On June 17, the Hawaii Democratic Party filed a lawsuit in federal court, seeking to close its primary to all except registered Democrats. Hawaii at this time does not ask voters to choose a party when they register to vote. This is the first time any state Democratic Party has ever filed a lawsuit to close an open primary. In the past, the Republican Parties of Virginia, Idaho, and South Carolina filed such lawsuits.
The Virginia Republican Party lawsuit had some success, and the Idaho Republican Party completely won its case. The South Carolina Republican Party lawsuit is still pending.
UPDATE: here is the party’s press release. Here is the Republican Party’s press release.
Let me know when you’re willing to unite with people based on ranked choice voting in multi-winner districts with votes cast as proof and we can start working together.
Since all candidates, including independents, now appear on Hawaii primary ballots it would be straightforward to switch to a Top 2 Open Primary.
James Ogle, I do support ranked choice voting in multi-winner districts. Jim Riley, your solution would mean that Hawaii voters in November would see nothing but Democrats on their general election ballots, in virtually every legislative district in the state. Hawaii has only one Republican State Senator. Your idea would convert a de facto one-party state into a state in which voters could not vote against the Democratic Party in virtually all partisan races in November.
1. What part of the USA Const says that X percent of all voters in a gang have a constitutonal right to be an independent empire and be able to have the gang’s candidates be put on the public regime’s ballots ???
I.E. – Public nominations of PUBLIC candidates for public offices by PUBLIC LAWS — not gang resolutions/orders.
— regardless of any SCOTUS moron nonsense stuff.
2. NO primaries are needed or wanted.
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
In November 2012, 36% of Senate districts (9 of 40), and 37% of House districts (19 of 51) were not even on the general election ballot.
Under the current system, voters vote in the Democratic primary in order to have a choice. Under the Democratic lawsuit, that choice will be foreclosed. While your system might permit voters to “vote against the Democratic party” it does not permit them to choose their representative.