Hawaii House Bill HB1606

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/24
• Refer: 1/24/24

Caption

Relating To Arrangement Of Candidate Names On Ballots.

Impact

If enacted, this bill will amend Chapter 11 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, specifically requiring that any new contracts by the Office of Elections for ballot preparation or vote counting must include the capability to randomize candidate names. The bill also instructs the Office of Elections to effectively communicate to both voters and candidates that names may not necessarily follow alphabetical order. This change is expected to be implemented starting from the 2026 election cycle, indicating a significant shift towards more equitable election practices.

Summary

House Bill 1606 aims to reform the arrangement of candidate names on ballots in Hawaii. Current law mandates that candidates are listed alphabetically, which studies have shown gives an unfair advantage to those listed first. This bill proposes that names be randomized on ballots to ensure each candidate has an equal chance of being listed first, based on practices observed in other states like California and Ohio. The intent is to enhance the fairness of the electoral process by mitigating the biases associated with alphabetical ordering.

Contention

While the bill is primarily aimed at ensuring fairness in elections, potential points of contention could arise regarding the technological feasibility and associated costs of implementing randomization in county election systems. Moreover, discussions might also revolve around the extent of effectiveness and public understanding of randomized ballot systems, as well as the logistical challenges of ensuring uniformity across precincts.