Common Cause Hawaii is once again advocating for automatic voter registration despite systematic concerns with federal law and privacy.

     Under the proposal that will go before the state Legislature in 2017, new drivers would be able to register to vote at the same time they get their license, said executive director Corie Tanida of Common Cause Hawaii.

    “It’s still a really new reform,” said Tanida. “The first election that we will (find) out will be this year in California and Oregon.”

    Currently only five states, Oregon, California, Vermont, West Virginia and Connecticut, have passed automatic voter registration.

    Last session lawmakers heard concerns from the state attorney general, and transportation officials that automatic voter registration could violate the National Voter’s Registration Act, which oversees federal voter registration.

    Transportation officials had concerns about violating applicant’s privacy.

    “We need to make sure that we are compliant with federal laws,” stated Tanida.

    Tanida said the goal is to increase voter turnout. There are 730,000 registered voters in Hawaii, but only 35 percent voted in primary election held in August.

    If enacted by lawmakers, voters registration is projected to rise to 90 percent, Tanida said. This would be the third initiative to encourage voter participation.

    In 2012 lawmakers approved online voting registration. In 2014, they added same-day voting. And in 2017, Common Cause hopes to continue this trend with the addition of automatic voter registration.