SR99 SD1

WHEREAS, civic participation is fundamental to a healthy democracy and young adults aged eighteen to twenty-four represent a growing portion of the State's electorate; and

WHEREAS, according to the United States Census Bureau, fewer than forty percent of young adults participated in state elections from 2014 to 2024; and

WHEREAS, voting at a young age creates and empowers lifelong voters, as data shows that after an individual votes once, the individual often becomes a habitual voter; and

WHEREAS, this lack of youth participation is primarily the result of informational and time barriers, which have pronounced effects on youth from low-income backgrounds, who are twice as likely to miss registration deadlines or run out of time; and

WHEREAS, by making information on voter preregistration and registration more accessible for people sixteen years of age and older, the State can empower a new generation of lifelong voters; and

WHEREAS, public schools, including charter schools, are excellent venues for preregistering and registering students to vote, since schools already require participation in a democracy and civics class for graduation, and therefore have the foundation to help increase civic engagement; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education is urged to provide information to students on how to preregister to vote before reaching voting age; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is urged to provide specific information regarding:

(1) Voting eligibility information and guidance published by the Office of Elections;

(2) Procedures for properly completing and submitting a voter registration application to the State's online voter registration system, the appropriate County Clerk, or through other lawful means;

(3) Information on opportunities to register to vote; and

(4) Information on opportunities for students sixteen years of age or older to volunteer at a voter service center, including information on how to sign up through the Office of Elections website; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to make available paper copies of voter registration and preregistration application forms; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to make available resources describing accessible voting options and accommodations to students who require assistance to vote due to a disability, visual or hearing impairment, or inability to read or write; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to designate the last two full weeks in September of each year as "high school voter registration and preregistration weeks", and include activities to:

(1) Raise civic awareness among high school students;

(2) Encourage eligible students ages sixteen or seventeen to preregister or register to vote; and

(3) Facilitate interactions with state or county election employees or officials who can preregister and register students at school campuses, to the extent available; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education, Chairperson of the Board of Education, and Chief Election Officer.

Report Title:

DOE; Voter Registration; Voter Preregistration; High Schoolers

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	99
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII