STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3008

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2178

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2178 entitled:

"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,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose a constitutional amendment to authorize individuals who are seventeen years of age, but who will be eighteen years of age by the time of 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.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from seven individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu County Republican Party and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from Vote16HI.

Your Committee 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, individuals whose date of birth falls between the primary and general elections are unable to participate in state and local primary elections to determine which candidates will be on the ballot for the general election in which the individuals will be eligible to vote. Your Committee believes that granting voting rights to these individuals for certain state and local elections may encourage voter turnout among younger residents and help to educate them about the democratic process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Delaying the effective date of the proposed amendment to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2178, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2178, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair