HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1544

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that voter turnout in the State remains low and continues to decline.  In 2016, Hawaii had the lowest voter turnout in the United States.  Only 52.6 per cent of registered Hawaii voters cast ballots in the 2018 general election.  This represents a sharp decline in voter turnout over the years, as approximately ninety-three per cent of registered voters cast ballots in the State's first gubernatorial election in 1959.

     Additionally, the State has a historically low rate of registering voters.  According to a 2016 estimate from the United States Census Bureau, Hawaii had the lowest percentage of registered voters in the country.  In 2016, only 49.8 per cent of qualified voters were registered to vote, well below the national average of 64.2 per cent.  Therefore, of the 1,111,117 people in Hawaii who were qualified to vote in the 2016 election, 557,780 were not registered to vote.

     The legislature also finds that states with both the highest voter registration rate and highest voter turnout have adopted automatic voter registration programs.  Massachusetts, Oregon, and Colorado have all adopted automatic voter registration programs, and each of those states' voter registration rates are some of the highest in the nation, at 68.1 per cent, 67.4 per cent, and 68.2 per cent, respectively.  Moreover, Massachusetts had the eighth highest voter turnout in the 2016 election at 68.1 per cent, and Oregon had the highest at 80.33 per cent.

     The legislature further finds that voting is the cornerstone of American democracy, and while other states have been in the news for suppressing voters, Hawaii, by automatically registering qualified voters, can convey a message that voting is an unquestioned fundamental right that should be exercised.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a task force to examine automatic voter registration in the State.

     SECTION 2.  There is established within the department of the attorney general for administrative purposes a task force to examine the implementation of an automatic voter registration system in the State.

     (b)  The task force shall be composed of the following members or their designees:

     (1)  The attorney, who shall serve as the chairperson;

     (2)  The chair of the senate committee with jurisdiction over the judiciary;

     (3)  The chair of the house of representatives committee with jurisdiction over the judiciary;

     (4)  The chief election officer; and

     (5)  The appropriate county clerk of each county.

Members of the task force may recommendation additional members to the task force, subject to the chairperson's approval.

     (c)  The task force in conducting its duties, the task force shall examine:

     (1)  The use of certain forms submitted to the State, including state tax returns and applications for public assistance, as a means of automatically registering an individual to vote;

     (2)  The methodology to track individuals who are not registered to vote and how to incorporate that system with an automatic voter registration system; and

     (3)  A system to allow individuals who are automatically registered to vote to opt out of the automatic voter registration.

     (d)  Members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred, including travel expenses.

     (e)  The task force shall submit a report to the legislature of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, no later than thirty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2020.

     (f)  The task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2020.

     SECTION 2.  This Act shall take effect on January 28, 2081.


 


 

Report Title:

Automatic Voter Registration; Task Force

 

Description:

Establishes a task force to examine the implementation of an automatic voter registration system in the State.  (HB1544 HD1)

 

 

 

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