STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2979

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 4

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 4 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO AMEND THE QUALIFYING AGE OF VOTERS FOR ANY STATE OR LOCAL ELECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose a constitutional amendment to lower the qualifying age of voters for any state or local election from eighteen years of age to sixteen years of age.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Young Progressives Demanding Action, Common Cause Hawaii, Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club, Community Alliance on Prisons, Ke One O Kakuhihewa, Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, Moku O Manokalanipo-Kaua`i Council, and nine individuals.

The League of Women Voters submitted written comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that allowing younger people to vote will increase access to democratic processes and help to establish, at an earlier age, voting as a life-long habit.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 4, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 4, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair