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RNC delegate guidelines from Kansas, 2016

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This page provides known guidelines for Republican delegates representing Kansas at the 2016 National Republican Convention, as compiled from the "Kansas Republican Party Presidential Preference Caucus and Delegate Selection Plan for the 2016 Republican National Convention" and "Kansas Presidential Caucus Frequently Asked Questions." The full text of relevant regulations is reproduced below.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Kansas sent 40 delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention, including 12 congressional district delegates, 25 at-large delegates, and three Republican National Committee delegates. All Kansas delegates were allocated on a proportional basis.
  • Kansas congressional district delegates were elected at district conventions, while the Kansas Republican State Committee elected at-large delegates at the state convention.
  • Kansas GOP bylaws in 2016 stipulated that delegates were bound to vote at the convention for the candidate to whom they were allocated until that candidate released them.

    • Kansas Republican Party Presidential Preference Caucus and Delegate Selection Plan for the 2016 Republican National Convention

    The text below has been reproduced verbatim from: Kansas Republican Party Presidential Preference Caucus and Delegate Selection Plan for the 2016 Republican National Convention

    Section 1: Introduction

    1. This delegate selection plan is governed by the Rules of the Republican Party (“RRP”) as adopted by the Republican National Convention August 28, 2012, as amended; the Constitution and Bylaws of the Kansas Republican Party (“KSGOP”); and Kansas statute. 2. The Kansas Republican Party has been allocated a total of 40 delegates and 37 alternate delegates for the National Convention. (RRP Rule 14) 3. Following the adoption of this delegate selection plan by the Kansas Republican State Committee (KSGOP Constitution Article VI), it shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Republican National Committee by October 1, 2015. (RRP Rule 16f) 4. The KSGOP Executive Committee (KSGOP Bylaw Section 5) shall be empowered to make any technical changes or revisions to this document as required by the RNC. 5. All questions of interpretation of these rules and procedures shall be resolved by the KSGOP Caucus Rules Committee and shall be subject to final resolution by the KSGOP Executive Committee.

    Section 5: Election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention

    1. Each Congressional District shall be required to hold a District Convention (KSGOP Bylaws Section 3(A)) for the purpose of electing three (3) Congressional District delegates and three (3) Congressional District alternate delegates to the Republican National Convention.

    A. The meeting of the Congressional District Committee shall be held no earlier than March 26, 2016, and no later than April 23, 2016.
    B. It shall be called pursuant to Section 3(A) of the KSGOP Bylaws and said bylaws shall govern the process of the meeting.
    C. The State Chair must be notified of the meeting of the Congressional District Committee no fewer than thirty (30) days before the meeting is held. The State Party shall supply each Congressional District chair with the names of each person who has completed a selfnomination form for delegate or alternate delegate no less than fourteen (14) days prior to the Congressional District convention. Any individual having properly submitting their application for a delegate or alternate delegate position shall be on the ballot for the positions they designate on their application.
    D. Delegates shall be elected and announced prior to the election of alternate delegates. The three people receiving the highest vote totals shall receive the delegate spots. In the event of a tie the winner shall be determined by lot. If a person, having been nominated for delegate status does not receive enough votes, that person can still be considered for alternate delegate if they so desire. In the event that an individual is elected as a congressional district alternate they may decline the election and choose rather to seek election as an at-large delegate or alternate. In such event, said alternate permanently relinquishes their election as a congressional level alternate and the next highest vote getter shall receive their position until all three alternate seats are filled.
    E. The Congressional District chair or his or her designee shall report the results to KSGOP Headquarters no more than one (1) business day following the conclusion of the convention.
    F. Any person not chosen as a delegate or alternate delegate at the district level shall be considered for at-large delegate and/or at-large alternate delegate status as outlined in these rules.

    2. At-large delegates and alternates shall be elected by the Kansas Republican State Committee at a Convention called for that purpose by the Chair of the Kansas Republican Party no earlier than April 24, 2016, and no later than May 21, 2016. (RRP Rule 16(d)(1)). The number of atlarge delegates to be elected shall be twenty-five (25). The number of at-large alternate delegates to be elected shall be twenty-five (25). The Kansas Republican State Committee shall meet in accordance with the KSGOP Bylaws Section 4. The meeting process shall be as follows:

    A. Anyone not already elected at a Congressional District Convention as a National Convention delegate or alternate delegate, having properly submitting their application for a delegate or alternate delegate position, shall be on the ballot for the positions they designate on their application.
    B. Those delegates and alternate delegates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. In the event of a tie the winner shall be determined by lot.
    C. Delegates shall be elected and announced prior to the election of alternate delegates. Those candidates for at-large delegate who were not elected, and have indicated their willingness to serve as an alternate delegate, shall have their names included in the election for at-large alternate delegate.
    D. Each congressional district shall be entitled to at least six (6) at-large delegates and six (6) at-large alternate delegates per district. The remaining at-large delegate shall be awarded to the Congressional District which attains the highest percentage of caucus attendees based upon dividing the number of March 5, 2016, caucus attendees by the number of registered Republican voters within the Congressional District on February 4, 2016, in said district. The remaining at-large alternate delegate shall be awarded to the Congressional District which attained the second highest percentage of caucus attendees based upon dividing the number of March 5, 2016 caucus attendees by the number of registered Republican voters within the Congressional District on February 4, 2016, in said district.

