90-22

Posted on Jun 21, 1990 in Formal Opinions

Opinion Letter No. 90-22
June 21, 1990
Computer Tapes Containing Voter Registration Data

[NOTE:  The statutes at issue in this opinion were amended by Act 156, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990 (see HRS ch. 11), which may materially affect the conclusion reached in similar future opinions. See instead OIP Op. Ltr. No. 04-08 at 5-6.]

While section 11-14(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides that the clerk may release computer tapes containing voter registration data, we do not believe that this provision was intended to give the clerk discretion to withhold access to the computer tapes, since voter registration affidavits are specifically made public under chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Thus, it does not appear that this statute was intended to give the counties the authority to pass ordinances that restrict access to the tapes to certain organizations or for particular purposes.

full text