WHEREAS, the percentage of Hawaii citizens registered to vote is among the lowest in the nation; and

WHEREAS, according to the Center for the Study of the American Electorate, the percentage of Hawaii registered voters who actually voted in recent elections was the lowest in the nation with only 48.9 per cent of eligible voters casting ballots; and

WHEREAS, the lowest voter turnout rate is for voters ages eighteen to twenty-four; and

WHEREAS, among the reasons that eligible citizens give for not registering to vote include wanting to safeguard their privacy, avoiding being selected for jury duty, steering clear of politics and politicians, and not having the time to vote; and

WHEREAS, the reasons that eligible citizens give for not registering to vote and for not voting can be countered; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education has sponsored a series of voter registration drive workshops, including: a work session on joining social studies content standards; the campaign of Hawaii State Student Council to get citizens to vote; and the Department's own effort to encourage all eligible students in their senior year to register and vote; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education could consider additional activities and initiatives to increase the participation of high school students in voter registration, voter education, and voting, including: having middle and high school service clubs distribute "Get out and Vote" flyers at malls, serve as poll watchers and poll workers, wave signs urging people to vote, and help to register new voters, and having middle and high school social studies classes discuss and debate the merits of the presidential electoral system, the constitutional ban on naturalized citizens running for president of the United States, campaign contributions, and no-term limits for the United States House of Representatives and Senate; and encouraging students to share their views using community newspapers, cable television, and other non-commercial venues; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, that the Superintendent of Education is urged to work with and through the state Office of Elections and the respective offices of the county clerks to increase the participation of high school students in voter registration, voter education, and voting among eighteen year old students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education; Chief Election Officer; City Clerk for the City and County of Honolulu; respective County Clerks for the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui; and to the Superintendent of Education who in turn is requested to transmit copies to the principal of each intermediate and high school in the public school system.

Report Title:

DOE; Voter Registration and Education; Voting among Eighteen Year Old Students.