Hawaii Revised Statutes

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 12-41 (2026)

  Result of election

✓ current as of July 2026
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PART IV.  ELECTION RESULTS

 

     §12-41  Result of election.  (a)  The person or persons receiving the greatest number of votes at the primary or special primary as a candidate of a party for an office shall be the candidate of the party at the following general or special general election but not more candidates for a party than there are offices to be elected; provided that any candidate for any county office who is the sole candidate for that office at the primary or special primary election, or who would not be opposed in the general or special general election by any candidate running on any other ticket, nonpartisan or otherwise, and who is nominated at the primary or special primary election shall, after the primary or special primary election, be declared to be duly and legally elected to the office for which the person was a candidate regardless of the number of votes received by that candidate.

     (b)  Any nonpartisan candidate receiving at least ten per cent of the total votes cast for the office for which the person is a candidate at the primary or special primary, or a vote equal to the lowest vote received by the partisan candidate who was nominated in the primary or special primary, shall also be a candidate at the following election; provided that when more nonpartisan candidates qualify for nomination than there are offices to be voted for at the general or special general election, there shall be certified as candidates for the following election those receiving the highest number of votes, but not more candidates than are to be elected. [L 1970, c 26, pt of §2; am L 1973, c 217, §2(j); am L 1979, c 139, §10; am L 1983, c 34, §21]

 

Cross References

 

  Election contests, see chapter 11, pt XI.

 

Attorney General Opinions

 

  For nonpartisan candidate to qualify for placement on the general election ballot, candidate must receive the quantum of vote prescribed, and the provision relating to certification of the candidate with the highest number of votes does not eliminate this requirement.  Att. Gen. Op. 78-3.

 

Case Notes

 

  Nonpartisan candidate's constitutional rights were not violated.  881 F.2d 689.

  Distinction between partisan and nonpartisan candidates held not in violation of equal protection.  60 H. 282, 588 P.2d 915.

  Requirement that nonpartisan candidate obtain ten per cent upheld.  60 H. 282, 588 P.2d 915.

 

 

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1974–2022 · leading case: Hustace v. Doi, 588 P.2d 915 (Haw. 1978).
Hustace v. Doi, 588 P.2d 915 (Haw. 1978). · cites it 46× “The challenged provision of the election law is contained in HRS § 12-41, which reads in full as follows: § 12-41 Result of election.”
Burdick v. Takushi, 504 U.S. 428 (1992). · cites it 2× “See Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 12-41 , 12-42 (1985). This focuses the attention of voters upon contested races in the general election.”
State v. Park, 525 P.2d 586 (Haw. 1974). · cites it 2× “The judgment shall be conclusive of the right of the candidate so declared to be nominated; provided, that this subsection shall not operate to amend or repeal section 12-41. (b) In cases involving general and special elections the complaint shall be heard by the circuit court…”
Funakoshi v. King, 651 P.2d 912 (Haw. 1982). “The judgment shall be conclusive of the right of the candidate so declared to be nominated; provided that this subsection shall not operate to amend or repeal section 12-41. (emphasis added). The only statutory relief to which plaintiff is entitled under HRS § 11-173.”
Griffin v. State of Hawaii (D. Haw. 2021). · cites it 37× “Haw. Rev. Stat. § 12-41 . Established Parties.”
Griffin v. State of Hawaii (D. Haw. 2021). · cites it 5× “Under section 12-41 of Hawaii Revised Statutes, to advance to the general election, a nonpartisan candidate must receive either (1) at least 10 percent of the total votes cast in the primary, or (2) at least the same number of votes as the winner of a partisan primary who had…”
Malish v. Nago (Haw. 2022). · cites it 4× “Because Malish was excluded from the general election ballot for the State Senator, 3 District 9 race, but Chang and Parrish were included, Plaintiffs assert that HRS § 12-41(b) (2009) should not apply and is otherwise discriminatory.”
Cordery v. State of Hawai'i Off. of Elections (Haw. 2022). · cites it 2× “HRS § 12-41(a) (2009) mandates in pertinent part: “The person or persons receiving the greatest number of votes at the primary .”
Cermelj v. Kawauchi (Haw. 2012). · cites it 2× “Because neither Hope Louise Cermelj nor Moke Stephens received the minimum votes required under HRS § 12-41(b) (2009) for nonpartisan candidates to advance to the November 6, 2012 general election, and there was no republican candidate, Faye Hanahano, the democratic candidate…”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 12-41(a) — 2 cases
Cordery v. State of Hawai'i Off. of Elections (Haw. 2022). “HRS § 12-41(a) (2009) mandates in pertinent part: “The person or persons receiving the greatest number of votes at the primary .”
Griffin v. State of Hawaii (D. Haw. 2021). “Haw. Rev. Stat. § 12-41 . Established Parties.”
— Haw. Rev. Stat. § 12-41(b) — 4 cases
Malish v. Nago (Haw. 2022). “Because Malish was excluded from the general election ballot for the State Senator, 3 District 9 race, but Chang and Parrish were included, Plaintiffs assert that HRS § 12-41(b) (2009) should not apply and is otherwise discriminatory.”
Cermelj v. Kawauchi (Haw. 2012). “Because neither Hope Louise Cermelj nor Moke Stephens received the minimum votes required under HRS § 12-41(b) (2009) for nonpartisan candidates to advance to the November 6, 2012 general election, and there was no republican candidate, Faye Hanahano, the democratic candidate…”
Griffin v. State of Hawaii (D. Haw. 2021). “Under section 12-41 of Hawaii Revised Statutes, to advance to the general election, a nonpartisan candidate must receive either (1) at least 10 percent of the total votes cast in the primary, or (2) at least the same number of votes as the winner of a partisan primary who had…”
Griffin v. State of Hawaii (D. Haw. 2021). “Haw. Rev. Stat. § 12-41 . Established Parties.”
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