Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 15 — Office of Data and Innovation

What it does

Should an Office of Data and Innovation be established to use data to improve city services, promote government transparency and civic engagement, ensure that the city uses artificial intelligence responsibly, and protect residents’ digital privacy?

A YES vote means

An Office of Data and Innovation would be created to use data to improve city services, promote transparency and civic engagement, ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence, and protect residents' digital privacy.

A NO vote means

This Office of Data and Innovation would not be created.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Hawaii adds a second test for constitutional amendments: YES must also equal at least half of all ballots cast in the election, so leaving it blank works against it.

Left–right lean

Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

The 2025-2026 Honolulu Charter Commission, which the charter requires every ten years, approved this amendment as proposal P143 on July 20, 2026, according to the commission's final proposal document.

A Chief Data Officer and two data specialist positions were created in 2022 by City Ordinance 22-31, which future administrations can change without a public vote, according to the city's explanation in the state voter guide.

The amendment would make an Office of Data and Innovation, reporting to the Managing Director, a permanent part of the charter, responsible for data standards, data privacy, responsible use of artificial intelligence and innovation in city services.

Put on the ballot by Honolulu Charter Commission, July 20, 2026 (proposal P143; vote tally not stated in the posted proposal).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3, official source 4.

Next elections here

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• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 1 — Food Security Fund
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 2 — New Charter Preamble
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 3 — Office of ‘Ōiwi Resources and Cultural Stewardship
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 4 — LGBTQIA+ Commission
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 5 — Ranked-Choice Voting for City Elections Beginning in 2032
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 6 — Police Department Policies on Immigration Enforcement
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 7 — Housing Availability and Preservation Policy
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 8 — Affordable Housing Fund as a Revolving Fund
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 9 — Second Public Hearing for City Real Property Transactions
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 10 — Affordable Housing Functional Plan
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 11 — Grants to Nonprofits from the Clean Water and Natural Lands and Climate Resiliency Funds
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 12 — Outside Funding Sources for Charter Special Funds
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 13 — Historic Preservation Use and Renaming of the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 14 — Land Management Appropriation from the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 16 — Permanent Resident Aliens on City Boards and Commissions
• Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 17 — Quorum and Board Action Based on Eligible Members

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 15 mean?

An Office of Data and Innovation would be created to use data to improve city services, promote transparency and civic engagement, ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence, and protect residents' digital privacy.

What does a NO vote on Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 15 mean?

This Office of Data and Innovation would not be created.

How many votes does Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 15 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Hawaii adds a second test for constitutional amendments: YES must also equal at least half of all ballots cast in the election, so leaving it blank works against it.

Should I vote yes or no on Honolulu City Charter Amendment Question 15?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.