STAND. COM. REP. NO. 678

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 383

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 383 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) Require that any person who applies for an identification card or driver's license be automatically registered to vote; and

(2) Require that the applicant be provided the opportunity to opt-out of voter registration.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from West Hawaii GOP and ten individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Elections.

Your Committee finds that increased voter engagement and participation is beneficial to the civic health of the State. Act 126, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, requires that a qualified state identification card and driver's license applicant choose whether to register to vote by opting-in. Provisions allowing applicants to affirmatively decline, or opt-out, to register to vote empower voters and ensure that only willing applicants will be entered into the voter registration database. This measure will automatically register a qualified applicant to vote and offer the applicant an opportunity to opt-out of voter registration.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 383 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair