THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1561
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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 qualification 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 therefore, due to current age restrictions, are unable to participate in primary elections, which determine the ballot for the general election in which they will later be eligible to vote. Granting voting rights to these individuals to participate in the voting process for elections may improve voter turnout among youth and better educate youth 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 change the age qualification for voting in primary elections to include individuals who are seventeen years of age but will be eighteen years of age on or before the next 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 seventeen years of age but will attain the age of eighteen years by the date of the next general election, has been a resident of this State not less than thirty days immediately preceding the next primary election and is a voter registered as provided by law, shall be qualified to vote beginning with the primary election immediately preceding the general election by which the citizen will attain the age of eighteen years and any intervening or co-occurring special election."

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

"Shall a United States citizen who is seventeen years of age but will attain the age of eighteen years by the date of the next general election, has been a resident of this State not less than thirty days immediately preceding the next primary election, and is a voter registered as provided by law, be qualified to vote beginning with the primary election immediately preceding the general election by which the citizen will attain the age of eighteen years and any intervening or co-occurring special election?"

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 Constitutional material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.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

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

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Voting; Age Qualification; Constitutional Amendment

Description:

Proposes a constitutional amendment to allow citizens who are seventeen years of age but will be eighteen years of age on or before the next general election to vote at the primary election immediately preceding the general election by which the citizen will attain the age of eighteen and any intervening or co-occurring special election.

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