Lawmakers explore controversial rule changes for primary elections

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A bill to eliminate party-based voting for primary elections in Hawaii is making headway at the State Legislature.

Senate Bill 2480, according to its webpage description, “allows voters in a primary or special primary election to vote for any candidate for any office without regard to the voter or candidate’s political party preference. Advances the top two candidates in a primary or special primary election, regardless of political party, to the general election.”

Measure supporter Marlene Thom said, “To me this expands voter choice and allows the general election candidates to reflect a broader support among the electorate, thereby making our elections more inclusive.”

During a hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday, 41 people submitted testimony in support of the measure, while nine voiced opposition.

“This is a simple, yet far-reaching bill that would improve voter choices,” another testifier in favor of the bill said. “Let’s make general elections great again.”

While bill backers say the rule change would expand voter choice, those against it say it would do the opposite.

“I love that this eliminates the partisan part of primaries, right? So if we could just eliminate the partisanship part, excellent, but that we’re not just doing that, right? That would be an oversimplification,” said Jackie Keefe in opposition to the proposal.

“And so if we really think of it on a larger scale, this is helping protect the status quo, right? Which is what the grassroots folks are always trying to push back against,” she added.

Another opponent, Austin Martin, said, “There is no stability in the law right now, and there is a lot of mistrust in our public institutions.”

“Yanking the rug out from under people and changing the entire system in a way that, while it sounds nice on the surface, in fact, only benefits the establishment insiders, they’re setting Hawaii up for some very bad things to happen,” he added.

Lawmakers advanced the bill at Friday’s hearing,

The window is open for candidates to file for the primary election on Aug. 8.

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