RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Elections

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: POEPOE, GRANDINETTI, PERRUSO
Last action: 2026-04-20
Official status: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide specific details about voter impact or election integrity effects.

Election Rules for Political Parties

This bill establishes a process where political parties that have been on the ballot for twenty consecutive years are automatically qualified to stay on future ballots without needing additional paperwork.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a rule that any political party listed on the general election ballot for at least twenty consecutive years is considered continuously qualified and does not need to petition again.
Requires the chief election officer to confirm if a political party meets this continuous qualification status based on historical records.
Specifies conditions under which a continuously qualified party can lose its automatic qualification, such as dissolving or failing to comply with laws.

Who It Names or Affects

Political parties that have been on the general election ballot for at least twenty years.
The chief election officer responsible for certifying party eligibility.

Terms To Know

Continuous qualification: A status given to a political party that has been listed on the ballot for twenty or more consecutive years, allowing it to remain on future ballots automatically.
Chief election officer: The official responsible for overseeing elections and certifying political parties' eligibility for continuous qualification.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill only applies to political parties that have been continuously listed on the ballot for twenty or more years.
It does not specify how long after the effective date this rule will start applying.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment exempts political parties that have been continuously listed on Hawaii's general election ballot for eight or more years from having to petition for future ballot access.

Establishes a process where political parties that have been continuously qualified and listed on the general election ballot for eight consecutive years are deemed continuously qualified without further petition requirements.
Requires the chief election officer to certify a party's eligibility for continuous qualification based on historical ballot records.
Specifies conditions under which a party loses its continuous qualification status, such as dissolving or failing to comply with organizational and reporting requirements.

The amendment text is complex and includes multiple sections that amend existing laws. Some details about the exact implementation are not fully explained in this excerpt.
It's unclear from the provided text how the transition period for parties currently meeting the criteria will be handled.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment changes the requirement for political parties to petition for ballot access after two consecutive general election cycles, allowing them automatic qualification for a ten-year period.

Changes the number of consecutive general elections required for automatic qualification from three to two.
Establishes that political parties continuously listed on the ballot for two consecutive general elections will be deemed qualified for the next ten years.

The amendment text does not specify how the change affects existing political party qualifications or what happens if a party fails to meet the new requirements after the initial two cycles.

Bill History

2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas Chair; Poepoe, Ratcliffe, Shimizu.
2026-04-17 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).
2026-04-16 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2026-04-14 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 611) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-04-14 S
Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) McKelvey. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-04-10 S
48 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.
2026-04-10 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).
2026-04-10 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3729) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-03-17 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-12 S
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 9:55AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to JDC.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 269).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Reyes Oda, Shimizu, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-05 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia, Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1).
2026-03-05 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 919-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2026-03-03 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
2026-03-03 H
The votes in JHA were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
2026-03-03 H
Reconsideration of action taken on 02-26-26.
2026-02-27 H
Bill scheduled for reconsideration of previous decision by JHA on 03-03-26 2:00PM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-26 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran.
2026-02-24 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Thursday, 02-26-26 2:00PM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-19 H
The committee(s) on JHA recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-20 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.
Elections; Political Parties; Qualification; Ballot Placement
Establishes a process by which any political party continuously listed on the general election ballot for two consecutive general election cycles shall be deemed continuously qualified for ballot placement. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1716

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1716

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO ELECTIONS
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that under existing
election law, certain long-established political parties are required to
repeatedly petition to retain ballot access, despite having demonstrated
decades of consistent voter support.
�
This
recurring requirement imposes unnecessary administrative and financial burdens
on these long-established political parties and the office of elections,
without advancing election integrity or promoting voter participation.

����
The legislature
further finds that uninterrupted ballot qualification over extended periods
demonstrates durable voter support, organizational stability, and ongoing
compliance with election laws.
�
Requiring
political parties with decades of continuous qualification to repeatedly
petition for ballot access is redundant and administratively inefficient.

����
For
example, the Green Party of Hawaii first qualified for ballot access in 1992
and has remained continuously listed on the general election ballot for more
than thirty-four years, including successful qualification for the 2024 and
2026 elections.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to promote fairness and equal treatment among political
parties, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on long-established political
parties and the State, recognize sustained voter support and organizational
stability, and ensure consistent, predictable, and nondiscriminatory ballot
access in Hawaii elections.
�

Specifically, this Act establishes a process by which any political
party continuously listed on the general election ballot for twenty or more
years shall be deemed continuously qualified for ballot placement.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�11-
�
Continuous
qualification of political parties; exemption from petition requirements.
�
(a)
�
Notwithstanding any other law to the
contrary, any political party that has been continuously qualified and listed
on the general election ballot for twenty consecutive years or more shall be
deemed continuously qualified for placement on the election ballot without
further petition requirements.

����
(b)
�
The
chief election officer shall certify a political party's eligibility for
continuous qualification under subsection (a) based on historical ballot
records.

����
(c)
�
A
political party deemed continuously qualified under this section shall retain
that status until the political party:

����
(1)
�
Dissolves;

����
(2)
�
Voluntarily
withdraws from participation in the election ballot; or

����
(3)
�
Fails to comply
with applicable organizational, reporting, or filing requirements under this
chapter or other applicable law.

