Senate Bill 2239, establishing updated automatic voter registration in Hawaiʻi, signed into law

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green at the end of May signed Senate Bill 2239 into law as Act 67, establishing automatic voter registration statewide beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

The legislation marks a major step toward updating Hawaiʻi’s voter registration system and expanding access to the democratic process.

Act 67 modernizes Hawaiʻi’s voter registration system by automatically registering eligible residents to vote when they apply for or renew a Hawaiʻi driver’s license or state identification card — unless they specifically choose not to register.

Nonprofit ʻImua Alliance told the state House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs in submitted written testimony supporting SB 2239 that Hawaiʻi already in 2021 established automatic voter registration in an effort to increase historically low voter participation.

The panel took up the measure after it crossed over from the state Senate and passed first reading in the House during this year’s state legislative session.

What was put in place in 2021 was an opt-in system, which Honolulu-based ʻImua said places responsibility for registration on individual voters — not drastically different from regular voter registration processes — and thereby fails to fully include the total potential population of new voters.

“This undermines the full impact of our automatic voter registration program, which is desperately needed to curb low voting rates,” wrote the organization dedicated to ending all forms of exploitation, a mission aided by strengthening access to democracy.

ʻImua in its testimony used the 2024 state primary election as an example of the often more-than-lethargic voter turnout throughout the islands. The state experienced its lowest voter turnout in 65 years during that election, with only 32.1% of registered voters filling out ballots.

SB 2239 changed the state’s automatic voter registration system from “opt in” to “opt out,” so voters must now instead decline registration, guaranteeing the intent of the automatic voter registration program — “to maximize democratic participation by making voter registration as automatic as possible” — is fully effectuated.

“Especially in light of other forward-thinking electoral programs that the state has undertaken, like mail-in voting,” ʻImua wrote.

Voter registration is further streamlined in Act 67 by automatically updating registration records when residents change the address on their driver’s license or state ID card.

The new system is designed to improve accuracy of voter rolls, reduce administrative costs and make voter registration more accessible for Hawaiʻi residents.

Act 67 further ensures more eligible voters can participate in the democratic process by integrating voter registration into existing government services.

Most submitted written testimony supported the measure or at least its intent as it moved through the legislative process before its final approval in both chambers and heading to the governor’s desk for his signature.

There was some opposition, mostly from those concerned about the risk of voter roll inaccuracies, citizenship verification questions, expansion of government involvement in elections, no adequate safeguards in place to justify expansion of automatic voter registration, privacy and data-sharing issues as well as setting precedent for broader election system changes.

It was not enough, however, to sway lawmakers away from their final decision. Although, the measure was amended several times to address concerns and other language issues before its approval.

“Automatic voter registration is a major step toward making voting more accessible in Hawaiʻi — and is now law,” said Hawaiʻi Senate Housing Committee Chairperson Stanley Chang in a Hawaiʻi Senate Majority release.

Chang, a Democrat and Oʻahu state senator, introduced Senate Bill 2239.

“It may seem like a small change, but [automatic voter registration] will help modernize our election system, reduce administrative costs, improve the accuracy of voter rolls and make it easier for residents to participate in the democratic process.” he said. “When more people have access to voting, our democracy is stronger.”

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.