Hawaii Dems Appeal Open Primary Case to 9th Circuit

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The Democratic Party of Hawaii on Thursday filed notice in federal court that it wants the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to hear its arguments on Hawaii’s open primary system.

Democrats had sued Hawaii’s chief election officer in June, arguing that the state’s open primary system infringed on the right of the party to decide who is eligible to vote in the Democratic primary.

But a federal judge ruled last month that the way Hawaii conducts its primary elections is constitutional. Under the system, any registered voter can pull the Democratic ballot — or the Republican or Libertarian, too.

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Photo: Party Chairman Dante Carpenter. (Civil Beat)

—Chad Blair

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