SB2821

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2821
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

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 during the 2024 general election there were 860,868 registered voters statewide. Of these registered voters, 522,236 cast a ballot, with 39,158 using a voter service center as opposed to engaging in the mail-in voting system. When compared to 2020, 36.2% more Hawaii voters opted to vote in-person in 2024, showcasing the most accurate demand for voter service centers since the mail-in voting system debuted.

The legislature further finds it took many Hawaii voters hours to cast their vote in-person on election day in November 2024, with some waiting in lines for as long as six hours. In Honolulu County, just two voter service centers were open for in-person same-day voting, servicing 562,606 registered voters. In Hawaii County, two voter service centers were open relative to 135,077 registered voters. In Maui County, four voter service centers were open for 115,009 registered voters. And in Kauai County, just one voter service center serviced 48,176 registered voters.

While mail-in voting is the most vastly utilized voting method, it is just as important to continue to offer in-person same-day voting options that are geographically accessible and capable of servicing our growing registered voting populations.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to designate the required number of in-person same-day voter service centers to provide for convenient and expedient access to voters as they fulfill their constitutional right.

SECTION 2. Section 11-109, Hawaii Revised Statues, is amended to read as follows:

" §11-109 Voter service centers; places of deposit. (a) Voter service centers shall be established by the clerks to service the particular needs of each county's voters.

(b) In each county, a voter service center shall be open from the tenth business day preceding the day of the election during regular business hours until the closing hour of voting and at the same times statewide. The clerks may operate additional voter service centers with varying days or hours of operation to service the voters of particular areas that otherwise could not support the operation of a voter service center for ten business days or the same times statewide, with the number of voter service centers open the day of the general election to equal or surpass one voter service center for every 20,000 registered voters, or portion thereof, in counties with a population of 500,000 or less. In counties with a population greater than 500,000, voter service centers open the day of the general election must equal or surpass one voter service center for every 50,000 registered voters, or portion thereof. Voter service center locations shall be equitably distributed across the county and consider variables including proximity to public transportation, availability of parking, geographic features that affect access and convenience, access for voters with disabilities, and the location of population centers. Anyone standing in line at a voter service center at the closing hour of voting with the intent of voting shall be permitted to do so. A person eligible to vote but who is not registered to vote standing in line at a voter service center at the closing hour of voting shall be permitted to apply under section 11-15.2 to register to vote and subsequently vote that election day. To the extent the registration clerk determines the applicant to be registered at that time, the applicant will be permitted to vote a regular ballot. If additional time is required to process the application, the applicant shall be provided a provisional ballot.

(c) Each voter service center shall provide the services specified in section 11-1 under the definition of "voter service center".

(d) The clerks may designate and provide for places of deposit to be open as early as the mailing of ballots by the clerks; provided that the locations and apparatus for receiving voted ballots can be securely maintained during the period of use for each election, and as may be permitted by the operational hours."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________