HB 1954 Summary

• Restores polling places as the primary voting method and repeals provisions from Act 136, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019 that established voting by mail as the default voting method statewide.

• Establishes precinct officials system with minimum three officials per precinct (including a chairperson), with political party representation and specific qualification and assignment requirements detailed in new sections.

• Creates absentee polling places at county clerk offices operating at least ten working days before election day, allowing voter registration and in-person absentee voting with same-day registration provisions.

• Allows elections conducted by mail for special elections at chief election officer discretion, maintains absentee voting options, and permits mail voting for precincts affected by natural disasters.

• Repeals Chapter 11, Part VIIA (elections by mail provisions) and repeals appropriations and reporting requirements from Act 136, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019 related to statewide mail voting implementation.