Allows election day voter registration upon showing of proper picture identification or having a registered voter vouch on oath that the individual is a resident of the precinct.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that elections are fundamentally important to the quality of our system of government. The legislature further finds that the voter registration process should encourage as much of the community as possible to participate in elections.

In order to increase citizen participation in elections in Hawaii, this Act extends the voter registration deadline closer to the election, and allows eligible voters to register to vote at the polling place on the day of the election provided certain requirements are met.

The legislature believes that the voter registration deadline can be moved closer to the election without interfering with logistical requirements for conducting elections. The legislature further believes that allowing voter registration on election day would significantly increase voter participation in Hawaii elections.

The legislature further finds that six states, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, already allow voter registration on election day. These six states have voter turnouts fifteen percent higher than the national average turnout. The election day voter registration has increased voter turnout without any increase in incidences of fraud. In Minnesota, nineteen percent of the voters in the November 2000 election registered at the polls on the day of the election, and in Wisconsin, fifteen percent of the voters in each presidential election are estimated to be voters registering on election day.

The legislature further finds that requiring proof of residency for election day voter registration has protected other states from voter fraud and mistakes while at the same time encouraging greater participation in elections.

The purpose of this Act is to extend the voter registration deadline and allow voter registration on election day.

SECTION 2. Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§11-A Election day registration. (a) Persons seeking to vote on primary, special primary, special, general, or special general election day may register on that election day by appearing during the hours of voting in person at the polling place for the precinct in which the person maintains residence, by completing an application to register pursuant to section 11-15, making an oath in the form prescribed by the chief election officer, and providing proof of residence.

(b) Proof of residency may be provided by one of the following:

(c) Nothing in this section shall allow a person to avoid fulfilling any requirements of registration pursuant to section 11-15.

§11-B Prohibitions; penalty. No person shall intentionally:

A violation of this section is a felony."

SECTION 3. Section 11-24, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

"§11-24 [Closing register;] Registration before election day; list of voters. (a) At 4:30 p.m. on the [thirtieth]           day prior to each primary, special primary, or special election (but if the day is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday then at 4:30 p.m. on the first working day immediately thereafter), the general county register shall be closed to registration for persons seeking to vote at the primary, special primary, or special election and remain closed to registration until after the election, subject to change only as provided in sections 11-21(c), 11-22, 11-25, 11-26, 11- , and this section.

(b) Notwithstanding the closing of the register for registration before election day to vote at the primary or special primary election, the register shall remain open for the registration of persons seeking to vote at the general or special general election, until 4:30 p.m. on the thirtieth day prior to the general or special general election (but if the day is a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday then at 4:30 p.m. on the first working day immediately thereafter), at the end of which period the general county register shall be closed to registration and remain closed until after the general or special general election next following, subject to change only as provided in sections 11-21(c), 11-22, 11-25, 11-__, and 11-26."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $       , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, for developing an election day voter registration system.

SECTION 5. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of elections for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 7. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 4 and 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2001.