HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1733
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to registered voters.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii fails to accurately maintain its voter rolls, and the outdated voter rolls undermine public trust in elections. According to an analysis conducted by the Heritage Foundation assessing verification of citizenship, absentee ballot management, accuracy of voter registration lists, voter identification requirements, and other metrics, Hawaii ranks last in the nation for election integrity. Further, Hawaii scored the second lowest marks in the nation on accuracy of voter registration lists.

The legislature finds that many other states including, Tennessee, Utah, Maryland, and Colorado implemented measures to purge deceased residents from voter rolls. While the department of health is required to send death records to the county clerk, there is not currently a mandatory timeline for the clerks to update the general register accordingly. The purpose of this Act is to require county clerks to update the general register upon receipt of death certificates and other records to help maintain accurate voter rolls.

SECTION 2. Section 11-23, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§11-23 Changing register; striking names of disqualified voters. Whenever the clerk receives from the department of health or any informing agency, information of the death, loss of voting rights of a person sentenced for a felony as provided in section 831-2, adjudication as an incapacitated person under the provisions of chapter 560, loss of citizenship, or any other disqualification to vote, the clerk [may] shall accept the reported information as prima facie evidence to maintain and update the general register. The clerk shall update the general register upon receipt of death records from the department of health as provided in section 338-4 or any other disqualifying information from an informing agency. Any person whose name is removed from the register of voters under this section may reregister to vote or appeal in the manner provided by sections 11-26 and 11-51, and the proceedings shall be had upon the appeal as in other appeals under these sections."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Elections; County Clerks; Voter Registration; Records; Deaths

Description:

Requires county clerks to update the general register of voters according to death certificates and other disqualifying records upon receipt from department of health or another informing agency.

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