How Hawaii's Primary Election Works

Hawaii uses an open primary election system. Registered voters do not register with a political party and may choose which party's primary to participate in. Although candidates from multiple parties appear on the primary ballot, voters may only vote for candidates from one political party and cannot vote across party lines.

Hawaii does not hold primary runoff elections. Candidates only need to receive a plurality of the vote to win their party's nomination, meaning the candidate with the most votes advances to the November general election even if they do not receive an outright majority.