HI SR16

Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to establish a task force to review Hawaii's current voter education system and propose improvements, including recommendations on costs, best practices, and future system design.

Task force composition includes the Chief Election Officer, county clerks, one appointee each from the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, one appointee each from the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House, one political scientist from the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, and three voter education advocates from Common Cause Hawaii, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and Associated Students of the University of Hawaii.

Task force chair shall be elected by a two-thirds vote of members and must submit a preliminary report no later than 20 days before the 2020 Regular Session convenes and a final report with recommended legislation no later than 20 days prior to the 2021 Regular Session.

Resolution cites Hawaii's low voter turnout of 39.3 percent in the 2018 general election and notes that only 52.7 percent of registered voters participated, attributing insufficient voter education as a significant contributing factor.

Voter education system should be balanced, nonpartisan, provide information in everyday language for all ballot measures, and accommodate bilingual voters, disabled voters, and first-time voters.