THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1560
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to voting.

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 state and local primary elections, which determine the ballot for the general elections in which they will later be eligible to vote. Granting voting rights to these individuals to participate in the voting process may improve voter turnout among youth and better educate youth about the democratic process.

The purpose of this Act is to allow an individual who is seventeen years of age but will be eighteen years of age on or before the next general election to vote at the primary election and any intervening or co-occurring special election immediately preceding the general election.

SECTION 2. Section 11-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§11-11 Registration. A person who registers as required by law shall be entitled to vote at any election; provided that the person shall have attained the age of eighteen years at the time of that election[.]; provided further that if the person will attain the age of eighteen years by the date of the general election, the person shall be entitled to vote at the primary election immediately preceding the general election by which the person will attain the age of eighteen years and at any co-occurring or intervening special election. The county clerk shall be responsible for voter registration in the respective counties and the keeping of the general register and precinct lists within the county."

SECTION 3. Section 11-12, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§11-12 Age; place of registering. (a) Every person who has reached the age of eighteen years or who is seventeen years of age and will be eighteen years of age by the date of the next election, and is otherwise qualified to register may do so for that election[.]; provided that if the person will attain the age of eighteen years by the date of the general election, the person may register for the primary election immediately preceding the general election by which the person will attain the age of eighteen years and at any co-occurring or intervening special election. The person shall then be listed upon the appropriate county general register and precinct list. No person shall register or vote in any other precinct than that in which the person resides except as provided in section 11-21.

(b) A person who is otherwise qualified to register and is at least sixteen years of age but will not be eighteen years of age by the date of the next election may preregister upon satisfactory proof of age and shall be automatically registered upon reaching age eighteen[.] or age seventeen for primary elections and any co-occurring or intervening special election in accordance with subsection (a)."

SECTION 4. Section 11-14.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§11-14.5 Residence address; confidentiality. (a) If a life threatening circumstance exists to:

(1) A law enforcement person;

(2) The law enforcement person's family; or

(3) Persons otherwise determined by the clerk of the county in which the person is registered,

that person may apply to the county clerk in writing to keep confidential the information relating to the residence address and telephone number contained in the affidavit of registration of that person, or any list or register prepared therefrom.

(b) If the disclosure of the residence address or telephone number of a person would result in an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or expose the person or a member of the person's family to risk of bodily harm, the person may apply to the chief election officer or county clerk to keep confidential the person's residence address and telephone number contained in the person's affidavit of registration, or any list or register prepared therefrom.

(c) The chief election officer or county clerk shall not disclose the residence address or telephone number of a person who is under the age of eighteen years and is registered to vote at any election pursuant to sections 11-11 and 11-12.

[(c)] (d) Upon good cause shown, the clerk shall determine whether to grant confidentiality in accordance with rules established by the chief election officer, and that decision shall be final.

[(d)] (e) If the voter registration of a person covered by this section is challenged, the clerk shall release the residence address of that person to the challenger pursuant to rules established by the chief election officer. If an appeal is taken relating to the challenge, the residence address shall also be released to the appropriate appellate body."

SECTION 5. Section 11-15.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§11-15.5[]] Duties of all state agencies; voter registration. Each state agency that deals with the public shall make available to each member of the public who:

(1) Will be at least eighteen years of age [or older] by the date of the next election; or

(2) Is seventeen years of age but will be eighteen years of age by the date of the next general election,

an application in the form of an affidavit for voter registration pursuant to section 11-15. The application shall be available by mail or in person depending on the manner in which the agency's services are requested by the person. The form of the application may be identical to that described and found in public telephone directories."

SECTION 6. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon ratification of a constitutional amendment allowing individuals who are seventeen years of age but will be eighteen years of age on or before the date of the next state or local general election to register and vote in the state or local primary election immediately preceding that state or local general election.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

State and Local Elections; Voter Registration; Voter Age

Description:

Allows an individual who is seventeen years of age but will be eighteen years of age on or before the next general election to register and vote at the primary election immediately preceding that general election and in any co-occurring or intervening special election. Takes effect upon ratification of an appropriate constitutional amendment.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.