REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF ELECTIONS TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE THE FISCAL IMPACTS, POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS, ADMINISTRATIVE CONSIDERATIONS, AND BROADER POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF ELIMINATING PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND IMPLEMENTING RANKED-CHOICE VOTING IN GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

HCR130

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

130

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the office of elections to convene a working
group to examine the fiscal impacts, potential cost savings, administrative
considerations, and broader policy implications of eliminating primary
elections and implementing ranked-choice voting in general and special
elections
.

����
WHEREAS, Hawaii's
primary election system fails to engage a majority of registered voters; and

����
WHEREAS, in
2024, of the 839,618 registered voters in Hawaii, only 271,345 voters
participated in the primary election, representing 32.3 percent turnout,
compared to 522,236 voters, or 60.7 percent, who participated in the general
election; and

����
WHEREAS, Hawaii's
open primary system permits voters registered with one political party to
select another party's ballot, thereby altering the traditional purpose of
party nomination processes; and

����
WHEREAS, under
the plurality system, candidates may be elected without majority support when
multiple candidates divide the vote in crowded races; and

����
WHEREAS, primary
elections cost Hawaii taxpayers more than $5,000,000 to administer, including costs
for staffing and labor, facilities and equipment, printing and postage,
tabulation, and election logistics; and

����
WHEREAS, ranked-choice
voting is an electoral method used for more than a century in countries such as
Australia, Ireland, and Malta, demonstrating long-term reliability and
effectiveness; and

����
WHEREAS, ranked-choice
voting requires a candidate in a single-seat race to obtain fifty percent of
the vote plus one, thereby ensuring majority support; and

����
WHEREAS, ranked-choice
voting mitigates the "spoiler effect", allowing voters to rank
candidates in order of preference so that votes are not wasted and similarly
positioned candidates do not disadvantage one another; and

����
WHEREAS, jurisdictions
utilizing ranked-choice voting report that more than ninety percent of voters
help elect one of their top three choices, voter turnout increases by five to
seven percent, and campaign discourse becomes less negative; and

����
WHEREAS, the
Legislature enacted Act 47, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, which established
ranked-choice voting for special federal elections and special elections to
fill vacant county council seats; and

����
WHEREAS, eliminating
primary elections and implementing ranked-choice voting in general elections
may expand voter participation in candidate selection, reduce costs, and
promote a more representative and democratic electoral process; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that the
Office of Elections is requested to convene a working group to examine the
fiscal impacts, potential cost savings, administrative considerations, and
broader policy implications of eliminating primary elections and implementing
ranked-choice voting in general and special elections; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following
members:

����
(1)
�
The
Chief Election Officer, or the Chief Election Officer's designee, who is
requested to serve as chair of the working group;

����
(2)
�
The
Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;

����
(3)
�
One
member of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives;

����
(4)
�
One
member of the Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

����
(5)
�
Members
representing political parties in the State, to be invited by the chair; and

����
(6)
�
Members
of the public with expertise in election administration and public finance, to
be invited by the chair; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

����
(1)
�
Conduct a comprehensive fiscal analysis
comparing the current costs of administering primary and general elections with
the projected costs of conducting a single general election utilizing
ranked-choice voting;

����
(2)
�
Evaluate the administrative, technological,
and voter education requirements associated with statewide implementation of
ranked-choice voting;

����
(3)
�
Examine voter turnout data and electoral
outcomes in jurisdictions that have adopted ranked-choice voting;

����
(4)
�
Assess legal and constitutional
considerations, including potential amendments to articles II and III of the Hawaii
State Constitution;

����
(5)
�
Analyze the projected impact of eliminating
primary elections on political parties, candidates, and voter participation;
and

����
(6)
�
Develop recommendations regarding whether to
propose constitutional amendments to:

���������
(A)
�
Require ranked-choice voting in general and
special elections; and

���������
(B)
�
Eliminate primary elections; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings
and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027;
and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the working group shall cease to exist on June 30, 2027; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the
Attorney General and Chief Election Officer.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

Ranked-Choice
Voting; Primary Elections; Working Group; Office of Elections; Chief Election
Officer