" means a
circumstance in which a voter has ranked more than one candidate at the same
ranking.
"Ranked choice voting"
means the method of casting and tabulating votes in which voters rank
candidates in order of preference, tabulation proceeds in sequential rounds in
which last-place candidates are defeated, and the candidate with the most votes
in the final round is elected.
"Ranking" means the
number assigned on a ballot by a voter to a candidate to express the voter's
preference for that candidate, in which number one is the highest ranking,
number two is the next-highest ranking, and so on.
"Round" means an
instance of the sequence of voting tabulation steps established in subsection
(b).
"Skipped ranking" means a circumstance in which a voter has left a ranking blank and ranks a candidate at a subsequent ranking."
SECTION 43. Section 11-112, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§11-112 Contents of ballot. (a)
The ballot shall contain the names of the candidates, their party
affiliation or nonpartisanship in partisan election contests, the offices for
which they are running, and the district in which the election is being
held. In multimember races the ballot
shall state that the voter shall not vote for more than the number of seats
available or the number of candidates listed where [such] the
number of candidates is [less] fewer than the number of
seats available.
(b) The ballot may include questions concerning proposed state constitutional amendments, proposed county charter amendments, or proposed initiative or referendum issues.
(c) At the chief election officer's discretion, the ballot may have a background design imprinted onto it.
(d) When the electronic voting system is used, the ballot may have pre-punched codes and printed information which identify the voting districts, precincts, and ballot sets to facilitate the electronic data processing of these ballots.
(e) The name of the candidate may be printed with the Hawaiian or English equivalent or nickname, if the candidate so requests in writing at the time the candidate's nomination papers are filed. Candidates' names, including the Hawaiian or English equivalent or nickname, shall be set on one line.
(f) The ballot shall bear no word, motto, device, sign, or symbol other than as allowed in this title.
(g) The ballot may include information necessary to use ranked choice voting as described in section 11- ."
SECTION 44. Section 11-151, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§11-151 Vote count. [Each] Except for contests
conducted by ranked choice voting pursuant to section 11- ,
each contest or question on a ballot shall be counted independently as
follows:
(1) If the votes cast in a contest or on a question are equal to or less than the number to be elected or chosen for that contest or question, the votes for that contest or question shall be counted;
(2) If the votes cast in a contest or on a question exceed the number to be elected or chosen for that contest or question, the votes for that contest or question shall not be counted; and
(3) If a contest or question requires a majority of the votes for passage, any blank, spoiled, or invalid ballot shall not be tallied for passage or as votes cast except that such ballots shall be counted as votes cast in ratification of a constitutional amendment or a question for a constitutional convention."
SECTION 45. Section 11-152, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§11-152 Method of counting. (a) For votes cast using the electronic voting system, the ballots shall be taken in the sealed ballot containers to the counting center according to the procedure and schedule adopted by the chief election officer to promote the security of the ballots. For all votes cast in an election, in the presence of official observers, counting center employees may start to count the ballots before election day, as specified in section 11-108.
(b) In an election conducted by ranked choice voting, votes shall be counted as provided in section 11- ."
SECTION 46. 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) 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] who receive the most votes in any election
district shall be declared to be elected[.]; provided that candidates
for offices elected by ranked choice voting shall be declared to be elected
pursuant to section 11- .
Unless otherwise provided, the term of office shall begin or end as of
the close of polls 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."
PART IV
SECTION 47. Section 17-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§
(1) The
governor shall make an appointment within sixty calendar days following the
first day of vacancy to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term by selecting a
person from a list of three prospective appointees submitted by the same
political party as the prior incumbent.
The appointee shall be at the time of appointment, and for at least six
months immediately [prior to] before the appointment, a member of
the political party. The appointee
shall, at the time of appointment, be a resident of the same senate district as
the prior incumbent. The political party
shall submit the list of prospective appointees to the governor within thirty
calendar days following the first day of vacancy; and
(2) If
the prior incumbent was not a member of any political party, the governor shall,
within sixty calendar days following the first day of vacancy, appoint a person
who is at the time of appointment a resident of the same senate district as the
prior incumbent and who is not, and has not been for at least six months [prior
to] before the appointment, a member of any political party.
(b) In the case of a vacancy, the term of which does not end at the next succeeding general election:
(1) If
it occurs [not] no later than on the tenth day [prior to] before
the close of filing for the next succeeding primary election, as specified
in section 12-6, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term at the
next succeeding general election. The
chief election officer shall issue a proclamation designating the election for
filling the vacancy. Notwithstanding
any law to the contrary, all candidates for the unexpired term shall file
nomination papers no later than the date and time specified in section 12-6 for
the next succeeding primary election.
