Della's Question of the Week #7: Should a citizen’s right to vote be explicitly amended into the Hawaii State Constitution?

[Della Au Belatti]

This week’s question is prompted, in part, by Governor Linda Lingle’s placement of Senate Bill 156, Conference Draft 1 (2008) on her potential veto list. This bill would allow for permanent absentee voting, an electoral reform that has been championed by many advocates, including AARP Hawaii, as a means to improve access to the ballot, especially for those seniors who take advantage of voting by mail.

This question is also prompted by the adoption of a “Resolution Supporting an Amendment to the Hawaii Constitution on the Right to Vote” by the Hawaii Democratic Party at its 2008 State Convention.

The text of this resolution is fairly short and states in its entirety:

“WHEREAS, citizens of Hawai`i do not have an absolute constitutional right to vote; and

WHEREAS, citizens have an inherent right to vote as part of their responsibility as citizens of the State and this right should not be hindered without just cause; and

WHEREAS, the right to vote is necessary to enable citizens to govern through a representative form of government therefore barriers to the exercise of this right should be removed, voter-friendly initiatives such as same-day voter registration implemented, and citizens encouraged to exercise this right; and

WHEREAS, while voter-friendly initiatives in other states have consistently lead to increased voter turnout, Hawai`i has ranked at the bottom of the list for voter turnout in recent election years; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Hawai`i support an amendment to the Hawai`i Constitution on the right to vote."

Seems to me that a ConCon which discussed and proposed an amendment to ensure a citizen’s right to vote would be worthwhile if it resulted in explicit constitutional language that directed legislators and governors to enact laws, like permanent absentee voting or same day registration, that help to facilitate the voting process and place Hawai`i among the states with higher voter turnouts. So what's your answer and thoughts in response to this week's question:

Opinion Polls & Market Research

[Marty]

Not sure of the reason for this question or resolution as Article II, Section 1 & 2, of Constitution, state that anyone who is: at least 18 years old; US citizen; Hawaii resident for one year; registered; and not in jail, shall be qualified to vote in any election.