LIHU‘E — State lawmakers want to extend to residents of the nation’s capital a right that is paramount in any democracy — the right to vote. The state Senate on Friday adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 135, urging the United States
LIHU‘E — State lawmakers want to extend to residents of the nation’s capital a right that is paramount in any democracy — the right to vote.
The state Senate on Friday adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 135, urging the United States Congress to propose a constitutional amendment to grant full voting rights to residents of the District of Columbia.
Even though the distance between Hawai‘i and Washington, D.C. is nearly 5,000 miles, the Aloha State and the nation’s capital enjoy a close relationship that goes back many decades before President Barack Obama stepped into office.
In 1961, Hawai‘i was the first state to ratify the 23rd Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gave back residents of the D.C. the right to vote for the nation’s president and vice president — a right they only had for 10 years; from 1791 to 1801.
Since 1971, the Congress has allowed D.C. to have a non-voting delegate at the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 1978, Congress passed another constitutional amendment, this time granting full voting rights to D.C. residents. Hawai‘i, along with 15 other states, ratified the amendment, but it was ultimately unsuccessful.
Even though D.C.’s economy is larger than 15 other states and its population of more than 601,723 (2010 Census) is comparable to at least four states — Wyoming (563,626), Vermont (625,741), North Dakota (672,591) and Alaska (710,231) — they still can’t vote for Congress.
But D.C. residents pay federal taxes, serve on federal juries and serve in the military since U.S. independence.
In August 2002, former Gov. Ben Cayetano proclaimed “District of Columbia Voting Rights Month.”
The White House has affixed the District of Columbia’s “Taxation Without Representation” license plates on the presidential limousine and other vehicles, and stated that President Obama “has seen first-hand how patently unfair it is for working families in D.C. to work hard, raise children and pay taxes, without having a vote in Congress. Attaching these plates to the presidential vehicles demonstrates the President’s commitment to the principle of full representation for the people of the District of Columbia and his willingness to fight for voting rights, home rule, and budget autonomy for the district.”
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0452 or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
