STAND. COM. REP. NO. 746

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 322

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 322, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize state agencies to implement automatic voter registration if designated by the Office of Elections; and

(2) Require eligible applicants for instruction permits, provisional licenses, driver's licenses, and identification cards to be automatically registered or preregistered to vote unless the applicants opt out.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; Common Cause Hawaii; Our Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Greenpeace Hawaii; Kauai Women's Caucus; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Elections; Department of Human Services; Department of Customer Services of the City and County of Honolulu; and Call2Recycle, Inc.

Your Committee finds that voter registration should be convenient, secure, and beneficial to both new voters and administrators. This measure will improve election system efficiency and security, while making it easier for eligible applicants to register to vote.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 322, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair