HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2180
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

rELATING TO VOTING BOARDS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the use of voting boards and electronic voting systems are incredibly common among state legislatures. The National Conference of State Legislatures found that nearly two-thirds of states have implemented electronic voting systems. The Wisconsin Assembly (1917), the Texas House (1919) and the Virginia House (1923) were the first chambers to install electronic voting systems, but almost half the legislative assemblies had such systems in place by 1980. Although many voting systems are more than ten years old, one trend that has been noticeable for several years is the willingness of state legislatures to upgrade their voting systems. Upgrades have been made in more than forty per cent of the chambers since 1990.

In 2008, the Wyoming legislature conducted a study about various voting methods in the legislature. The study found that there are many different options to produce an electronic voting board, such as through hard-wired display boards, projection screens, plasma screens, video monitors, or screens that blend into the background when not in use. The Hawaii State Legislature's Chambers are already equipped with a projector which creates one option for how transparent electronic voting could be displayed with little cost and no large renovations required.

The purpose of this Act is to have LRB conduct a feasibility study on electronic voting boards for both chambers of the Hawaii State Capitol.

SECTION 2. (a) The legislative reference bureau shall conduct a feasibility study that includes the costs associated with the implementation of an electronic voting board in both chambers of the legislature. The study shall examine:

(1) The type of electronic voting board technology available;

(2) The costs associated with installing, operating, and maintaining equipment in both chambers;

(3) The feasibility of retrofitting existing technology installed in the chambers; and

(4) The amount of time needed to implement an electronic voting board system.

(b) The legislative reference bureau shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than December 1, 2026.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Voting; LRB Study; Electronic Voting Board

Description:

Requires LRB to conduct a feasibility study associated with the implementation of an electronic voting board in both chambers of the legislature and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature.

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