HB2541 - Elections by Mail Summary

• Requires all Hawaii elections statewide to be conducted by mail beginning with the 2020 primary election, with ballot packages mailed approximately 18 days before elections and prepaid return postage included.

• Establishes voter service centers open from the tenth business day before an election through election day to receive ballot returns, accommodate voters with disabilities, provide same-day registration and voting, and other election services.

• Allows additional places of deposit for ballot returns open five business days before the election until 6:00 p.m. the day before election day for personal delivery of mail-in ballots.

• Creates procedures for ballot return, replacement ballots, deficient envelope correction (with five business days post-election to cure), and electronic transmission of ballots for certain circumstances.

• Appropriates funds for implementation and administration of the mail-in voting program, with 50 percent distributed to counties as grants proportional to registered voter percentages, effective July 1, 2050.