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Bill

HCR 117

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF ELECTIONS TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP ON AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Greggor Ilagan

Hawaii legislature requests study on implementing automatic voter registration through a working group to examine feasibility and recommendations.

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 22
#automaticvoterregistrationworkinggroup #officeofelections
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Bill Summary · HCR 117

Legislative bill overview

HCR 117 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Office of Elections to establish a working group to study and develop recommendations for implementing automatic voter registration (AVR) systems. The resolution does not directly implement AVR but rather directs an examination of how such a system could work in Hawaii's electoral context.

Why is this important

Automatic voter registration could potentially increase voter participation by removing registration barriers, particularly for underrepresented populations. However, implementation requires careful coordination between election officials, data systems, and privacy considerations, making a formal study necessary before policy adoption.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation cost and feasibility: Automatic registration requires significant IT infrastructure upgrades and integration with state databases (DMV, social services), raising budget concerns about sustainability and security
  • Privacy and data-sharing concerns: AVR systems require sharing personal information between government agencies, which raises questions about data protection, consent, and potential misuse
  • Voter eligibility verification: Determining citizenship, residency, and age automatically creates technical challenges and potential for erroneous registrations that could complicate election administration

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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