Bill Would Lower Voting Age To 16 For State And Local Elections

It’s a long shot, but Hawaii elections could be opened up to younger voters if a bill introduced Thursday makes it through this legislative session.

Senate Bill 4, introduced by Sens. Stanley Chang and Karl Rhoads, proposes a constitutional amendment that would ask voters if Hawaii’s voting age should be lowered from 18 to 16 for state and local elections.

The amendment wouldn’t apply to presidential and congressional elections. Still, proponents say it could increase voter turnout and participation.

“The idea is to get people in the habit young, and they’ll keep doing it,” Rhoads said.

Read more: https://www.civilbeat.org/2019/01/bill-would-lower-voting-age-to-16-for-state-and-local-elections/