Automatic Voter Registration bill signed into law, set to begin Jan. 1, 2027 in Hawaiʻi

Gov. Josh Green signed Senate Bill 2239 into law as Act 67, establishing Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) statewide beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The measure was introduced by Senate Housing Committee Chair Stanley Chang.

Advocates say this marks a major step toward modernizing 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 choose to opt out.

Previously, residents were required to affirmatively check a box to register to vote. The law also streamlines the voter registration process by automatically updating voter registration records when residents update their address through driver’s license or state ID renewals. 

The new system is designed to improve the accuracy of voter rolls, reduce administrative costs, and make voter registration more accessible for Hawaiʻi residents. By integrating voter registration into existing government services, the law helps ensure that more eligible voters can participate in the democratic process. 

“Automatic Voter Registration is a major step toward making voting more accessible in Hawaiʻi and is now law,” said Chang. “It may seem like a small change, but AVR 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. When more people have access to voting, our democracy is stronger.”