Vote in primary
Seven county officials were elected to office in the 2016 primary election in Hawaii County. The mayor, prosecuting attorney and council members in districts 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 were decided in the primary.
Voters who did not vote in the primary had no say in who occupied these offices. In the 2014 primary election, all but two council seats were decided in the primary election in Hawaii County.
Do you need any other reason to understand why your vote in the primary election is very important?
During an election year in Hawaii, there are two scheduled elections, a primary election in August and a general election in November. While these elections have different purposes, they are equally important.
Because the runoff elections are in the general election, some people think general elections are more important and don’t vote in the primary. But the truth is, both elections are equally important. In a primary election, partisan candidates are nominated separately by each party and will face candidates from the other parties in the general election. However, nonpartisan candidates can be elected to office in the primary without a runoff.
One reason for a primary election is for partisan candidates running for offices such as governor, senator and representative to compete for a party nomination. Democratic voters select Democratic candidates, Republican voters select Republican candidates, etc. The winners of these primary election contests compete against each other in the general election.
The primary contests can be very close, and your vote will make a difference in who wins the nomination. In the 2016 primary election, the Democratic nomination in House District 33 was decided by only 37 votes. Just a few more votes for the other candidate in each precinct could have made a difference in the nomination. Your one vote is very important.
The primary election ballot also has offices that are called “special nonpartisan” offices. These offices include mayor, prosecuting attorney and members of the County Council. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will run off in the general election, with one important difference. If a candidate for a nonpartisan office receives 50 percent or more of the vote in the primary election, that person is elected to office, and there is no runoff. If you fail to vote in the primary election, you might not have any voice in selecting important county officers.
Your vote is your voice in government. Take steps to ensure you are heard. First, register to vote and re-register if you move or change your name. Learn about the candidates in the election by going to the League of Women Voters’ VOTE411.org website, where you will find each candidate’s position on the issues. And, finally, vote in the primary and general elections.
Rosemarie Muller
President, Hawaii County League of Women Voters