RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.

HB2531

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2531

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO VOTER REGISTRATION
.

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

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SECTION
1.
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This shall be known and may be cited
as "The Hawaii Student Vote For Our Future Act".

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SECTION 2.
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The legislature recognizes that civic
participation is fundamental to a healthy democracy and that young adults aged
eighteen to twenty-four represent a growing portion of Hawaii's
electorate.
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However, the legislature
finds that, according to the United States Census Bureau, fewer than forty per cent
of young adults participated in state elections from 2014 to 2024.
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The legislature notes that section 11-12,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, reduces barriers to voter registration by permitting who
are at least seventeen years of age to register to vote if they will be
eighteen years of age by the date of the next election.
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The same law also permits individuals who are
at least sixteen years of age but who will not be eighteen years of age by the
date of the next election to preregister to vote, so that they may be
automatically registered to vote when they reach age eighteen.

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The
legislature further finds that voting at a young age creates and empowers
lifelong voters.
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Data shows that after
an individual votes once, the individual often becomes a habitual voter.
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However, the legislature also recognizes that
young people are the least likely to vote.
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Data shows that this lack of participation is
primarily the result of informational and time barriers, which have pronounced
effects on youth from low‑income backgrounds, who are twice as likely to
miss registration deadlines or run out of time.
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By making information on voter preregistration
and registration more accessible for persons sixteen years of age and older,
the State can empower a new generation of lifelong voters.
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The legislature believes that public schools,
including charter schools, are excellent venues for preregistering and
registering students to vote, since schools already require participation in a democracy
and civics class for graduation, and therefore have the foundation to help
increase civic engagement.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to increase voter participation and encourage civic
engagement in Hawaii's public schools by ensuring students receive nonpartisan
information on how to properly preregister or register to vote before reaching
voting age.

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SECTION 3.
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Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding two new sections to part II, subpart C, to be appropriateely
designated and to read as follows:

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�302A-
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Voter registration and
preregistration education.
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(a)
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Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year,
each student enrolled in a public high school shall receive information on voter
preregistration and registration procedures.
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The manner in which information shall be
provided shall be at the discretion of the administrative body of a each
respective department school or charter school and may include information
disseminated through in-class instruction, an existing educational or
enrichment program, or other appropriate means.
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The information provided shall include, at minimum:

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(1)
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Voting eligibility information and guidance
published by the office of elections;

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(2)
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Procedures
for properly completing and submitting a

voter registration application to the Hawaii online voter
registration system, the appropriate county clerk, or through other lawful means;

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(3)
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Information on opportunities to register to
vote; and

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(4)
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Information on opportunities for students
sixteen years of age or older to volunteer at a voter service center, including
information on how to sign up through the office of elections website.

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(b)
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Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year,
voter registration and preregistration materials shall be made available to
students in each public high school and shall include, at minimum:

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(1)
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Paper copies of voter registration and
preregistration application forms; and

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(2)
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Resources
describing accessible voting options and accommodations available to students
who require assistance to vote due to a disability, visual or hearing
impairment, or inability to read or write.

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(c)
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If a student, or a student's parent or legal
guardian, requests a voter registration application or information, the
student's school shall either provide a paper copy of a voter registration
application or refer the requestor to the Hawaii online voter registration
system.

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(d)

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To implement this section, the
department and commission may enter into one or more contracts with nonprofit
organizations with demonstrated experience in providing nonpartisan civic
educational resources; provided that any contracted nonprofit organization's fulfillment
of its obligations shall be strictly monitored and reviewed by either the
department or the commission, as applicable.

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�302A-
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High
school voter registration and preregistration week.
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Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year,
the last two full weeks in September of each year shall be designated as "high
school voter registration and preregistration weeks".
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During these weeks, public high school
students shall be invited to participate in activities related to registering
and preregistering to vote.
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The
activities shall be designed to:

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(1)
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Raise civic awareness among high school
students;

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(2)
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Encourage eligible students aged sixteen or
seventeen to preregister or register to vote, as applicable; and

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(3)
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Include, to the extent available, state or
county election employees or officials who can preregister and register
students and school personnel on public school campuses.
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Registration events shall be held in areas
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reasonably accessible to all students, as designated
by the administrative body of the school.
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SECTION 4.
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New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

DOE; Student Voter Preregistration or Registration; Department
Schools; Charter Schools

Description:

Ensures Department
of Education and charter school students receive nonpartisan information,
before reaching voting age, on how to properly preregister or register to vote.

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