STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1325

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1217

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 1217, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Make the inclusion of an affidavit application for voter registration mandatory for all driver's license and identification card applications;

 

     (2)  Automatically register applicants who elect to register to vote; and

 

     (3)  Require the Department of Transportation, the counties, and election personnel to share pertinent information for voter registration purposes.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Office of Elections, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Pono Hawaii Initiative, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations, Transform Hawaii Government, AVR Hawaii, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, and seventeen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that in Hawaii fewer than four out of ten eligible voters participated in the 2018 elections, the lowest voter turnout rate in the nation.  Your Committee believes that improving access to voting is fundamental to the democratic process.  Automatic voter registration eliminates unnecessary barriers to voting caused by the time and effort needed for antiquated methods.  This measure will create a more efficient, convenient, and modernized registration system for residents of the State and encourage more residents to uphold their civic duty to vote.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1217, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

 

 

 

________________________________

LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair