HI HCR117

Request Office of Elections to convene a working group to study changing Hawaii's automatic voter registration system from opt-in to opt-out model.

Working group to make recommendations on implementing an opt-out automatic voter registration system to maximize democratic participation.

Working group composition includes Chief Election Officer (chair), Director of Transportation, Director of Department of Customer Services (City and County of Honolulu), and representatives from Common Cause Hawaii, League of Women Voters, and Institute for Responsive Government.

Working group must submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2026 Regular Session convenes.

Resolution cites Hawaii's 2024 primary election turnout of 32.1 percent of registered voters as lowest in 65 years, and notes 2021 opt-in automatic voter registration system did not fully include potential new voters.