Laws governing ballot measures in Hawaii
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Hawaii, including constitutional amendments, signature requirements, recall procedures, and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in Hawaii
- Amending the Hawaii Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Hawaii
- Laws governing recall in Hawaii
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Hawaii
- Campaign finance requirements for Hawaii ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Hawaii
Laws governing ballot measures in Hawaii
Types of ballot measures in Hawaii
- In Hawaii, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level.
- In Hawaii, the state legislature can refer constitutional amendments and constitutional convention questions to the ballot.
Amending the Hawaii Constitution
- Hawaii became a state in 1959. The current state constitution was ratified in 1959.
- The Hawaii Constitution can be amended in two ways:
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendment: The Hawaii State Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot with a two-thirds (66.67%) vote in each legislative chamber, or a simple majority of each chamber in two successive legislative sessions.
- Convention-referred constitutional amendment: A state constitutional convention can vote to refer constitutional changes to the ballot.
- Under Article XVII, Section 2 of the Hawaii Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every nine years.
Laws governing local ballot measures in Hawaii
- There is no mention of the powers of initiative and referendum in the Hawaii Constitution.
Laws governing recall in Hawaii
- Hawaii does not allow the recall of state-level elected officials.
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Hawaii
- According to Article XVII, Section 2 of the Hawaii Constitution, a simple majority vote in each chamber of the legislature is required to send a constitutional convention question to voters.
- Additionally, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every nine years.
- A simple majority vote by the electorate is required to call the convention.
Campaign finance requirements for Hawaii ballot measures
- PACs that support or oppose ballot measures in Hawaii must register and report campaign finance.
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Hawaii
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
The Hawaii State Legislature did not pass legislation concerning ballot measures in 2025.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Hawaii County Charter, "Article XII Removal of Elected Officers," accessed October 2, 2025
- ↑ Maui County, "Charter County of Maui," accessed October 2, 2025
- ↑ County of Kauai, "The Charter of the County of Kaua'i," accessed October 2, 2025
- ↑ MauiCounty.gov, "Office of the County Clerk," accessed October 2, 2025
- ↑ , "SB 1076," accessed October 2, 2025
