STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1363

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 408

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 408 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Extend the deadline to register to vote by mail from thirty to ten days prior to a primary or general election; and

(2) Repeal obsolete language regarding permanent absentee ballots.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Elections, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that in 2021, the deadline for the closing of the voter registration rolls was extended from the thirtieth day before an election to the tenth day before an election. However, corresponding provisions in existing law that make it explicitly clear that the deadline for voter registration applications submitted by mail was moved to the tenth day were not amended. This measure will clarify that the voter registration deadline by mail is the tenth day before to an election.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 408, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair