Report Title:

Election Day Poll Watchers

Description:

Requires each county to submit its list of poll watchers not later than 4:30 p.m. on the forty-fifth day prior to any election.  Requires anyone serving as a poll watcher to receive instruction and certification from authorized instructor.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1551
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ELECTION DAY POLL WATCHERS.

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

SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that over the years there has been an increase in conflicts between election day poll watchers and precinct officials.  Poll watchers are appointed by qualified political parties not later then ten days prior to the election.  Many of these poll watchers do not avail themselves of the poll worker training of the State.  As a result, many poll watchers are not informed as to the procedures at the polling place, and therefore create problems in the polling place on election day.

The purpose of this Act is to require all poll watchers to be appointed not later than forty-five days prior to any election, and require attendance of training and certification prior to serving as poll watchers on election day.

SECTION 2.  Section 11-77, Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended as follows:

1.  By amending subsection (a) to read:

"(a)  Each qualified political party shall be entitled to appoint no more than one watcher in each precinct and absentee polling place in which the candidates of such party are on the ballot.  Each party shall submit its list of watchers not later than 4:30 p.m., on the [tenth] forty-fifth day prior to any election to the chief election officer or the clerk in county elections.  All watchers shall serve without expense to the State or county.  All watchers so appointed shall be registered voters.  No person shall serve as a watcher unless that person has received instruction, and has been certified by the authorized instructor to that affect.  No person shall serve as a watcher who could not qualify to serve as a precinct official under section 11-72(3)."

2.  By amending subsections (d) and (e) to read:

     "(d)  The watcher shall call the attention of the chairperson to any violations of the election laws that the watcher observes.  After the chairperson's attention is called to the violation the chairperson shall make an attempt to correct such violation.  If the chairperson fails to correct the violation, the watcher may appeal to the chief election officer or the clerk of the county[.] in county elections.

(e)  The watcher shall be permitted to observe the operations of the absentee polling place.  Any violation of the election laws shall be reported to the county clerk."

SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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