Report Title:

Election Day Registration

 

Description:

Authorizes voter registration on election day.  Requires office of elections to develop an election day registration system.  Makes appropriation. (HB1133 HD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1133

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a voter registration deadline thirty days prior to an election does not encourage participation in the electoral process and that many citizens do not become passionate about the electoral process until after the registration deadline.  The legislature further finds that election day registration will allow more citizens to participate in the electoral process.

The purpose of this Act is to provide for voter registration on election day; provided the voter can prove residency in the district.

SECTION 2.  Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§11-     Election day registration.  (a)  Persons seeking to vote on primary, special primary, special, general, or special general election day may register on that election day by appearing during the hours of voting in person at the polling place for the precinct in which the person maintains residence, by completing an application to register pursuant to section 11-15, making an oath in the form prescribed by the chief election officer, and providing proof of residence.

     (b)  Proof of residency may be provided by two of the following:

     (1)  A valid Hawaii driver's license;

     (2)  A Hawaii civil identification certificate issued pursuant to section 846-30;

     (3)  A utility bill showing the voter's current home address;

     (4)  A bank statement showing the voter's current home address; or

     (5)  A valid student identification that:

         (A)  Shows proof of having met the requirements of section 304A-402; and

         (B)  Contains a photograph of the person identified.

(c)  Nothing in this section shall allow a person to avoid fulfilling any requirements of registration pursuant to section 11-15."

SECTION 3.  Section 11-24, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

"§11-24 [Closing register;] Registration before election day; list of voters.  (a)  At 4:30 p.m. on the thirtieth day prior to each primary, special primary, or special election (but if the day is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday then at 4:30 p.m. on the first working day immediately thereafter), the general county register shall be closed to registration for persons seeking to vote at the primary, special primary or special election and remain closed to registration until after the election, subject to change only as provided in sections 11-21(c), 11-22, 11-25, 11-26, 11-  , and this section.

(b)  Notwithstanding the closing of the register for registration before election day to vote at the primary or special primary election, the register shall remain open for the registration of persons seeking to vote at the general or special general election, until 4:30 p.m. on the thirtieth day prior to the general or special general election (but if the day is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday then at 4:30 p.m. on the first working day immediately thereafter), at the end of which period the general county register shall be closed to registration and remain closed until after the general or special general election next following, subject to change only as provided in section 11-21(c), 11-22, 11-25, [and] 11-26[.], and 11-  ."

SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for developing an election day voter registration system.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of elections for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New material is underscored.

SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2050; provided that section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2007.