HI HCR181

Hawaii State Office of Elections is requested to convene a working group on automatic voter registration to examine improvements to the state's voter registration system.

Working group membership includes the Chief Election Officer (as Chairperson), Director of Honolulu Department of Customer Services, and representatives from Common Cause Hawaii, League of Women Voters, and Institute for Responsive Government.

Group is tasked with examining conversion of Hawaii's automatic voter registration system from opt-in to opt-out model to increase voter participation.

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 notes Hawaii's 2024 primary election had only 32.1 percent voter turnout, the lowest in 65 years.