RES 499 Draft 01 2012-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION NO. 499 14 A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII PASS LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH "VOTE BY MAIL" FOR ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND COUNTY, PRIMARY, GENERAL, AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII, AND TO MAKE AN APPROPRIATION FOR THIS METHOD OF VOTING. WHEREAS, in the 2010 and 2012 General Elections, the state of Hawaii was ranked 51 out of 50 states and the District of Columbia in voter turnout (Exhibit A); and WHEREAS, the 2014 Primary Election had 697,033 registered voters, and 23.5% voted absentee and walk-in. This was a 14.92% increase from the 2012 election; and WHEREAS, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 established new mandatory minimum standards for states to follow in several key areas of election administration. The law provides funding to help states meet these new standards, replace voting systems and improve election administration. HAVA also established the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to assist the states regarding HAVA compliance and to distribute HAVA funds to the states. EAC is also charged with creating voting system guidelines and operating the federal government's first voting system certification program. EAC is also responsible for maintaining the National Voter Registration form, conducting research, and administering a national clearinghouse on elections that includes shared practices, information for voters and other resources to improve elections. HAVA requires that the states implement the following new programs and procedures: • Provisional Voting • Voting Information • Updated and Upgraded Voting Equipment • Statewide Voter Registration Databases • Voter Identification Procedures • Administrative Complaint Procedures; and WHEREAS, in August 2014, Hurricane/Tropical Storm Iselle made landfall on the islands of Hawaii and Maui, bringing high winds, hurricane speed gusts, and heavy rains that