Do blank ballots still get counted as “No” votes under Hawai`i law?
Blank ballots still count as “no” votes for the question of convening a constitutional convention as well as proposed constitutional amendments. After the Hawai`i State AFL-CIO v. Yoshina decision, the Hawai`i State Legislature amended the law to conform to the Supreme Court’s decision. Therefore, HRS Section 11-151(3) now reads as follows: If a contest or question requires a majority of the votes for passage, any blank, spoiled, or invalid ballot shall not be tallied for passage or as votes cast except that such ballots shall be counted as votes cast in ratification of a constitutional amendment or a question for a constitutional convention.