����
(d)
�
Nothing in this section shall be construed to
limit or impair the authority of the office of elections or the chief election
officer to administer, enforce, or require compliance with any election law,
rule, filing requirement, or enforcement provision unrelated to petition-based
ballot qualification.
"

����
SECTION
3
.
�
Section 11-61,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

����
"
�11-61
�
[
"Political
party" defined.
]
Political party; definition; disqualification.
�
(a)
�
[
The
term
]
For the purposes of this part,
"political party"
means [
any party which has qualified as a political party under sections
11-62 and 11-64 and has not been disqualified by this section.
�
A political party shall be
] an
association of voters
that is
united for the purpose of promoting a
common political end or carrying out a particular line of political policy and [
which
maintains
]
:

����
(1)
�
Maintains
a
general organization throughout the State, including a regularly constituted
central committee and county committees in each county other than Kalawao[
.
]
;

����
(2)
�
Has qualified
as a political party under section 11-62 or 11- ;

����
(3)
�
Complies with
sections 11-63 and 11-64; and

����
(4)
�
Has not been
disqualified by this section.

����
(b)
�

Any party [
which
]
that
does not meet the following
requirements
,
or the requirements set forth in sections 11-62 to 11-64,
shall be subject to disqualification:

����
(1)
�
A party must have
had candidates running for election at the last general election for any of the
offices listed in paragraph (2) whose terms had expired[
.
�
This
]
; provided that this
does not
include those offices [
which
]
that
were vacant because the
incumbent had died or resigned before the end of the incumbent's term; and

����
(2)
�
The party received
at least ten per cent of all votes cast:

���������
(A)
�
For any of the
offices voted upon by all the voters in the State; or

���������
(B)
�
In at least fifty
per cent of the congressional districts; [
or
]

����
(3)
�
The party received
at least four per cent of all the votes cast for all the offices of state
senator statewide; [
or
]

����
(4)
�
The party received
at least four per cent of all the votes cast for all the offices of state
representative statewide; or

����
(5)
�
The party received
at least two per cent of all the votes cast for all the offices of state senate
and all the offices of state representative combined statewide[
.
]
;

provided that this subsection shall not apply to
any political party deemed continuously qualified pursuant to section 11- .
"

����
SECTION
4
.
�
Section 11-62,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

����
1.
�

By amending subsection (a)
to read:

����
"(a)
�
Any group of persons hereafter desiring to
qualify as a political party for election ballot purposes in the State shall
file with the chief election officer a petition as provided in this section[
.
]
;
provided that this section shall not apply to any political party deemed
continuously qualified pursuant to section 11- .
�
The petition for qualification as a political
party shall:

����
(1)
�
Be filed [
not
]

no
later than 4:30 p.m. on the one hundred seventieth day [
prior to
]

before
the next primary;

����
(2)
�
Declare as
concisely as may be the intention of signers thereof to qualify as a statewide
political party in the State and state the name of the new party;

����
(3)
�
Contain the name,
signature, residence address,
month and date
portion of the
date of birth, and other information as determined by the
chief election officer of currently registered voters comprising [
not
]
no

less than one-tenth of one per cent of the total registered voters of the State
as of the last preceding general election;

����
(4)
�
Be accompanied by
the names and addresses of the officers of the central committee and of the
respective county committees of the political party and by the party rules; and

����
(5)
�
Be upon the form
prescribed and provided by the chief election officer."

����
2.
�

By amending subsection (d)
to read:

����
"
(d)
�
Each group of persons desiring to qualify as
a political party, having first qualified as a political party by petition
under this section, and having been qualified as a political party for three
consecutive general elections by petition or pursuant to section 11-61(b),
shall be deemed a political party for the following ten-year period.
�
The ten-year period shall begin with the next
regularly scheduled general election; provided that each party qualified under
this section shall continue to field candidates for public office during the
ten-year period following qualification.
�

After each ten-year period, the party qualified under this section shall
either remain qualified under the standards set forth in section 11-61,
qualify
pursuant to section 11- ,
or requalify under this section [
11-62
]."

����
SECTION
5
.
�
Section 12-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�12-21
�

Official party ballots.
�
The
primary or special primary ballot shall be clearly designated as such.
�
The names of the candidates of each party
qualifying under section 11-61 [
or
]
,
11-62
, or
11-
and of nonpartisan candidates may be printed on
separate ballots, or on a single ballot.
�

The name of each party and the nonpartisan designation shall be
distinctly printed and sufficiently separate from each other.
�
The names of all candidates shall be printed
on the ballot as provided in section 11-115.
�

When the names of all candidates of the same party for the same office
exceed the maximum number of voting positions on a single side of a ballot
card, the excess names may be arranged and listed on both sides of the ballot
card and additional ballot cards if necessary.
�

When separate ballots for each party are not used, the order in which
parties appear on the ballot, including nonpartisan, shall be determined by
lot.

����
The chief
election officer or the county clerk, in the case of county elections, shall
approve printed samples or proofs of the respective party ballots as to
uniformity of size, weight, shape, and thickness [
prior to
]
before

final printing of the official ballots."

����
SECTION 6.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 7.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval;
provided that the requirements under section 11- , Hawaii
Revised Statutes, may be satisfied by a political party based on appearances on
previous general election ballots.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Elections;
Political Parties; Qualification; Ballot Placement

Description:

Establishes
a process by which any political party continuously listed on the general
election ballot for twenty or more years shall be deemed continuously qualified
for ballot placement.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.