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Hawaii 2020 ballot measures
Zero statewide ballot measures were certified to appear on the ballot in Hawaii on November 3, 2020.
Getting measures on the ballot
Hawaii did not allow the initiative and referendum process as of 2020, so all ballot measures would have needed to be referred by the legislature. The state legislative session ran from January 16 through May 2, 2019, during which time the legislature was able to place legislatively referred constitutional amendments on the ballot. The legislature could have also referred amendments to the 2020 ballot during the 2020 legislative session. The session adjourned on July 10, 2020, without the legislature referring any measures to the ballot.
The Hawaii State Legislature can put a proposed amendment on the ballot upon either a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of the legislature in the same session or two simple majority votes in both chambers held in two successive sessions. Constitutional amendments must be approved by a majority of the votes cast for the question, as long as the majority also is at least 50 percent of the total votes cast in the entire election. For measures approved at special elections by a majority of votes cast for the question, the majority must be at least 30 percent of the total number of registered voters in the state at the time.
Local ballot measures
In 2020, Ballotpedia covered local measures that appeared on the ballot for voters within the top 100 largest cities in the U.S. and a selection of notable police-related and election-related measures outside of the top 100 largest cities. Ballotpedia also covered all local measures in California and all statewide ballot measures. Click here to see the scope of Ballotpedia local ballot measure coverage by year.
Click here for more information about local ballot measures on the November 2020 ballot in Hawaii.
Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Hawaii Appointment Process for University of Hawaii Board of Regents Amendment (SB 928) | Education and Administration of government | Removes the requirement that the governor appoint the board of regents of the University of Hawaii from a group of candidates selected by the candidate advisory council | 
|
| LRCA | Election Vote Recount Amendment (HB 709) | Elections and campaigns | Allows the legislature to create laws governing the process for a recount of votes cast in an election |
|
| LRCA | Voting for 16-Year-Olds Amendment (SB 4) | Suffrage | Lowers voting age in Hawaii from 18 to 16 |
|
| LRCA | Remove or Reduce Pension Benefits for Public Employees Convicted of Certain Felonies Amendment (HB 2747) | Pension | Requires forfeiture or reduction of public pension benefits for individuals convicted of felonies related to the individual's employment with the state (or other political subdivision of the state) |
|
| LRCA | Make Access to Housing a High Priority Amendment (SB 3063) | Housing | Amends constitution to state that Hawaii "shall place housing for its residents among its highest priorities and shall implement this provision by statute" |
|
Historical facts
- See also: List of Hawaii ballot measures
- A total of 36 measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1995 and 2018.
- From 1995 to 2018, an average of three measures appeared on ballots during even-numbered years in Hawaii.
- The number of measures appearing on statewide ballots between 1995 and 2018 ranged from one to five.
- Between 1995 and 2018, about 64 percent (23 of 36) of statewide ballots were approved by voters, and 36 percent (13 of 36) were defeated.
State profile
| Demographic data for Hawaii | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 1,425,157 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 6,423 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 25.4% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 2% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 37.7% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 9.9% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 23.7% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 9.9% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 91% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 30.8% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $69,515 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 11.6% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Hawaii. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Hawaii
Hawaii voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More Hawaii coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Hawaii
- United States congressional delegations from Hawaii
- Public policy in Hawaii
- Endorsers in Hawaii
- Hawaii fact checks
- More...
See also
- 2020 ballot measures
- List of Hawaii ballot measures
- Laws governing ballot measures in Hawaii
- Campaign finance requirements for Hawaii ballot measures
External links
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State of Hawaii Honolulu (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
