HI HCR161

Request the Chief Elections Officer to establish a voter participation task force to study Hawaii's declining voter turnout rates, which have fallen from 94% at statehood in 1959 to 37-43% in recent primary elections and 56-66% in general elections.

Task force to review existing voter registration laws and practices, identify voting barriers, and analyze potential improvements including election day registration, online registration, automatic voter registration, voting by mail, and reducing the 30-day registration deadline.

Task force composition includes representatives from the Office of Elections, county clerk offices, University of Hawaii political science/public administration departments, nonpartisan voting rights groups, young voters, and the Disability and Communication Access Board.

Lieutenant Governor to convene the first meeting by July 1, 2012, with a preliminary report due 20 days before the 2013 legislative session and final findings and recommendations due 20 days before the 2014 legislative session.

Task force to dissolve upon adjournment of the 2014 regular legislative session.