    3. Any registered Kansas Republican is eligible to be selected as a delegate or alternate delegate. The KSGOP Caucus Rules Committee shall develop a standard form for self-nomination of delegates and alternate delegates. Such forms shall be finalized no later than October 30, 2015. Copies of the self-nomination form shall be made available to any Kansas Republican so requesting. Completed forms must be mailed, emailed, faxed, or delivered to the offices of the Kansas Republican Party no later than 5 p.m. CST, March 11, 2016. Forms submitted after the deadline may be considered upon super majority vote (defined as 2/3 of the membership voting in the affirmative whether present or not) of the KSGOP Executive Committee.

    Applicants must be willing to sign an affidavit that they are willing to be bound to the results of the caucus and support the candidate their delegate seat is bound to as outlined in Section VI. The KSGOP shall make available to the bodies electing the delegates and alternate delegate copies (electronic format is acceptable) of each individual's self-nomination form along with compiling an abbreviated version of the applications contents with all applicants listed as approved by the KSGOP Rules Committee.

    4. The bodies electing delegates and alternate delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention shall take positive actions to achieve diversity through their recommendations. (RRP Rule 15(b) and (d)). There shall be no automatic delegates to the national convention who serve by virtue of party position or elective office, except for the State Party Chair, National Committeewoman, and National committeeman. (RRP 16(d)(11), 14(a)(2)).

    5. At the Republican National Convention, all delegates and alternate delegates are required to cover their own transportation, lodging, and meal expenses. No delegate or alternate delegate, or candidate for delegate or alternate delegate, shall be required to pay an assessment or fee as a condition of standing for election or serving as a delegate or alternate delegate to the national convention. (RRP 15(d)(10)).

    6. In the election of delegates and alternate delegates to the Republican National Convention voting by slate (a single vote for a predetermined list of delegates) shall be prohibited.

    Section 6: Allocation and Binding of Delegates and Alternate Delegates

    1. Congressional delegates and alternate delegates shall be bound on a proportional basis to candidates receiving in excess of 10% of the certified districtwide vote of the Presidential Preference caucus held on March 5, 2016, in the same manner as statewide delegates, described below. (RRP Rule 16(c)(2) and (3)) District delegates and alternate delegates shall remain bound until released by the candidate.

    2. At-large delegates and alternate delegates shall be bound on a proportional basis to candidates receiving in excess of 10% of the certified statewide vote of the Presidential Preference caucus held on March 5, 2016. In the event that a single candidate or no candidate receives in excess of 10% of the certified statewide vote total then the sections pertaining to that requirement shall be null and void and the allocation determined from the results of the entire pool of statewide candidates. At-large delegates and alternate delegates shall be bound by the following formula: (RRP Rule 16(c)(2) and (3)).

    A. The votes received by each Presidential Candidate who receives in excess of 10% of the total statewide vote shall be divided by the total number of valid votes cast for all Presidential Candidates receiving in excess of 10% of the statewide vote total on the March 5, 2016, KSGOP Caucus Ballot. Starting with the candidate receiving the highest number of statewide votes the percentage shall be multiplied by the total number of at-large delegates (25) rounding up to the next whole number to produce the Delegate Allotment for each candidate. Repeat this allocation process with each of the remaining Presidential Candidates in descending order of their statewide totals until all available delegates are allotted.
    B. Alternates are bound in a similar fashion.
    D. The KSGOP Caucus Rules Committee shall prepare the final formula and delegate allotments upon certification of the results of the Presidential caucus. The KSGOP Executive Committee upon affirmative vote of 2/3 of all members whether present or not shall certify the proportional allocation of the at-large delegates and alternates by March 25, 2016. In the event that questions arise relative to the delegate allotment, preference in awarding delegates shall always be given by rank to the candidate receiving the highest number of total statewide votes. Delegates and alternate delegates shall remain bound until released by the candidate.

    3. The Chair, National Committeeman, and National Committeewoman shall be bound until released to the candidate with the highest statewide vote count.

    Kansas Presidential Caucus Frequently Asked Questions

    The text below has been reproduced verbatim from: Kansas Presidential Caucus Frequently Asked Questions

    How did Kansas allocate its delegates in the past?

    1864-1976: District and State Party conventions met and elected delegates. Sometimes they were sent unbound to any candidate sometimes they were "instructed" for whom to vote.

