STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1175

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 108

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 108 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER TO CONVENE AN AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION TASK FORCE TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AND IMPLEMENTING AN AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Request the Chief Election Officer to convene an automatic voter registration task force to determine the feasibility, cost savings, and cost impact of implementing an automatic voter registration system in Hawaii; and

     (2)  Request the automatic voter registration task force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Elections; Office of the City Clerk, City and County of Honolulu; Common Cause Hawaii; League of Women Voters; and four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that automatic voter registration, also known as "motor voter", provides eligible voters an opportunity to register to vote when applying for or renewing a driver's license unless the eligible voter affirmatively declines to be registered.  Proponents believe that automatic voter registration assists in removing barriers to registration for eligible voters, which is the first step to voter participation.  Voter registration through a routine and necessary transaction, such as driver's licensing or renewal, increases voter registration efficiency and effectiveness and voter turnout.

     Your Committee further finds that six states and the District of Columbia have enacted automatic voter registration.  As a result, Oregon set a new state record for the number of votes cast in 2016.  Hawaii has one of the lowest voter registration rolls and participation rates in the country.  By convening an automatic voter registration task force, this measure will determine the feasibility of joining other states, such as Oregon, in increasing voter registration.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 108, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 108, S.D. 1.

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

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GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair