Bill Text: HI SB2240 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Elections.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-07-05 - Act 190, 07/03/2024 (Gov. Msg. No. 1291). [SB2240 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2240-Amended.html
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2240 |
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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C.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature further finds that many persons reside in Hawaii on a part-time basis. This mobile population may be registered to vote in more than one state due to outdated registration records, thus challenging the accuracy of Hawaii's and other states' voter registration rolls. The legislature also finds that part of the process for a state to be admitted as a member of ERIC is for that state to send mailers to its residents who have driver's licenses but are not registered to vote, encouraging them to register to vote. Accordingly, the legislature finds that modernizing Hawaii's system of verifying voter registration data is essential to ensuring the integrity of Hawaii's voter registration rolls.
The purpose of this Act is to require:
(1) The office of elections to file an application with ERIC for the State to be admitted as a member of the organization; and
(2) The State and each county to use the information and services made available by ERIC to verify their voter rolls.
SECTION 2. Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§11- Electronic Registration Information
Center, Inc.; membership; voter registration; verification; annual budget
request. (a) No
later than June 30, 2025, the office of elections shall file an application
with Electronic Registration Information Center, Inc., for the State's
admission as a member of that organization.
(b)
The office of elections shall share with each county the information and
services made available by Electronic Registration Information Center, Inc.,
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the State's membership agreement with
the organization. The office of
elections and each county office that administers elections shall use
information and services made available by Electronic Registration Information
Center, Inc., to verify their respective voter registration rolls.
(c)
The office of elections shall take necessary actions to maintain the
State's membership with Electronic Registration Information Center, Inc.
(d) Beginning with fiscal year 2025-2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the office of elections shall request as part of its annual budget an appropriation from the legislature to pay the State's annual membership dues to Electronic Registration Information Center, Inc."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $125,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the office of elections to prepare and file an application with Electronic Registration Information Center, Inc., for the State to be admitted as a member of the organization, and for the office of elections to send mailers to all Hawaii residents who have driver's licenses but are not registered to vote, encouraging them to register to vote.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of elections for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
Report Title:
Office of Elections; Counties; ERIC; Electronic Registration Information Center, Inc.; Membership; Voter Registration; Verification; Application; Mailers; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Office of Elections to file an application with Electronic Registration Information Center, Inc. (ERIC), by 6/30/2025, for the State to be admitted as a member of that organization. Requires the Office of Elections to share with each county the information and services made available by ERIC pursuant to the State's membership agreement with that organization. Requires the Office of Elections and each county office that administers elections to use information and services made available by ERIC to verify their respective voter registration rolls. Appropriates funds. (CD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.