Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Wednesday, March 6, 2019
House Passes Election Changes, Ethics, Campaign Spending Reforms
By News Release @ 10:07 PM :: 4331 Views :: Ethics, Office of Elections

HOUSE LEADERSHIP DETAILS ELECTIONS AND ETHICS REFORM BILLS

Representatives say bills also address money in politics, fight public corruption

News Release from House Democratic Caucus, March 6, 2019

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – House Leadership and Representatives gathered today to discuss a package of more than a dozen bills passed out of the House this session designed to reform elections, address money in politics, and fight public corruption.

“We are making it our priority to take proactive steps to ensure public confidence in our elections process and government,” said House Speaker Scott K. Saiki.

“These bills represent the most significant reforms in Hawaiʻi’s elections and ethics laws in a generation," said House Judiciary Chair Chris Lee, introducer of a number of the bills. "They will engage new voters, resolve election recounts, and prevent questions over conflicts of interest and money in politics here in Hawaiʻi that currently plague Washington, D.C.”

Representative Aaron Ling Johanson, Chair of the Labor & Public Employment Committee and introducer of HB391 HD2, added "It's important to reduce the potential for influence peddling and ensure that those who wield power in public trust positions cannot exert disproportionate influence over elections. Establishing a state version of the federal Hatch Act will help better protect the integrity of our elections."

"This past election cycle has made it clear that our state needs an automatic recount law on the books," said Representative Chris Todd, who introduced HB428. "The integrity of our elections should never be in question and is the foundation of a healthy democracy and public trust."

"With declining voter turnout, I wanted to make it even easier to vote, especially for our young people. This will allow them to take up their civic duty to chart the future of this state," said Representative Stacelynn K.M. Eli, who introduced HB 1217 HD1. "That power comes from power of the vote. It is my hope that this will encourage young people and everyone in the state to engage in the voting process."

The following comprise the package of elections and ethics reform bills passed by the House:

Engaging More Voters

HB1248 HD1 Makes it easier to vote by establishing voting by mail for all elections statewide for 2020 and expanding in-person voting and ballot drop-off hours.

HB428 HD1 Requires an automatic recount of votes cast when the difference is equal to or less than 100 votes or 0.5 percent, whichever is greater.

HB709 HD1 Proposes an amendment to the State Constitution which enables laws allowing for the automatic recounts of votes in an election.

HB1485 HD2 Establishes a process for automatically preregistering or registering public school students to vote who are at least 16.

HB1217 HD1 Requires that people who apply for a driver's license or identification card are automatically registered to vote.

Reforming Campaign Finance and Money in Politics

HB1380 HD1 Creates a comprehensive public funding program for candidates for county elections beginning in 2022.

HB162 HD1 Significantly increases fines for campaign finance violations. Prohibits the establishment of noncandidate committees that only make independent expenditures within 14 days of any election.

HB1490 HD2 Closes a loophole in the prohibition on political contributions by state and county contractors by including officers or board members of those companies as prohibited donors.

HB163 HD1 Adds campaign spending report filing deadlines of April 30 and October 1 of a general election year for candidates and candidate committees to ensure greater transparency before absentee ballots mail out.

Addressing Conflicts of Interest

HB1381 HD1 Prohibits former legislators and executive branch employees subject to senate confirmation from engaging in lobbying for 24 months after termination of employment as a legislator or executive branch employee.

HB361 HD1 Prohibits the governor or any county mayor from receiving any outside compensation or emolument while in office.

HB391 HD2 Enacts state laws mirroring the federal Hatch Act which restricts state employees and officers who perform adjudicatory, regulatory, law enforcement, or investigatory duties from participating in partisan political activities.

HB712 HD1 Requires candidates for governor, mayor or president to disclose their tax returns to the public to ensure their decisions are made in the best interest of the public and not their own financial gain.

---30---

SA: Another bill would use ranked-choice voting for special elections and partisan primary contests.

2019: HB210: House Republicans Unanimously Oppose Ranked-Choice Voting

2013: LA Times: California ‘Non-Partisan’ Primary ‘Weakened Democracy’

2011 Debate on RCV/Instant Runoff:

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT