THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2239

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 11-15.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  An application for voter registration shall be a part of the application for issuance of an identification card under section 286-303 and the application for issuance of a driver's license under section 286-111.  Applications for an identification card or driver's license shall not be processed until the applicant completes the portion of the application related to voter registration [and indicates the applicant's choice of whether to register to vote].  The applicant shall be automatically registered to vote unless the applicant affirmatively declines to be registered.  If already registered to vote, [the applicant shall be offered the opportunity to decline] any changes being made by the applicant to their name and address on the application shall be automatically updated for voter registration purposes[.] unless the applicant affirmatively declines the changes to be made to their voter registration record.

     The submission of the application for the issuance of an identification card under section 286-303 or the application for a driver's license under section 286-111 shall be deemed to authorize the examiner of drivers to collect and transmit the information necessary to register the applicant as a voter if the applicant made [such a] the choice or to make changes to the applicant's voter registration information unless the applicant declined [such] the changes.  The examiner of drivers shall electronically transmit the necessary information to the clerk of the county in which the applicant resides, election officials, and the online voter registration system pursuant to subsection (c).

     The examiner of drivers shall not transmit any information necessary to register an applicant as a voter if the applicant [made a choice not] affirmatively declined to be registered to vote nor transmit any information necessary to make changes to the applicant's voter registration information if the applicant affirmatively declined [such] the changes.  The examiner of drivers shall not transmit any information related to a voter application or changes to the applicant's voter registration information if the applicant presents a document demonstrating a lack of United States citizenship."

     SECTION 2.  Section 286-111.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

     "(a)  A qualified applicant for a new or renewed motor vehicle driver's license shall automatically be registered to vote with the clerk of the appropriate county upon completion of the driver's license application and application for voter registration as required in section 11-15.7 [if the qualified applicant makes a choice to register to vote] unless the applicant affirmatively declines to be registered on the application form.  If already registered to vote, [the qualified applicant shall be offered the opportunity to decline] any changes being made by the applicant to their name and address on the application shall be automatically updated for voter registration purposes[.] unless the applicant affirmatively declines the changes to be made to their voter registration record.

     (b)  The submission of the application for voter registration together with the license or permit application shall be deemed to authorize the examiner of drivers to collect and transmit the information necessary to register the qualified applicant as a voter if the applicant made [such a] the choice or to make changes to the qualified applicant's voter registration information unless the applicant declined [such] the changes.  The examiner of drivers shall electronically transmit the necessary information to the clerk of the county in which the qualified applicant resides, election officials, and the online voter registration system pursuant to section 11-15.7(c).

     The examiner of drivers shall not transmit any information necessary to register a qualified applicant as a voter if the applicant [made a choice not] affirmatively declined to be registered to vote nor transmit any information necessary to make changes to the qualified applicant's voter registration information if the applicant affirmatively declined [such] the changes.  The examiner of drivers shall not transmit any information related to a voter application or changes to the applicant's voter registration information if the applicant presents a document demonstrating a lack of United States citizenship."

     SECTION 3.  Section 286-303.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

     "(a)  A qualified applicant for a new, renewal, or duplicate identification card shall automatically be registered to vote with the clerk of the appropriate county upon completion of an application for identification card and the application for voter registration as required by section 11-15.7 [if the qualified applicant makes a choice to be registered to vote.] unless the applicant affirmatively declines to be registered on the application form.  If already registered to vote, [the qualified applicant shall be offered the opportunity to decline] any changes being made by the applicant to their name and address on the application shall be automatically updated for voter registration purposes[.] unless the applicant affirmatively declines the changes to be made to their voter registration record.

     (b)  The submission of the application for voter registration together with the application for the identification card shall be deemed to authorize the examiner of drivers to collect and transmit the information necessary to register the qualified applicant as a voter if the applicant made [such a] the choice or to make changes to the qualified applicant's voter registration information unless the applicant declined [such] the changes.  The examiner of drivers shall electronically transmit the necessary information to the clerk of the county in which the qualified applicant resides, election officials, and the online voter registration system pursuant to section 11-15.7(c).

     The examiner of drivers shall not transmit any information necessary to register a qualified applicant as a voter if the applicant [made a choice not] affirmatively declined to be registered to vote nor transmit any information necessary to make changes to the qualified applicant's voter registration information if the applicant affirmatively declined [such] the changes.

     The examiner of drivers shall not transmit any information related to a voter application or changes to the applicant's voter registration information if the applicant presents a document demonstrating a lack of United States citizenship."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

 

Report Title:

Automatic Voter Registration; Identification Card; Driver's License

 

Description:

Requires a person who applies for an identification card or driver's license to be automatically registered to vote unless the person affirmatively declines.  Requires the name and address of a person who applies for an identification card or driver's license and is registered to vote to be automatically updated on the person's voter registration record unless the person affirmatively declines.  (SD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.