Bill > SB1515

This bill addresses changes to Hawaii's election procedures by allowing on-call circuit court judges to perform certain functions traditionally handled by the Board of Registration when the Board lacks full membership. Specifically, the bill introduces the concept of an "on-call circuit judge" - a circuit court judge designated to handle election-related disputes and challenges when the Board of Registration is not fully staffed. The legislation stems from the legislature's findings that with the transition to vote-by-mail, fewer immediate voter challenge resolutions are needed, and most Board of Registration decisions are appealed to appellate courts anyway. The bill modifies several sections of Hawaii's election laws to enable on-call circuit judges to: hear voter registration challenges, review residency determinations, handle voter list transfer disputes, and provide an alternative mechanism for resolving election-related administrative decisions. The judiciary will be required to designate one or more on-call circuit judges in each judicial circuit to perform these duties, effectively creating a more flexible and potentially more responsive system for addressing election-related legal matters. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, and do not impact any rights, penalties, or proceedings that occurred before the effective date.

Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1515&year=2025