    • 1978: Kansas passed a law for a presidential primary, if the state legislature did not vote to skip it for a particular year.
    • 1980: Kansas held a presidential primary and Ronald Reagan won most of Kansas’ delegates. John Anderson won some delegates, then went Independent, resulting in confusion and dislike for the primary idea.
    • 1984: The Kansas legislature voted to skip the primary and the Kansas Republican State Committee sent all delegates allocated to Reagan.
    • 1988: The Kansas legislature voted to skip the presidential primary and the Kansas Republican State Committee held a Caucus. Bob Dole won all 34 delegates in the Caucuses held February 1-7.
    • 1992: At the request of Bob Dole, the Kansas legislature directed that a presidential primary take place. George H.W. Bush won.
    • 1996: The Kansas legislature voted to skip the presidential primary and the KS Republican State Committee directed that all delegates be allocated to Bob Dole.
    • 2000: The Kansas legislature, very late in the process, voted to skip the presidential primary and the KS Republican State Committee, unable to hold a caucus on such short-notice, sent all delegates unallocated. They all voted for George W. Bush.
    • 2004: The Kansas legislature voted to skip the presidential primary and the Kansas Republican State Committee sent all delegates allocated to George Bush.
    • 2008: The Kansas legislature voted to skip the presidential primary and the Kansas Republican Party held a Caucus. Mike Huckabee won all the delegates
    • 2012: The Kansas legislature voted to skip the presidential primary and the Kansas Republican Party held a Caucus. Rick Santorum won 33 delegates, Mitt Romney won 7.
    • 2015: The Kansas legislature voted to eliminate the Presidential primary law. It had only been used twice (1980 and 1992) and would cost the state almost $2 million to fund a primary.
    • 2016: The Kansas Republican Party will hold a Caucus.

    How Are the 40 Delegates Organized?

    Kansas has 40 delegates

    • The 3 national committee members are automatic delegates
    • 3 delegates are from each Congressional District (12 total from the four districts)
    • 25 delegates are "at large" or statewide
    • Other than method of selection, there is no difference between a National Committee Member, District and Statewide Delegate
    • There are 37 alternate delegates to match the District and Statewide delegates

    What Are "Superdelegates"?

    A "superdelegate" or an "unpledged delegate" is a delegate to the Democratic National Convention that is seated automatically, without any voter input, based on their status as current or former party leader or elected official. They are not bound to any candidate, and in theory give a greater role for experienced party leaders to balance out the tendency of voters to cast ballots for unelectable candidates like George McGovern. Sometimes the three Republican National Committee members in each state are described as "super delegates," but while they are not selected the same way as other delegates, they are bound or pledged to a candidate by the vote.

    How are Delegates allocated based on the Caucus vote?

    Any candidate who receives over 10% of the vote may win a number of delegates proportional to the candidate’s share of the votes. Vote totals and delegate allocation are done separately for each Congressional District and Statewide. The three national committee members are allocated to the candidate with the most statewide votes.

    How are the Delegates themselves selected?

    About a month after the Caucus is over, each Republican Party District Committees will meet and elect three delegates and three alternate delegates. Once the four District Committees are finished, the State Party Committee will meet and elect 25 delegates and 25 alternates. A ballot will be provided to each committee with the names of all delegate candidates. The members of these committees were elected between September 2014 and January 2015.

    How Does a person throw their name in the ring to try and become a delegate?

    Any Kansas Republican can self-nominate to be a delegate or alternate delegate by completing the short form on this websigte giving contact and biographical information. These forms are compiled and given to the committees before they meet to cast their votes for delegates.

    How is a Delegate Assigned to a Candidate?

    Once the individuals who are delegates are selected, the delegate with the most votes can pick which of the candidates allocated delegates based on the Caucus results to represent. Each delegate in vote order picks a candidate until each delegate is bound to a candidate. (at some point there will be no choice left and the remaining delegates will all be assigned to the remaining candidate).

    How are Delegates bound to the Candidate?

    Delegates are representatives of the Caucus voters, so they are bound to their assigned candidate- until released by that candidate. Once released, they are free agents and can vote for any candidate whose name is properly before the national committee. Delegates are not, however, fiduciaries for their assigned candidate. They can vote any way they see fit on matters that come before the delegation or the national convention.

    Do All States Bind Delegates the Same Way?

    No. Some states send delegates unbound. Some bind their delegates only for the first vote at the convention. Others bind their delegates to a candidate unless that candidate gets less than X% of the convention vote, then they are unbound.

    How Much Does it Cost to be a Delegate?

    There is no fee to become a delegate, but delegates must pay their own transportation, food, and hotel costs. The party will also ask for a non-mandatory contribution from each person attending the convention to cover delegation pins, bags, delegation events, and other materials.

    How big is the Total Kansas Convention Delegation?

    There are 40 delegates, 37 alternate delegates, about 90 guests with passes, and two authorized staff. Federal elected officials and Governors receive separate sets of passes to attend the convention.

    See also

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    2016 Conventions
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