THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1561
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		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 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 state and county primary elections to include individuals who are seventeen years of age but will be eighteen years of age on or before the next state or county 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] has been a resident of this State not less than one year next preceding the election and [be] is a voter registered as provided by law, shall be qualified to vote in any state or local election[.] involving federal, state and county offices; 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 for state and county offices but not federal offices beginning with the primary election for state and county offices immediately preceding the general election for state and county offices by which the citizen will attain the age of eighteen years and any intervening or co-occurring special election that does not involve federal offices."

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 state or county 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 for state and county office but not federal offices beginning with the state and county primary election immediately preceding the state and county general election by which the citizen will attain the age of eighteen years and any intervening or co-occurring special election that does not involve federal offices?"

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.

Report Title:

Voting; Age Qualification; State and County Elections; 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 state and county general election to vote at the state and county primary election immediately preceding the state and county general election by which the citizen will attain the age of eighteen and any intervening or co-occurring special election. (SD1)

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