All candidates for the unexpired term shall be nominated and elected in
accordance with this title. Pending the
election, the governor shall make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy,
and the person so appointed shall serve until the election of the person duly
elected to fill the vacancy. The
governor shall make the appointment from a list of three prospective appointees
submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent. The appointee shall be, at the time of the
appointment, and shall have been, for at least six months immediately [prior
to] before the appointment, a member of the political party. The appointee shall, at the time of
appointment, be a resident of the same senate district as the prior
incumbent. If the prior incumbent was
not a member of any political party, the governor shall appoint a person who is
at the time of appointment a resident of the same senate district as the prior
incumbent and is not and has not been, for at least six months immediately [prior
to] before the appointment, a member of any political party;
[(2) If
it occurs later than on the tenth day prior to the close of filing for the next
succeeding primary election but not later than on the sixtieth day prior to the
next succeeding primary election, or if there are no qualified candidates for
any party or nonpartisan candidates qualified for the primary election ballot,
nominations for the unexpired term may be filed not later than 4:30 p.m. on the
fiftieth day prior to the next succeeding primary election. The chief election officer shall issue a
proclamation designating the election for filling the vacancy. Pending the election the governor shall make
a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy and the person appointed shall
serve until the election of the person duly elected to fill the vacancy. The governor shall make the appointment from
a list of three prospective appointees submitted by the same political party as
the prior incumbent. The appointee shall
be, at the time of the appointment, and shall have been, for at least six
months immediately prior to the appointment, a member of the political
party. The appointee shall, at the time
of appointment, be a resident of the same senate district as the prior
incumbent. If the prior incumbent was
not a member of any political party, the governor shall appoint a person who is
at the time of appointment a resident of the same senate district as the prior
incumbent and is not and has not been, for at least six months immediately
prior to the appointment, a member of any political party;
(3)] (2) If it occurs [after the sixtieth day prior
to the next succeeding primary] later than on the tenth day before the
close of filing for the next succeeding primary election, as specified in
section 12-6, but [not] no later than on the [fiftieth]
ninety-fifth day [prior to] before the next succeeding
general election, or if there are no qualified candidates for any party or
nonpartisan candidates in the primary, the vacancy shall be filled for the
unexpired term at the next succeeding general election. The chief election officer shall issue a
proclamation designating the election for filling the vacancy. Each candidate shall fill out an
application for nomination papers, sign the proper certification on the
nomination papers, and take either an oath or affirmation as provided by law. Party candidates for the unexpired senate
term shall be nominated by the county committees of the parties [not].
The chief election officer shall be
notified of the nominations and the nomination papers of the partisan candidates
which shall be filed no later than 4:30 p.m. on the [fortieth] seventy-fifth
day [prior to] before the general election[; nonpartisan]. Nonpartisan candidates may file
nomination papers for the unexpired term [not] no later than 4:30
p.m. on the [fortieth] seventy-fifth day [prior to] before
the general election with the nonpartisan candidate who is to be nominated to
be decided by lot, under the supervision of the chief election officer. The candidates for the unexpired term shall
be elected in accordance with this title.
Pending the election, the governor shall make a temporary appointment to
fill the vacancy, and the person appointed shall serve until the election of
the person duly elected to fill the vacancy.
The governor shall make the appointment from a list of three prospective
appointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent. The appointee shall be, at the time of the
appointment, and shall have been, for at least six months immediately [prior
to] before the appointment, a member of the political party. The appointee shall, at the time of
appointment, be a resident of the same senate district as the prior
incumbent. If the prior incumbent was
not a member of any political party, the governor shall appoint a person who is
at the time of appointment a resident of the same senate district as the prior
incumbent and is not and has not been, for at least six months immediately [prior
to] before the appointment, a member of any political party;
[(4)] (3) If it occurs after the [fiftieth] ninety-fifth
day [prior to] before the next succeeding general election or if
no candidates are nominated, the governor shall make an appointment to fill the
vacancy for the unexpired term by selecting a person from a list of three prospective
appointees submitted by the same political party as the prior incumbent. The appointee shall be, at the time of the
appointment, and shall have been, for at least six months immediately [prior
to] before the appointment, a member of the political party. The appointee shall, at the time of
appointment, be a resident of the same senate district as the prior
incumbent. If the prior incumbent was
not a member of any political party, the governor shall appoint a person who is
at the time of appointment a resident of the same senate district as the prior
incumbent and is not and has not been, for at least six months immediately [prior
to] before the appointment, a member of any political party."
PART V
SECTION 48. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 49. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2030.
Report Title:
Elections; Voting by Mail; Voter Preregistration or Registration; DOE; State Public Charter School Commission; Ranked Choice Voting; State Senate; State House of Representatives; Vacancies
Description:
Makes housekeeping amendments to Hawaii's elections laws to clarify and improve the administration of elections by mail. Establishes a process, beginning on January 1, 2021, for preregistering or registering public school- and charter school-enrolled students to vote. Establishes ranked choice voting for special federal elections, special elections for vacant state senate or state house of representatives seats, and special elections for vacant county council seats. Amends filing deadlines for candidates attempting to fill vacant state senate seats. Effective 7/1/2030. (HD2)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
