Honolulu Voters Weigh Ranked-Choice Voting Amendment for Mayor, Council and Prosecutor Races
Voters in the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, decided on November 3 whether to adopt ranked-choice voting for local nonpartisan offices, including mayor, City Council and the Honolulu prosecutor. Under the proposal, voters would rank candidates by preference; if no one clears 50%, the lowest-finishing candidate is eliminated and those voters' second choices are redistributed until a winner emerges.
If approved, the system would take effect in 2032, replacing the current setup in which a candidate can win a primary with well under half the vote. The Honolulu City Council referred the measure to the ballot; it is not a citizen initiative, and it appears alongside other council-referred charter amendments.
Opponents, led by the Hawaii Republican Party, argue ranked-choice voting complicates the ballot and risks confusing voters, while supporters say it increases competition and representation. Voters were urged to read the ballot instructions carefully to understand the ranking and tabulation rules.
(Source: Wise Voter)
Source: Wise Voter
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：檀香山市政厅 Honolulu Hale。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons（Public domain，Joel Bradshaw)。 / Photo: Honolulu Hale. Source: Wikimedia Commons（Public domain，Joel Bradshaw).
