Bill Text: HI HB2126 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Voter Registration.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-04 - The committee(s) on JUD recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB2126 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HB2126-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2126 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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 52.7 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-four 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 registered voters. According to a 2016 estimate from the United States Census Bureau, Hawaii had the lowest percentage of registered voters in the country at 49.8 per cent, well below the national average of 64.2 per cent. Therefore, of the 1,064,000 people in Hawaii who were qualified to vote in the 2016 election, 534,128 were not registered to vote.
The legislature further finds that voting at a young age creates and empowers life-long voters. Data shows that after an individual votes once, the individual often becomes a habitual voter. Therefore, by facilitating the ability of those sixteen years of age and older to preregister or register to vote, the State will be empowering a new generation of lifelong voters.
SECTION 2. Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§11- Automatic
voter preregistration and registration; opt out. (a)
Beginning January 1, 2021, any person who:
(1) Is enrolled in a public high school or public charter school;
(2) Is otherwise qualified to preregister or register to vote under this part;
(3) Is at least sixteen years of age; and
(4) Properly completes and submits a voter registration affidavit,
shall be automatically preregistered or
registered to vote as provided in this section.
(b) Between January 1
and January 31 of each year, the superintendent of education shall provide and
may collect from each public school student who is at least sixteen years of
age a voter
affidavit containing
the information required by section 11-15 to allow the student to preregister
or register to vote or to opt out of preregistering or registering to vote. The superintendent of education may transmit
the voter registration affidavit to the clerk of the county in which the
applicant resides; provided that the superintendent of education shall not
maintain, scan, review, or copy any voter affidavit nor transmit any
information maintained by the department of education.
(c) Between January 1 and January 31 of each
year, an authorizer, as defined in section 302D-1, shall provide and may
collect from each charter school student who is at least sixteen years of age a
voter affidavit containing the information required by section 11-15 to allow
the student to preregister or register to vote or to opt out of preregistering or
registering to vote. The authorizer may
transmit the voter registration affidavit to the clerk of the county in which
the applicant resides; provided that the authorizer shall not maintain, scan,
review, or copy any voter affidavit nor transmit any information maintained by
the state public charter school commission.
(d) The clerk shall determine whether the
applicant is currently preregistered or registered in the general county
register."
SECTION 3. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart C, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Automatic voter preregistration and registration. The board and the superintendent, in consultation with the office of elections, may adopt policies as necessary to maximize and facilitate the preregistration and registration of qualifying students to vote as provided in section 11- ."
SECTION 4. Chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302D- Automatic voter preregistration and
registration. The commission,
in consultation with the office of elections, may adopt policies as necessary
to maximize and facilitate the preregistration and registration of qualifying
students to vote as provided in section 11- ."
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Voter Preregistration or Registration; DOE; State Public Charter School Commission; Opt Out
Description:
Establishes a process, beginning on January 1, 2021, for preregistering or registering public school- and charter school-enrolled students to vote.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
