Hawaii 2024 ballot measures
From Ballotpedia
Two statewide ballot measures were on the ballot in Hawaii on November 5, 2024.
HIGHLIGHTS
On the ballot
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judicial Appointments and Confirmations Amendment | Change the process for appointing and confirming district court judges to be the same as that used for supreme court justices and other higher court judges |
|
316,468 (71%) |
131,729 (29%) |
|
| Remove Legislature Authority to Limit Marriage to Opposite-Sex Couples Amendment | Remove provision of the constitution saying that "the legislature shall have the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples" |
|
268,038 (56%) |
211,142 (44%) |
Getting measures on the ballot
Hawaii did not provide for an initiative and referendum process as of 2024, 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.
Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Include Non-Permanent Residents in State Legislative Redistricting Amendment (SB 927) | Redistricting | Removes the requirement that state legislative redistricting be based on permanent residents and instead require that redistricting be based on residents as reported by the most recent decennial federal census, thereby including non-permanent military personnel and dependents, college students residing out-of-state, and other non-permanent residents | 
|
| LRCA | Judicial Appointments Amendment (SB 1074) | State judiciary | Increases the time period from appointment to senate confirmation of judges from 30 to 45 days and changes the process for district court judge appointments to mirror procedures for other state judges |
|
| LRCA | Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (SB 1167) | Abortion | Creates a right to reproductive freedom, including the right to have an abortion and the right to use contraceptives |
|
| LRCA | Limitations on Independent Expenditures Amendment (SB 467) | Elections and campaigns and Campaign finance | Allows the state legislature to enact laws limiting independent expenditures made by noncandidate committees |
|
| LRCA | Exclude Monetary Expenditures to Influence Elections from Freedom of Speech Amendment (SB 917) | Elections and campaigns and Campaign finance | States in the constitution that "the freedom of speech shall not include the expenditure of money to influence elections" |
|
| LRCA | Authorize Local Governments to Issue Tax Increment Bonds Amendment (SB 1295) | State and local government budgets, spending and finance and Taxes | Allows the state legislature to enact laws allowing political subdivisions such as counties to issue tax increment bonds |
|
| LRCA | Increase Mandatory Judicial Retirement Age Amendment (SB 2509) | State judiciary | Raises the mandatory age for judges and justices from 70 to 75 years |
|
| LRCA | Judicial Selection Commission Nomination Timeline Amendment (SB 2385) | State judiciary | Provide that the judicial selection commission shall not present nominees to the governor between September 1 and November 30 |
|
Historical facts
In Hawaii, a total of 62 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2018. Forty-four ballot measures were approved, and 18 ballot measures were defeated.
| Hawaii statewide ballot measures, 1985-2018 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Annual average | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | Approved | Defeated | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
| 62 | 1.50 | 0 | 5 | 44 | 70.97 | 18 | 29.03 |
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
- 2024 ballot measures
- List of Hawaii ballot measures
- Laws governing ballot measures in Hawaii
- Campaign finance requirements for Hawaii ballot measures
