HI HCR136

Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on closed primary election systems used by other states and their effects on voter turnout.

Notes that Hawaii currently conducts open primaries allowing voters to participate without registering with a political party, while eleven states conduct closed primaries requiring party membership.

Cites the 2000 Supreme Court ruling in California Democratic Party v. Jones confirming that political parties have a First Amendment right to limit primary participation to registered party members.

Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to report findings to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2012 Regular Session.

States the Legislature's interest in studying whether closed or open primaries result in higher voter turnout to support representative government.