THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2178
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 1, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO CHANGE THE AGE QUALIFICATION FOR VOTING IN STATE OR LOCAL ELECTIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the age at which a person is eligible to vote in any federal, state, or local election is eighteen years of age. However, there are individuals whose dates of birth fall between the primary and general elections and who therefore, due to current age restrictions, are unable to participate in state and local primary elections, which determine the ballot for the general election in which they will be eligible to vote. Granting voting rights to these individuals for state and local elections may improve voter turnout among youths and better educate youths about the democratic process.

The purpose of this Act is to propose an amendment to article II, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution to authorize individuals who are seventeen years of age, but who will be eighteen years of age on or before the next state or local general election, to vote in certain other state or local elections held in the same calendar year of that general election.

SECTION 2. Article II, section 1, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii is amended to read as follows:

"Section 1. Every citizen of the United States who shall have attained the age of eighteen years, have been a resident of this State not less than one year next preceding the election and be a voter registered as provided by law[,] shall be qualified to vote in any state or local election[.]; provided that every citizen of the United States who is otherwise qualified to vote pursuant to this section and who is seventeen years of age, but will attain the age of eighteen years by the date of the next state or local general election, shall be qualified to vote, beginning with the state or local primary election immediately preceding the state or local general election by which the citizen will attain the age of eighteen years, and at any co-occurring or intervening special election."

SECTION 3. The question to be printed on the ballot shall be as follows:

"Shall the state constitution be amended so that a person who turns eighteen between the primary and general elections may vote in the primary election, or any co-occurring or subsequent special election, that is held immediately preceding the person's eighteenth birthday; provided that the person meets all other qualifications to vote?"

SECTION 4. Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New constitutional material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This amendment shall take effect on July 1, 2050, upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

Report Title:

Voting; Age Qualification; Constitutional Amendment

Description:

Proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize individuals who are seventeen years of age but will be eighteen years of age by a state or local general election to vote at the state or local primary election immediately preceding the state or local general election, and at any co-occurring or subsequent special election. Effective 7/1/2050, upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the state constitution. (SD1)

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