Maui County Charter Amendment Question 2 — Standardizing deadlines for voter initiative, recall, and charter amendment

What it does

Shall the Charter be amended, effective January 1, 2027, to standardize the deadlines related to the clerk’s processing of petitions related to voter initiative, recall of elected officers or board or commission members, and charter amendments?

A YES vote means

Starting January 1, 2027, the Maui charter would standardize the clerk's deadlines for processing petitions for voter initiatives, recalls of elected officers or board and commission members, and charter amendments.

A NO vote means

The clerk's current petition-processing deadlines in the charter would not be standardized.

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

Under the current charter, the County Clerk has 45 days to review voter-initiative petitions, 20 days for recall petitions and 15 days for charter-amendment petitions, according to the county's explanation in the state voter guide; the amendment would set all three at 45 days and give 30 days for supplemental petitions.

Resolution 25-216 says the different deadlines are outdated and create operational difficulties for the Clerk's office, which must verify thousands of signatures during busy election years.

The Maui County Council adopted the resolution on second and final reading on July 24, 2026, with eight members voting aye and Council Member Gabriel L. Johnson excused, according to the resolution's roll call.

Put on the ballot by Maui County Council, 8–0 (one excused), July 24, 2026 (Resolution 25-216).

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

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Maui County ballots

• Maui County Charter Amendment Question 1 — Planning Commission Review of General Plan and Land Use Ordinances
• Maui County Charter Amendment Question 3 — Computation of Time
• Maui County Charter Amendment Question 4 — Processing of Claims
• Maui County Charter Amendment Question 5 — Removing the English Translation of the Hawai‘i State Motto
• Maui County Charter Amendment Question 6 — Emergency Appropriations
• Maui County Charter Amendment Question 7 — Independent Nomination Board
• Maui County Charter Amendment Question 8 — Reappointment of Members of the Board of Ethics

All Maui County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Maui County Charter Amendment Question 2 mean?

Starting January 1, 2027, the Maui charter would standardize the clerk's deadlines for processing petitions for voter initiatives, recalls of elected officers or board and commission members, and charter amendments.

What does a NO vote on Maui County Charter Amendment Question 2 mean?

The clerk's current petition-processing deadlines in the charter would not be standardized.

How many votes does Maui County Charter Amendment Question 2 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 Maui County Charter Amendment Question 2?

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.