Bill Text: HI SB2444 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Voter Registration; Verification; Appropriation ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-04-28 - Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-16 2:00PM in conference room 325. [SB2444 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-SB2444-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2444 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.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:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the participation of eligible voters in elections is vital to American democracy. More than fifty-one million eligible citizens nationwide remain unregistered to vote, one in eight voter registration records contain a serious error, and many voter registration systems remain inefficient and largely based on outdated technology.
The Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2012 to help states improve the accuracy of voter registration rolls by using secure data-matching tools. ERIC uses the voter registration rolls of member states and several other databases, such as driver's licensing records, Social Security Administration records, and the United States Postal Service's national change of address registry to compare voting lists. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia now participate in ERIC and receive, as member states, reports that show voters who have moved within the respective states, voters who have moved out of the state, voters with duplicate registrations within the state, voters who have passed away, and individuals who are potentially eligible to vote and have not yet registered to vote.
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 This mobile population may be registered to vote in more than one state due to outdated registration records, thus challenging the accuracy of Hawaii's and other states' voter registration rolls. 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 join the Electronic Registration Information Center;
(2) The State and each county to use the Electronic Registration Information Center to verify their voter rolls; and
(3) Any documents or images of driver's licenses and civil identification card information maintained by the department of transportation or the counties to be electronically provided to election officials and the statewide voter registration system.
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- Driver license and state identification card databases. The databases maintained or operated by the counties or the department of transportation containing driver's license and civil identification card information, including any documents or images, shall be provided electronically to election officials and the statewide voter registration system to allow for the timely processing of voter registration applications and ensure the integrity of the voter registration rolls or for any other government purpose, as determined by the chief election officer."
SECTION 3. No later than May 8, 2017, the office of elections shall join the Electronic Registration Information Center. The office of elections shall share with each county the information and services provided by the Electronic Registration Information Center pursuant to terms of the office's membership agreement with that organization.
The office of elections and each county office that administers elections shall use information and services provided by the Electronic Registration Information Center to verify their respective voter registration rolls.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $25,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the office of elections to join the Electronic Registration Information Center.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of elections for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. Beginning prior to fiscal year 2017-2018, the office of elections shall request as part of its annual budget an appropriation from the legislature to pay annual dues for Hawaii's participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center.
SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Voter Registration; Verification; Appropriation
Description:
Authorizes the electronic transmission of databases containing driver's license and civil identification card information to election officials and the statewide voter registration system. Requires the Office of Elections to join the Electronic Registration Information Center and share information with counties to encourage voter participation and ensure integrity of voter registration rolls. Appropriates funds. (SB2444 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
