Hawaii 2026 ballot measures
As of April 2, 2026, one statewide ballot measures was certified for the ballot in Hawaii for the election on November 3, 2026.
On the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increase Time for Senate to Act on Judicial Appointments Amendment | Judiciary; Legislative processes | Increase the timeframe for the Senate to consider and act on appointments of judges and justices from 30 days to 60 days for appointments made between April 1 and December 31 when the Senate is not in regular session or is soon to adjourn the regular session |
Potential measures
- See also: Potential 2026 ballot measures
| Name | Type | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Constitutional Right to Contraception Amendment (2026) | Constitutional rights | Provide in the state constitution that no law or state action may deny or interfere with a person’s right to obtain or use contraceptives | |
| Hawaii Election Expenditures Excluded from Constitutionally Protected Freedom of Speech Amendment (2026) | Constitutional rights; Campaign finance | Provide that election expenditures are not constitutionally protected free speech under the Hawaii Constitution | |
| Hawaii Increase Mandatory Retirement Age for Judges to 75 Amendment (2026) | Age limits | Increase the mandatory retirement age for justices and judges from 70 to 75 | |
| Hawaii Legislative Authority to Authorize Counties and Municipalities to Issue Housing Infrastructure Growth Bonds and Exclude Them from Funded Debt Amendment (2026) | Legislature; Bonds | Authorize the state legislature to empower the counties and municipalities of the state to issue housing infrastructure growth bonds for specified public works, public improvements, and community development | |
| Hawaii Repeal Counties' Power to Tax Real Property and Authorize the Legislature to Establish a State Surcharge on Real Property Taxes Levied by Counties Amendment (2026) | Property taxes; Legislature | Repeal the counties' exclusive power to tax real property, and to authorize the Hawaii State Legislature to establish a state surcharge on real property taxes levied by the counties on certain residential investment properties for the purpose of funding public education | |
| Hawaii Simple Majority Vote for Constitutional Amendments Measure (2026) | Supermajority | Require a simple majority of votes cast on a constitutional amendment for approval | |
| Hawaii State Legislative Reapportionment Based on Decennial U.S. Census Amendment (2026) | Census; Redistricting | Change the legislative reapportionment process to use decennial U.S. Census data rather than the permanent resident population |
Getting measures on the ballot
Hawaii did not provide for an initiative and referendum process as of 2025, so all ballot measures must be referred by the state legislature.
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.
Historical facts
- See also: List of Hawaii ballot measures
In Hawaii, a total of 64 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2024. Voters approved 46 ballot measures, and 18 ballot measures were defeated.
| Hawaii statewide ballot measures, 1985-2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Annual average | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | Approved | Defeated | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
See also
External links
Footnotes
