Lawmakers pass automatic voter registration bill

Lawmakers on Tuesday passed a measure that would make Hawaii the latest state to implement automatic voter registration.

State Senate Bill 159 passed a floor vote in the Senate with 23 “ayes” and one “aye” vote with reservations, while the 51-member House voted to pass the measure with one representative voting “no.” The bill now advances to Gov. David Ige for his signature. If signed into law, it goes into effect July 1.

The measure makes an application for voter registration part of all state identification card and driver’s license applications. It also ensures changes to names and addresses of people already registered to vote are automatically updated unless the person declines.

Voter registration information would be shared only among the counties, state Department of Transportation, election personnel and the online voter registration system.

“This is a big improvement for Hawaii’s voters,” said Helen Hemmes, president of the League of Women Voters of Hawaii County, in a prepared statement. “Automatic voter registration will provide more convenience, help ensure the accuracy of voter rolls and help ensure compliance with federal voting rights laws. …”

Supporters of the measure said automatic voter registration would make registering to vote more convenient and cost-effective, and would keep the voter registration rolls more current. Opposition to the bill noted a lack of citizenship requirement and concerns about privacy.

More than 88,600 ballots were cast in the Nov. 3, 2020, general election. That’s a turnout of nearly 70% of Hawaii County’s 127,348 registered voters. Sixty-six percent of ballots cast in the general election were done via mail.

Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.