Democratic Party Tries to Deny Independent Voters Right to Vote in Hawaii

Published: 23 May, 2014

1 min read

The Democratic Party is currently challenging the open primary system in Hawaii. Although Hawaii's primary system is funded by all taxpayers, the Democratic Party is asking the court to close the primary, thereby preventing voters not affiliated with the major parties from being allowed to participate.

On Thursday, the

Committee for a United Independent Party (CUIP), along with attorney's from the EndPartisanship.org coalition, filed an amicus brief that was accepted by the court over an attempt by the Democratic Party to prevent its submission:

"In a State where the winner of the Democratic Party primary almost invariably goes on to be elected to public office in November, to be barred from participating in the party's primary elections is to be denied the right to the full franchise guaranteed by the Hawaii Constitution. Such voters are left without the ability to influence the election’s outcome...

Discontent with the performance of our country’s party-driven political process has reached alarming levels…

Each of the two major parties works to convince the public that the source of this dismal performance is the other party. The parties and their consultants have turned our elections into cut-throat partisan competition, rather than a conversation about what is best for the country. Our party-based election laws contribute to this."

Read the Motion:

Read the Amicus:

California Prop 50: Partisan Power Play or Necessary Counterpunch?

November 4 marks a special election for what has become the most controversial ballot measure in California in recent memory: Proposition 50, which would circumvent congressional districts drawn by the state’s independent redistricting commission for a legislative-drawn map....

01 Oct, 2025

9 min read

Virtual Discussion: The Fight for Equal Independent Voting Rights Makes it to SCOTUS

Every major voting rights movement in U.S. history – whether successful or not – has intertwined with landmark litigation. This was the case for women’s suffrage. It was the case for civil rights. And it is the case in the ongoing effort to protect the right of all voters to have equal participation in taxpayer-funded elections – something millions of independent voters are denied across the U.S....

29 Sep, 2025

2 min read

SCOTUS Considers Challenge to Closed Primaries -- Here's Why It Is Such a Big Deal

In a dramatic step forward for litigation challenging closed primaries, the U.S. Supreme Court has indicated they are going to conference to discuss whether to grant a writ of certiorari to Polelle v. Florida Secretary of State; a case challenging Florida's closed primaries that Open Primaries has supported since its inception....

26 Sep, 2025

2 min read

Democratic Party Tries to Deny Independent Voters Right to Vote in Hawaii

You Might Also Like