Digital voter information guide
HRS §11-122
in effect11-122. Digital voter information guide
(a) The office of elections shall:
(1) Prepare a digital voter information guide, which
shall be posted on the office of elections website in a screen
reader-accessible format for voters with special needs who are unable to read
standard print due to disability;
(2) Provide a translation of the digital voter
information guide in Olelo Hawaii on its website; and
(3) Provide printed copies of the digital voter
information guide to all public libraries for viewing by the public.
(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 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) 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) Information regarding mailing deadlines, places
of deposit locations, same day voter registration, accessible voting locations,
and opening hours of voter service centers.
(c) The office of elections shall prepare and
mail with each ballot for a primary election a notice to voters that a digital
voter information guide is available on the office of elections website. The
notice shall be sent by electronic mail to all voters with special needs who
have registered to receive alternate format ballots.
(d) Information made available over the
Internet pursuant to this section shall meet or exceed the most current,
ratified standards under section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973
(29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0
adopted by the World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility.
(e) Notwithstanding chapter 92F and any other
law to the contrary, the contents of subsection (b) shall not be released to
any requestor in whole or in part before the public release of the entire
guide.
[L 2023, c 115, §2; am L 2024, c 14, §1]
Source: Hawaii State Legislature (capitol.hawaii.gov), via Internet Archive capturesURL: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol01_Ch0001-0042F/HRS0011/HRS_0011-0122.htmFetched: 11/10/2026