Hawai'i Republican Party Responds to Democrats' Closed Primary Suit
News Release from Hawaii Republican Party June 18, 2013
Honolulu, Hawai'i - Hawai'i Republican Party Chairman David Chang issued the following statement regarding the Hawai'i Democratic Party's lawsuit challenging Hawaii's open Primary Election:
The Hawai'i Democratic Party is fully within its rights under the U.S. Constitution to choose a closed Primary system.
By an overwhelming vote of the delegates at our 2011 convention, the Hawai'i Republican Party has chosen to exercise our right to retain our open primary system even as the Democrats close theirs. We invite the participation of Republicans, Independents, and dissatisfied Democrats in the Hawai'i Republican Party's open primaries to provide voters in every district with a community-focused General Election alternative that reflects the values of the majority of Hawai'i's voters.
In contrast, the Democrats seek to limit who may participate in selection of their candidates to protect the interests of their party bosses, machine politics, and their far left base.
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News Release: Primary Election Challenge
Statement by Dante K. Carpenter, Chair Democratic Party of Hawai‘i: The Democratic Party of Hawai‘i today filed a complaint with the United State District Court of Hawai‘i which challenges the methodology of conducting Primary Elections in the State of Hawai‘i.
News Release from Hawaii Democratic Party June 17, 2013
Hawai‘i – Dante K. Carpenter, Chairman, of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i (DPH), has through its attorneys, Gil, Zukeran & Sgan, filed a complaint with the United States District Court of Hawai‘i.
Carpenter states, “In accordance with the DPH Constitution, Article I, regarding membership adopted by the Convention body in May, 2006 and remains in effect today, as Chair I am committed to fulfilling the resolution put forth by the Convention body to ensure Democrats are elected at the primary stage by their fellow Democrats. In order to achieve this outcome we are required to file this type of law suit in the District Court of Hawai‘i. Note in particular that emphasis is on achieving “openness” - either through public registration OR Party membership!”
The Democratic Party of Hawai‘i seeks the public’s understanding and appreciation of the principles and Constitutional guarantees in conjunction with associational and individual freedoms.
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Background: