HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1576

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

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 Hawaii once boasted the highest voter participation in the country during the early years of statehood, however, Hawaii's voter turnout has been the lowest in the country for the past three presidential elections, and it continues to fall.  The 2008 presidential election had a forty-nine per cent turnout that dropped to 42.5 per cent in the 2016 presidential election.

     The legislature further finds that the minimum voting age was lowered from twenty to eighteen years of age in 1971.  Since then, young people have been given more responsibility in the labor workforce, paying of taxes, and driving a car, all before the right to vote.  If the minimum voter age is lowered to sixteen years of age, it may increase voter turnout, provide young citizens with an influential voice in the political process, and establish lifelong engaged voters.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a working group within the office of elections to study whether or not the minimum voting age in the State should be lowered to sixteen years and to submit a report to the legislature.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The office of elections shall establish a working group to conduct a study on the implications of lowering the minimum voting age in Hawaii from eighteen years old to sixteen years old.  The working group shall:

     (1)  Identify the pros and cons of a lowered voting age;

     (2)  Examine the experiences of countries, states, and municipalities that have lowered the minimum voting age to sixteen years old;

     (3)  Determine whether the lowered voting age should apply to all elections conducted in the State or only to certain elections; and

     (4)  Recommend processes, if any, on lowering the minimum voting age in Hawaii to sixteen years old.

     (b)  The working group shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The chief election officer, who shall serve as the chair;

     (2)  The dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii; and

     (3)  The superintendent of education.

     (c)  The chair of the working group shall invite student representatives from public and private schools in the State.

     SECTION 3.  The working group shall submit a report on the study, including the working group's findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, if necessary, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Voting Age; Elections

 

Description:

Establishes a working group to study implications of lowering the voting age to sixteen years old.

 

 

 

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