Proposing Amendments To Articles Ii, Iii, And Xvii Of The Constitution Of The State Of Hawaii To Provide For Initiative, Referendum, And Recall.
If enacted, these constitutional amendments would fundamentally transform the legislative process in Hawaii. The initiative process would enable citizens to submit legislation for direct voting, thus creating a pathway for the public to influence laws directly. Moreover, the referendum would allow voters to repeal or modify recently passed statutes, providing a check on legislative power. The addition of the recall provision would add a layer of accountability for elected officials, allowing constituents to remove representatives who fail to meet their expectations or respond to local needs.
House Bill 1173 proposes significant amendments to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to introduce mechanisms for direct initiative, popular referendum, and recall of elected officials. The bill seeks to empower voters by allowing them to place measures on the ballot, reject laws previously enacted, and remove elected officials from office, thereby fostering a more participatory form of democracy. Currently, Hawaii lacks provisions that grant this level of direct participation to its electorate, which the bill aims to rectify by enhancing civic engagement.
While proponents argue that the bill enhances democratic governance and voter engagement, there are concerns about potential misuse of these powers. Critics may point out the risk of poorly coordinated or conflicting initiatives and the challenge of ensuring that the processes for gathering signatures and conducting elections are both accessible and secure. There is a need to carefully consider the statutory and procedural details outlined in the bill to mitigate any unintended consequences of implementing direct democracy measures.
The bill stipulates that certain limitations apply, such as excluding measures that pertain to land use issues or that compromise public health or safety. Furthermore, any initiative must be limited to one subject, which aims to prevent the ambiguity and overlap that can arise from complex legislative proposals.