Mark Cook warns Hawaii lawmakers about dangers of automatic voter registration

The Senate Committee on Judiciary in Hawaii convened on April 3, 2025, to discuss various issues surrounding automatic voter registration (AVR) as part of the public hearings. The meeting featured testimony from Mark Cook, an expert in election issues, who raised significant concerns regarding the potential vulnerabilities associated with AVR.

Cook, who has been studying election integrity for over four years, highlighted a systemic pattern of risks that could be exploited by malicious actors. He emphasized that these vulnerabilities could impact elections not only within Hawaii but also from external influences. According to Cook, the current election system has shifted control away from citizens and placed it in the hands of corporations and government entities, which he believes undermines the integrity of the electoral process.

He argued that while AVR is often presented as a convenience for voters, it could also serve as a tool for manipulation by bad actors. Cook expressed his willingness to provide further insights and assistance to the committee to help safeguard Hawaii's elections from potential threats.

Following Cook's testimony, the committee noted a total of 53 individuals in support of the AVR initiative, with one opposed and one providing comments. The meeting concluded with an invitation for further questions from committee members, indicating ongoing engagement with the topic.

The discussions from this meeting underscore the importance of addressing election security concerns as Hawaii considers the implementation of automatic voter registration. The committee's next steps will likely involve further examination of the issues raised and potential measures to enhance the integrity of the electoral process in the state.