Voters across the state voted for two proposed amendments to the Hawaii Constitution in the general election Tuesday.

Successful amendments to the state constitution required at least 50% of the total “yes” votes cast. However, a majority of “no” votes would not have brought any changes to the constitution.

The first amendment — seeking to remove specific language regarding the state Legislature’s power to reserve marriage only for opposite-sex couples — received 52.1 percent of the vote, or 228,866 votes cast, in favor of the amendment.

There were 174,783 votes, or 39.8%, for the opposition.

Blank votes totaled 33,943 votes, or 7.7% of the vote, while excess votes totaled 1,677 votes, or 0.4%, according to results released around midnight on Wednesday.

The other state amendment – ​​aimed at making the state Senate confirmation process for district court judges similar to the selection of circuit court judges, the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Hawaii State Supreme Court – received 269,261 votes, or 61.3%, in favor.

The amendment received 109,379 votes against, or 24.9%. There were 60,305 blank votes, or 13.7 percent, and 324 overvotes, or 0.07 percent, according to the results.

As passed, this amendment allows district court appointments to be automatically considered consented if the State Senate does not reject the nomination within 30 days.

This change would make Senate confirmation procedures the same for all state judicial nominations, whether the appointment is made by the governor or chief justice.

Meanwhile, registered voters in the City and County of Honolulu also revealed their decisions on four amendments to the City Charter.

Among Honolulu’s election issues, one involved a climate change fund for the city, while another focused on revamping the city’s emergency management department.

Oahu voters were also asked whether a commission should oversee the city’s new Department of Ocean Safety and whether the City Council should vote on its future salary increases.

For Charter Amendment 1, voters voted in favor of the amendment — with 155,247 votes in favor, or 58.1% of the vote — to approve the creation of a climate resilience fund, which would finance preventive, restorative and educational measures related to climate change.

There were 111,783 votes, or 41.9%, against this amendment.

The climate fund will be funded at 0.5% of the city’s estimated annual property tax revenue. Previously, the city did not have funds for climate resilience.

For Charter Amendment 2, voters supported reorganizing the DEM — with 201,264 votes in favor, or 76.5 percent, to 61,842 against, 23.5 percent — to be like other city departments , and that the Citizens’ Advisory Commission would report to this agency.

The charter would also be amended to update the duties of the DEM director and provide “minimum qualifications” for the director position and impose an additional requirement of at least five years of responsible administrative experience in emergency management, disaster planning or management of public safety services. among other qualifications.

Voters at the polls said they wanted an oversight commission linked to the Department of Ocean Safety. They cast 173,394 votes in favor, or 65.4%, while there were 91,655 votes against, or 34.6%.

Under this amendment, a five-member group within the OSD will have the authority to make recommendations on its annual budget; review its operations and recommend improvements; and appoint or remove a new head of the OSD, among other powers.

The final charter amendment – ​​seeking that any future Council salary increases be capped at 5% per year and requires future salary increases to be equivalent to the average of the most recent annual salary changes of the various units of collective bargaining in the city – received 246,681 votes. , or 90.6%, in favor of change.

Opponents received 25,744 votes, or 9.5% of the vote, according to the results.

The vote also means an amended charter would remove the Council’s power to vote on its own increases.

Currently, the City Salary Commission sets salaries for municipal positions, including those on Council.

Previously, the Council could accept or reject any part of the commission’s resolution, including any part relating to Council members’ own salaries.

As adopted by voters, the charter will be amended to require the Salary Commission to issue a resolution establishing the salaries of Council members and a separate resolution establishing the salaries of other city employee positions.

In 2023, the city’s top elective committee received a controversial 64% salary increase, with all but three council members agreeing to a $44,400 salary increase, to $113,304, from $68,904.

Regarding voter approval of the latest amendments to Oahu’s charter, the city’s elections administrator, Rex Quidilla, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser: “They are ratified when the votes for ” yes” are more numerous than the votes for “no”.

“Blank votes and overvotes are not included in this part of the calculations,” he added.