Hawaii legislature passes bill to implement automatic voter registration

Hawaii state lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday to enforce automatic voter registration.

The bill, if signed by Gov. David Ige (D), will require that all identification card and driver’s license applications include a voter registration application.

The legislation calls for identification card and driver’s license applications not to be processed unless people complete their voter registration.

Additionally, applicants will have the opportunity to decline changes being made to their names and addresses for voting registration purposes before they are automatically updated.

The measure easily passed the Democratic-controlled state Senate and House, according to West Hawaii Today. The bill will now be sent to Ige’s desk and if signed will take effect July 1.

Democrats have pushed for automatic voter registration in various states amid opposition from many Republicans.

More than 15 states across the country offer automatic voter registration through a number of agencies, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Last month, former Vice President Al Gore (D) called for all U.S. citizens to be automatically registered to vote, after the Georgia legislature passed a controversial new voting bill.