RNC delegate guidelines from Kentucky, 2016

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This page provides known guidelines for Republican delegates representing Kentucky at the 2016 National Republican Convention, as compiled from "Rules of the Republican Party of Kentucky" and Kentucky State Statutes 118.541 and 118.641. The full text of relevant regulations is reproduced below.

HIGHLIGHTS

Kentucky sent 45 delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Kentucky delegates to the national convention were selected by nomination committees and approved at the county and state conventions. Kentucky GOP rules required 2016 national convention delegates to have "supported" the 2012 Republican presidential nominee.

Kentucky GOP rules and Kentucky state law required delegates from Kentucky to vote for the candidate to whom they were allocated through the first round of voting at the national convention. If a candidate "dies or withdraws" prior to the first round of voting at the national convention, the Chairman of the Kentucky delegation was to call a meeting at which the delegates vote on the remaining delegates and were to be reallocated on the basis of the results.

Rules of the Republican Party of Kentucky

The text below has been reproduced verbatim from: Rules of the Republican Party of Kentucky

Section 6.05: Republican National Convention

A. Any registered Republican who desires to be nominated at either the District or State Convention to be a Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the National Convention, shall submit a letter which must be received by the Republican Party State Headquarters at least four (4) business days before the applicable District or State Convention. Said letter shall be addressed to the Nominations Committee, state the persons interest in becoming a Delegate or Alternate Delegate, and set forth reasons why they should be considered by the Nominations Committee. The State Headquarters staff will convey the interested party’s nomination letter to the nomination committee of the appropriate convention. No person may be selected as a Delegate or Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention unless this procedure is followed. If an insufficient number of persons thus qualified are elected at District or State Conventions, the remaining slots will be filled as if they are vacancies which occurred after the State Convention. The Nominations Committee shall consider at least two criteria in selecting Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the National Convention; namely, (1) the letter received in accordance with this rule, and (2) any current political involvement on behalf of the Republican Party or Republican candidates at any level.

B. No person who did not support the Republican Presidential nominee during the most recent Presidential election shall be elected to be a Delegate or an Alternate delegate to the District, State, or National Conventions, respectively.

C. For matters concerning the allocation and binding of delegates and alternate delegates to a Presidential candidate, see Rule 8.03.

D. The delegates and alternate delegates elected to the National Convention by the State and District Conventions will meet in Kentucky at the call of the State Chairman prior to the National Convention to elect a Delegation Chairman and to elect various members to the National Convention Committees.

8.03: National Convention Delegates

A. With regard to the allocation of delegate votes of the Kentucky Republican Party at the Republican National Convention pursuant to the Kentucky Presidential Preference Primary Statutes, the method of allocation set forth in KRS 118.641(1)(a) shall be the method used by the Kentucky Republican Party. The proportional delegate allocation shall be rounded to the nearest whole delegate. In the event that a delegate is unallocated due to mathematical rounding, the unallocated delegate vote shall be cast in favor of the candidate closest to the rounding threshold. In the event that delegates are over-allocated due to mathematical rounding, the over-allocated delegate shall be removed from the candidate furthest from the rounding threshold.

B. The Kentucky Republican Party shall use the allocation method detailed in Section 8.03(a) unless the Republican State Central Committee elects to allocate said delegate votes by a party caucus as provided for in KRS 118.555. A vote by the Republican State Central Committee to allocate its delegate votes of the Kentucky Republican Party at the Republican National Convention by a party caucus shall require a twothirds majority of the members present and voting and shall be governed by Section 9 of the Official Rules of the Republican Party of Kentucky. Furthermore, any such vote to allocate delegate votes by a party caucus shall occur prior to September 1 of the year prior to the presidential election year.

C. In the event that a candidate dies or withdraws and the delegate votes allocated to such candidate become uncommitted pursuant to KRS 118.641(2), the Chairman of the delegation shall call a meeting of the delegates and alternate delegates at the convention by giving notice to each delegate and alternate delegate of the time and place of the said meeting. At the meeting the delegates (or alternate delegates who replace any delegates who fail to attend) in attendance shall vote by secret ballot for any candidate for the Republican nomination for President each may choose. The number of votes cast for the various candidates shall be converted to a percentage of the total votes cast by the delegates at said meeting, and the delegate votes which have become uncommitted as provided above shall be allocated to the candidates in accordance with their said respective percentages, and these said delegate votes shall be cast on the first ballot in such proportion for the said candidates. All fractions shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Kentucky State Statutes 118.555 and 118.641

The text below has been reproduced verbatim from: Kentucky State Statutes 118.541 and 118.641

Kentucky State Statute 118.555

1) The state executive committee of each political party shall, pursuant to its party's rules, determine whether to distribute its party's authorized delegate votes for presidential candidates at its party's national convention based on the results of a party caucus, a presidential preference primary, or a combination of the two (2) methods. Each state executive committee shall notify the State Board of Elections of its decision not later than the December 31 preceding the day for conducting a presidential preference primary as set by KRS 118.561.

(2) If a state executive committee determines that its party's authorized delegate votes for presidential candidates at its party's national convention shall be distributed based on the results of a party caucus, a presidential preference primary shall not be conducted for that political party, and the provisions of KRS 118.561 to 118.651 shall not apply. The distribution of delegates among the presidential candidates shall be determined by party rule.

(3) If a state executive committee determines that its party's authorized delegate votes for presidential candidates at its party's national convention shall be distributed based on the results of both a party caucus and a presidential preference primary, the formula for distribution of authorized delegate votes based on the results of a party caucus shall be determined by party rule. The distribution of delegates based on the results of a presidential preference primary shall be in accordance with the provisions of KRS 118.641(1). Regardless of the method by which the authorized delegate votes are distributed, the casting of votes on the first ballot at each party's national convention shall be in accordance with the provisions of KRS 118.641(2).

Kentucky State Statute 118.641

1) The political parties in distributing authorized delegate votes among party candidates shall select one (1) of the following methods of distribution:

(a) The candidates receiving the highest number of votes, provided each candidate receives at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total vote cast by his political party, shall be awarded a pro rata portion of the authorized delegate vote of his political party as follows:

1. The total vote received by the candidates qualifying under the provisions of KRS 118.551 to 118.651 and subsections herein shall, when combined, be equal to one hundred percent (100%);

2. Each such candidate shall share in the total percentage in direct proportion to the total vote received by him mathematically determined to be the percentage of the aggregate vote which represents one hundred percent (100%);

3. Each political party shall appropriate such percentage, as is determined by this section, to the total number of delegate votes as are allotted by the national committee of each party; or

(b) The candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast by his political party shall be awarded a pro rata portion of the authorized delegate vote of his political party in compliance with the state party rules for that party.

(2) Each political party shall, on the first ballot at its national convention, cast this Commonwealth's vote for the candidates as determined by the primary or party caucus and calculated under this section or under party rules, whichever is applicable. Provided, however, that in the event of the death or withdrawal of a candidate receiving votes under this section prior to the tabulation of the first ballot, any delegate votes allocated to such candidate shall be considered uncommitted. Withdrawal shall mean notice in writing by the candidate to the chairman of the Kentucky delegation prior to the first ballot.

See also

• Republican National Committee
• Republican National Convention rules, 2012
• Republican National Convention, 2016
• Types of delegates
• Presidential election in Kentucky, 2016