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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GRC 007 10/04/2011 2010-2012REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DATE: October 4, 2011 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawai`i TIME: 9:31 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Re: Comm. 390/Resolution 170 -11 Your Committee on Governmental Relations, to which was referred Resolution 170 -11, reports as follows: Resolution No. 170 -11, transmitted by Council Member Brenda Ford via Communication No. 390, dated September 22, 2011, requests the Legislature of the State of Hawai`i to enact a bill to establish a pilot program for vote by mail for all federal, state, and county primary, general, and special elections in the county of Hawai`i, and to make an appropriation for this pilot program. Ms. Ford entered a motion to amend with Ms. Smart second. Communication 390.1 enters the amendment which replaces exhibit A of Resolution 170 -11. This amendment corrects errors in the previous version and is a full replacement. There is new item (11- 91.5(e)). The motion carried with 7 ayes and 2 excused. Ms. Ford has supported vote by mail (VBM) each term she has been in office. She notes that this method works in many sections of the country. Her bill provides several attachments to provide examples that help to explain the program and statistics on the potential for a Hawai`i County pilot program. This bill would not become law until 2014 and therefore plenty of time to plan and implement. There are currently three methods to vote, absentee mail -in, absentee walk - in, and walk -in general. We need to improve voter turnout. This State has the lowest turn out in the country and we need to reach out and help them to vote. People have trouble getting to the polls due to traffic, accidents and transportation. With materials available they have time to study, practice and learn how to vote. Mr. Hoffman is in favor of a pilot to improve voter turnout. Is there any estimate of cost? Ms. Ford replied that there would be no saving in the initial year but it would not cost more than what we are already spending. Savings would occur in succeeding years at an estimated 10% to 30 %. Mr. Onishi attended WIR Conference last year and had opportunity to speak with an Oregon representative on this subject. That person said that they had a good turnout initially but turnout diminished in time. The message he, Mr. Onishi, hears in his district that voter turnout is poor due to lack of quality of candidates and that "they don't listen to us ". His first term had 66% to 67% voter turnout. We already have mail -in by request. Has Ms. Ford spoken to anyone at the GRC Report No. 7 GRC -7 Page 2 Comm. 391/Res. 170 -11 State level? Ms. Ford, replied no but experience with them on this indicates they are reluctant to change. Mr. Onishi suggests we contact the State to see if they would want this due to cost. Mr. Yoshimoto asked Ms. Ford if there wasn't a previous resolution on this subject. She replied that there was but died in committee. This one is identical with the addition of a FAQ section and a justification sheet. Mr. Yoshimoto asked if this bill eliminates our current voting options and would only have VBM? Ms. Ford replied yes and has shown to improve voter turnout. Mr. Yoshimoto likes more options and sees the advantages of VBM but would like to see it as an additional option. There was a 53% turnout in the Presidential election year and we should reach out to make voting more convenient. The current system provides three options and that's good but would rather add than to eliminate. Ms. Smart disagreed with Mr. Yoshimoto. She grew up with VBM in Oregon and feels people don't vote due to the inconveniences. The best part of this bill is voter education by presenting information pro and con on issues. This is a very good system. People will be able to read, understand and practice before sending in their ballot. Mr. Yoshimoto does not disagree that this may work in Oregon but lets not eliminate what we have but just add to it as another option. Mr. Yagong personally enjoys voting and bring the family to show the importance and process. Over the past several elections the turnout has been very dismal. Question is if we should do something to improve voter turnout. Key consideration is convenience. The public travels far to work then. Going to vote won't happen even with employers giving time off to vote. Many have two jobs and going to another location to vote is inconvenient and will not happen. With the complexity and technology of today's world we should make things more convenient. Hawai`i County could lead the way like we did in clean elections. We need to change with the times and offer improved convenience. Mr. Hoffman agrees with the intent of this bill and the state has a dismal voter turnout record. Statistics only show registered voters so the numbers are even smaller when we consider the total unregistered. Clean elections met with lots of objection but is now working. Mr. Yoshimoto sees this bill as taking away options but this actually reduces cost. The state has already reduced voting districts and in district 9 its been reduced from nine to 3. Resistance to change is known lets open our minds for a pilot program. Let's give this one a chance. Mr. Blas supports this bill. He lives in a rural area and convenience is a good thing. He sees savings in money and in travel costs. Additionally, our seniors and the disabled won't need rides. Mr. Onishi, speaking of his finding at a WIR conference last year, he suggests that we should speak to the Oregon representative he spoke with and ask about the success in Oregon. We do have options. Bottom line is education and we should address that first. We need to connect with the state elections office to get support first. Asked Mr. Pilago to make contact with Oregon representative at next WIR conference. Mr. Pilago agreed. Mr. Yoshimoto feels that convenience is served by the need to improve education. Voters in the last election were 81% walk -in and 19% by mail. Better to have more options and improve education. GRC -7 Page 3 Comm. 391 /Res. 170 -11 Ms. Smart commented that contacting the Oregon representative from last years WIR conference may be good offers that we use phone books and poll Oregon people directly. Ms. Ford suggests we need to focus on who is important. Its not the State Elections office, its not this Council but it's the voters. Our current method is too expensive and difficult to get workers. Feds have a program named Help America Vote. We need help as being the worst in the country. Three options have a higher cost than one option with increased convenience. Mr. Onishi replied that the Oregon representative has seen what is happening there. Your Committee is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution 170 -11, as amended to Draft 2, recommends its adoption. sl Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS A K. AN L PILA : , HAIR GRC ' ' ' ORT NO. 7 ADOPTED: OCT 19 2011 AYES NOES A &E EX BLAS X FORD X HOFFMANN X IKEDA X ONISHI X PILAGO X SMART X YAGONG X YOSHIMOTO X Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS A K. AN L PILA : , HAIR GRC ' ' ' ORT NO. 7 ADOPTED: OCT 19 2011