LATE TESTIMONY

AMERICAN CIVil LIBERTIES UNIONof HAWAI'I

Committee:Hearing Date/Time:Place:Re:

Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business & Military AffairsTuesday, January 26,20 I0, 8:30 a.l11.Room 312TestimoJrv ofthe ACLU oUll11vaii ill Support o(J-{B. 1899, Relaling toMilitarv and Overseas Civilian Absentee Volers

Dear Chair McKelvey and Members of the Committee on Economic Revital.ization, Business &Military Affairs:

The American Civil Liberties Union ofHawaii ("ACLU of Hawaii") writes in support of II.B.1899, which seeks to implement voting provisions for uniformed services and overseas absenteevoters, as recommended by the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

The ACLU of Hawaii applauds this Committee for hearing this bill and recognizing theimportance of ensuring that all Hawaii's citizens are able to vote. Ensuring that militarymembers are able to vote will strengthen our democracy by ensuring that every citizen has avoice in the electoral process.

Increasing absentee voting will go far towards ensuring the integrity of Hawaii's electoral systemand increasing voter access and tumout. Absentee voting is an efficient and economical electoralsystem that has seen great success in a number of states.

The mission of the ACLU of Hawaii is to protect tbe fundamental freedoms enshrined in the U.S.and State Constitutiolls. The ACLU of Hawaii fulfills this through legislative, litigation, andpublic education programs statewide. The ACLU of Hawaii is a non-partisan and private non­profit organization that provides its services at no cost to the publ.ic and does not acceptgovernment funds. The ACLU of IIawaii has been serving flawaii for over 40 years.

Thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Sincerely,

Laurie A. TempleStaff AttorneyACLU of Hawaii

American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'iP.O. Box 3410Honolulu, Hawai'j 96801T: 808.522-5900F: 808.522-5909E: office@acluhawaiLorgwww.acluhawaii.org

LATE TESTIMONYSTATE OF HAWAII

OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICESTESTIMONY ON H.B. No. 1899, RELATING TO MILITARY AND OVERSEAS

CIVILIAN ABSENTEE VOTERS

COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION.BUSINESS, & MILITARYAFFAIRS

JANUARY 26,2010

Good morning Chair Angus L.K. McKelvey, Vice-Chair Isaac W. Choy, andmembers of the House Committee on Economic Revitalization, Business, &Military Affairs.

I am Mark Moses, Director of the Office of Veterans Services (OVS). Iappreciate this opportunity to support the intent of H.B. 1899. This measureimplements voting provisions for uniformed services and overseas absenteevoters, as recommended by the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

The right to voice your opinion through the vote is a basic American tenant.Although we support the intent of this bill, we defer to the agency that has directresponsibility for implementation of the program.

The OVS supports the intent of this measure as long as its implementation doesnot impact or replace the priorities set forth in the Executive Biennium Budget forFiscal Years 2009-2010.

Thank you for this opportunity to speak on behalf of Hawaii's veteran community.

I will respond to questions from the committee.

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ALOHA FROM OAHU ETERANS COUNCIL AND CENTERIeFrom: Oahu Veterans Counci1lCenter

1298 Kukila StreetHonolulu" Hawaii 96818...

Date: January 24, 2010

Time: q; 30

Number of Pages Including Cover:

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Phone Number: (808) 422-4000Fax Number: (808) 422-4001http://www.oahuveteranscenter.com

Fax Number: (808) 586-6161(808) 586-8514

Phone Number:

1899'· Relating t() Military & Overseas Civilian

Representative Angus L.K. MeChair Committee on EconomicRevitalization, Business & Mil AffairsRepresentative Cindy Evans, :Y ember

Subject: Testimony in Support ofAbsentee Voters.

From: Fred BallardOahu Veterans Council Preside t

IlEARING TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2010, 8:30 AM, CONFERENCE ROOM 312

To

Oahu Veterans Council Member Cal in Griffin will be present at hearing to provideadditional testimony.

It should be noted that the FAX numbe listed on the Notice ofHearing for submitting testi­mony less than 5 pages (586-68479) fo Oahu is incorrect.

[f all pages have not been received, pIe e call (808) 422-4000 or 423-6265

This transmission is intended only for the use 0 the person or office to which it is addressed and may containinformation that is privileged, confidential or pr tected b;y law. All others are hereby notified that receipt ofthis message does not waive any appHcable priv -lege or exemption from disclosure and that any dissemination.distrib.ution or copying 0ftbls communication i prohibited; Ifyou hav<'i -receiVed this commu:tication in error,'please notifY us immediately at the telephone n ber shown above. Thank you.

JAN-24-2010 09:59PM FAX:808 422 4001 ID:REP MCKELVEY PAGE: 001 R=96%

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OAHU VETERANS CENTEltEXECUTIVE DiRECTOR

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January 24.2010

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TE IIMONY I~ FAVOR OF HOUSE BILL 1899REL.4.TING TO M ITARY AND OVERSEAS CIVILIAN ABSENTEE VOTERS

HOUSE COMMI TEE ON ECONOmC REVITALIZATION, BUSINESS &MILITARY AFFAlRS

UESDAY, JAKUARY 26, 201G, 8:30 AM, ROOM 312

Aloha Chair Represe ative Angus L.K. McKelvey, Representative GlennWakai, ViceChair, and members 0 the Committee. My name is Fred Ballard, President Oahu Veter­ans Council. The 0 u Veterans Council is comprised ofover 35 Oahu veteran organi­zations that in turn re resent over 80,000 veterans and their families. The Council votedunanimously at its me ting last Saturday, January 23rd to communicate our completesupport ofHouse Bill 899.

One of the principal ri hts American's enjoy is the right to vote. Because service mem­bers and their families are stationed away from h(lme, they should not be denied theright to vote. The Co neil fully supports the implementation of voting provisions forthose serving our co try in uniform, their families and other overseas absentee voters.

The Oahu Veterans C uncil strongly supports the passage ofHouse Bill 1899.

Mahalo for allo-wing u the opportunity to testify in support of1his very important bill.

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1298 Kuf(ila St. HoE-Ma;t: sbaflard@oahuveteranscenter.com

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lulu) Hawaii 96818 (808) 422-4000 FAX: (808' 422-4001Website: http://wwvf.oahuveteranscenwr.com

JAN-24-2010 09:59PM FAX:808 422 4001 ID:REP MCKELVEY PAGE:002 R=96%