The first printout for the 2026 General Election shows voters’ support for two amendments to the Hawai‘i State Constitution as well as an amendment to the Kaua‘i County Charter.
Voters were asked two questions on this year’s General Election ballot.
The first state amendment asked voters if the state Senate should have more time to confirm a judicial appointment, and the second asked voters to decide if counties and developers can use infrastructure bonds as a new way to finance public infrastructure in Hawaiʻi.
A supermajority of the state Legislature voted to place these two questions on the ballot. Each amendment has to win a majority of the ballots cast to pass.
A blank vote counted the same as a “no” vote.
Question #1: Shall the Constitution of the State of Hawai‘i be amended to allow the Senate more time to consider and act on the appointments of justices and judges, by increasing the timeframe from 30 days to 60 days for appointments made between April 1 and Dec. 31 when the senate is not in regular session or is about to adjourn regular session?
In the first printout that was published at 7:05 p.m., the question got 30,575 yes votes and 15,363 no votes.
Question #2: Shall the Hawaiʻi State Constitution be amended to direct the Legislature to authorize the counties to issue resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity bonds to fund public improvements in designated districts, repaid solely by future growth in property tax revenues within those districts, not by increasing real property tax rates, where such bonds are excluded from the counties’ debt limit and are subject to accountability and oversight requirements as may be provided by law?
Voters gave this amendment 33,794 yes votes and 12,318 no votes.
Kaua‘i County voters also voted to amend the county charter.
The question on the ballot was: Shall the Kauaʻi County Charter be amended to expedite and clarify the Planning Commission’s appeals process by removing all references to a Zoning Board of Appeals?
The question received 9,797 yes votes and 4,78 no votes.
