On April 14, the Hawaii Senate passed HB 1716 after amending it. This is the bill that eases the definition of a qualified party. Because the Senate amended it, it must return to the House to see if the House agrees with the amendment.

As amended, the bill says that if a party has been on the ballot two elections in a row, then it is automatically on the ballot for the next ten years. Current law is similar, but says the party must have qualified three elections in a row, not two.

The Senate vote was unanimous, except that one Senator voted “yes with reservations.” Hawaii is the only state that lets legislators choose to cast a “yes” vote with no reservations, or instead to cast a “yes” vote with reservations.