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Posted: Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 8:34 AM HST

3-judge panel denies challenge to HI redistricting

By Associated Press

Three federal judges say a constitutional challenge to Hawaii's redistricting plan isn't strong enough to go forward and risk jeopardizing the state's primary and general elections this year. The panel on Tuesday denied a preliminary injunction that would have stopped state officials from implementing the plan while the court considered the challenge. The judges say the voters who sued the state over the plan didn't well enough show it violates the constitutional right to equal protection. The judges say the challenge doesn't outweigh the public interest in holding a primary Aug. 11 and general election Nov. 6. The voters who challenged say the new plan excludes more than 108,000 military members, their families and university students in drawing up boundaries for state legislative districts.