STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2566

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 4

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, 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 to sixteen years of age.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Common Cause Hawaii; Community Alliance on Prisons; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Moku o Manokalanipō, Kaua‘i Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Moku o Keawe‘apana, Hawai‘i Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Ke One O Kākuhihewa, O‘ahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Prince Kūhiō Hawaiian Civic Club; and seventeen individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the League of Women Voters.

Your Committee finds that only 52.7 percent of registered voters, and only 32.6 percent of voters aged eighteen to twenty-nine, cast ballots in Hawai‘i during the 2018 general election. Voting is a habit that can be established with a voter's first election. Evidence from jurisdictions that have lowered the voting age supports arguments that the age of sixteen is a better time to start the habit of voting than eighteen. Voting in one election can increase the probability that the person will vote in the next election by over fifty percent.

Your Committee further finds that early voting experiences are an important determinant of future voting behavior. Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds work and pay taxes, drive, and in some cases may be married, have children, or even be tried in adult courts. Your Committee further finds that extending voting rights to Hawai‘i residents aged sixteen and seventeen, coupled with robust civic education at high school levels, will likely increase the civic engagement of young people and help instill a culture of voting leading to higher voter turnout among all demographics in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 4 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair