An election of Native Hawaiian delegates to a constitutional convention can go forward next month as planned, a federal judge ruled today. 

U.S. District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright said he would not block the Na‘i Aupuni election, saying it was a private election not subject to public election laws.

A lawsuit filed in August argued that state is illegally supporting a race-based and view-based election, and an additional motion sought to halt the proceeding scheduled during the month of November.

One of the plaintiffs, Keli‘i Akina, president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, said he plans to appeal the ruling to the 9th Circuit Court.

Voting for delegates begins November 1 for Hawaiians certified by the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. Voting ends Nov. 30, with a constitutional convention planned to start in February.