STAND. COM. REP. NO. 592

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1271

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 1271 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 citizens 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.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii has one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the nation.  By granting voting rights to certain individuals to participate in the voting process for state and local elections, this constitutional amendment may assist in improving voter turnout and educating youths about the democratic process.

 

     Your Committee notes the concerns raised by the Department of the Attorney General regarding the durational residency requirement in this constitutional amendment.  According to the Department, a durational residency requirement has been struck down as a violation of the federal Equal Protection Clause and deemed unconstitutional.  The Department suggested language that repealed the durational residency requirement of being a state resident of not less than one year immediately preceding the next state or local general election for individuals who have not attained the age of eighteen under certain circumstances.  Your Committee further notes that the same durational residency requirement already exists for individuals who have attained the age of eighteen under article II, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution and believes this issue merits further discussion as this constitutional amendment moves through the legislative process.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1271 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair