STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2107

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2178

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, 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 allow individuals who are seventeen years of age but will be eighteen years of age on or before the next state or local general election to vote at the state or local primary election immediately preceding the state or local general election by which the citizen will attain the age of eighteen, and at any co-occurring or intervening special election.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii, Green Party of Hawai‘i, and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Vote16HI and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the age qualification to vote in any federal, state, or local election is eighteen years of age. However, for those individuals whose eighteenth birthday falls between a primary and general election, the current age restriction effectively prevents them from participating in state and local primary elections. Your Committee further finds that the earlier a person begins civic participation, such as voting, the more likely that person is to remain a lifelong active citizen and participant in democracy. This measure will allow young people to vote and continue to vote their entire lives, leading to a strong and vibrant democracy.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2178 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair