THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2461

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO VOTER INFORMATION.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that it is beneficial for voters in the State to have as much information as possible about a candidate running for office, including a candidate's position on pertinent issues.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the office of elections to:

     (1)  Prepare a questionnaire to which a candidate may respond; and

     (2)  Publish a candidate's responses to the questionnaire:

          (A)  On the office's website; and

          (B)  In the digital voter information guide.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part VIII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§11-    Candidate questionnaire; requirements; publication of candidate responses.  (a)  Beginning with the 2028 primary election, before each election cycle, the office of elections shall prepare a candidate questionnaire with the following questions:

     (1)  "What are your three legislative priorities?";

     (2)  "What committees would you like to be a member of if elected?"; and

     (3)  "What is your vision for the State ten years from now?".

     (b)  The office of elections shall issue the candidate questionnaire to each candidate running for a public office within       days from the date that a candidate files their nomination papers.

     (c)  It shall be optional for a candidate to respond to any question on the questionnaire described in subsection (a).  Should a candidate choose to respond to a question, the candidate shall provide a written response of not more than one hundred words to the office of elections.

     (d)  The office of elections shall publish a candidate's written responses, if any:

     (1)  On its website; and

     (2)  In the digital voter information guide,

no later than eighteen days before the day of the primary election."

     SECTION 3.  Section 11-122, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The digital voter information guide shall include:

     (1)  A photograph and short statement of less than one hundred fifty words for each candidate running for public office, to be prepared by the candidate; provided that the office of elections may uniformly limit the number of words for the candidate statement by applicable public office;

     (2)  The written responses to the candidate questionnaire of each candidate, if any, pursuant to section 11-  ;

    [(2)] (3)  The explanation drafted by the department of the attorney general of each state constitutional amendment that will be proposed to voters in the next general election pursuant to section 11-118.5(b); provided that the department of the attorney general shall transmit the materials required by this paragraph to the office of elections no later than seventy-five days before the general election;

    [(3)] (4)  A clear and concise explanation, drafted by the appropriate county corporation counsel, for each proposed county charter amendment, proposed initiative, and proposed referendum issue; provided that the respective corporation counsel shall:

          (A)  Translate the explanation into Olelo Hawaii and any other languages required under the federal Voting Rights Act, as specified by the office of elections; and

          (B)  Transmit the materials required by this paragraph to the office of elections no later than seventy‑five days before the general election; and

    [(4)] (5)  Information regarding mailing deadlines, places of deposit locations, same day voter registration, accessible voting locations, and opening hours of voter service centers."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.

 

 

 

Report Title:

Office of Elections; Digital Voter Information Guide; Candidates; Questionnaire

 

Description:

Requires the Office of Elections to prepare a questionnaire to which candidates may respond.  Requires the Office of Elections to publish any responses provided by a candidate on its website and in the digital voter information guide no later than eighteen days before a primary election.  Effective 1/1/2027.  (SD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.