RNC delegate guidelines from Michigan, 2016

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2016 Republican National Convention

Date July 18-21, 2016 Location Cleveland, Ohio

Candidates President Donald Trump Vice President Mike Pence

Delegates

Calendar and delegate rules overview • Types of delegates • Delegate rules by state • State election law and delegates • Correll v. Herring • Delegates by state

Convention 2016 Convention Rules • Rule 12 • Rule 16 • Rule 40 • Conscience clause • Brokered conventions • RNC Rules Committee • Platform and Platform Committee • RNC Standing Committee on Rules • Republican National Committee

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This page provides known guidelines for Republican delegates representing Michigan at the 2016 National Republican Convention, as compiled from "Republican Party of Michigan Rules for Selection of Delegates and Alternates to the 2016 Republican County, State and National Conventions." The full text of relevant regulations is reproduced below.

HIGHLIGHTS

Michigan sent 59 delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention, including 42 congressional district delegates, 14 at-large delegates, and three Republican National Committee delegates. All Michigan delegates were allocated on a proportional basis.

Congressional district delegates from Michigan were elected at congressional district caucuses, while at-large delegates were elected at the state convention.

Michigan delegates were required to list the candidate to whom they pledge their support on their presidential preference form. Michigan GOP bylaws in 2016 stipulated that delegates were bound to the candidate to whom they were allocated through the first round of voting at the convention. Delegates bound to a particular candidate could become unbound if that candidate "publicly withdraws" from the race, "suspends his or her campaign," endorses another candidate, or "seeks the nomination of a political party other than the Republican Party for any political office."

Republican Party of Michigan Rules for Selection of Delegates and Alternates to the 2016 Republican County, State and National Conventions

The text below has been reproduced verbatim from: Republican Party of Michigan Rules for Selection of Delegates and Alternates to the 2016 Republican County, State and National Conventions

Section 7: Delegate Commitment

Before an individual may serve as a delegate or alternate to the 2016 Republican National Convention (the “2016 Republican National Convention” or “National Convention”), that individual shall sign a presidential preference form (see Exhibit A) including 1 of the following:

(a) The name of the candidate for president of the United States that he or she is bound to vote for at each stage of the nominating process until the end of the first ballot at the 2016 Republican National Convention, unless otherwise released from that commitment as set forth in these Rules. The presidential preference form, once filed, may not be amended.

(b) If, at any time, in the event that the uncommitted vote becomes entitled to an allocation of National Convention delegates and alternates as provided in Rule 19, then an individual shall be allowed to amend his/her presidential preference form to include a statement that the individual is uncommitted regarding the candidates for president of the United States.

Except upon occurrence of any of the events referenced in Rule 19E, an individual elected as a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention is bound to vote at each stage of the presidential nomination process until the end of the first ballot at the 2016 Republican National Convention for the candidate for president of the United States that he or she designated a commitment to on the presidential preference form as required before his or her election.

All candidates for National Convention delegate and alternate shall file the form required above with the Credentials Committee by 6:00 pm on Friday, April 8, 2016, which is prior to the vote for National Convention delegates and alternates at each district caucus.

In the event that a Republican presidential candidate is not allocated and/or loses delegates and alternate delegates by operation of Rule 19E, each individual signing a presidential preference form bearing the name of such candidate shall be deemed to be an “uncommitted” delegate or alternate delegate to the National Convention.

Section 19: Election of National Convention Delegates and Alternates

A. Allocation of National Convention Delegates and Alternates

National Convention delegates and alternate delegates shall be elected based on the presidential preference vote (the “Presidential Preference Vote”) taken at the presidential primary election, to be held March 15, 2016, or a date to be determined by the Michigan State Legislature. If the legislature chooses a date before March 15, 2016, then the winner-takes all provision does not apply and the proportion process will be implemented. All challenges with respect to the Presidential Preference Vote shall be heard and determined by the Credentials Committee, whose decision(s) shall be final, unless changed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full State Convention present and voting on Saturday, April 9, 2016.

The Presidential Preference Vote shall be a closed primary. Any Michigan Republican is eligible to vote if s/he is a registered Michigan elector and declares her/his party designation by selecting a Republican-designated ballot at her/his precinct on the primary election date. Electors may select absentee Republican-designated ballots if qualified to vote by absentee ballot. The names of all electors who select the Republican-designated ballot shall be collected by the Secretary of State and maintained as a public list of Republican-designated ballot voters in a manner similar to the Secretary of State records of voter registration.

B. Designation of Potential Presidential Candidates

The Credentials Committee shall prepare a slate of the potential presidential candidates for the Republican Party to be placed on the ballot (the "Ballot") for the Presidential Preference Vote and provide the Ballot to the State Party Chair, who shall submit the Ballot in a timely manner to the Michigan Department of State, according to the Michigan Election Code. However, the vote of twenty-five percent (25%) of the members of the MRSC elected and serving (not by proxy) may add a name or names to the Ballot while the vote of 66.66% of the members of the MRSC elected and serving (not by proxy) may remove a name or names from the Ballot.

C. Determining the Number of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Committed to Each Presidential Candidate

Except as provided in Rule 19E, National Convention delegates and alternate delegates shall be elected based on the votes cast in the Presidential Preference Vote.

If the total vote cast in the Presidential Preference Vote for a particular Republican presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) equals at least fifty percent (50%) plus one of the total statewide vote cast for all Republican presidential candidates (and, if applicable, uncommitted) at the Presidential Preference Vote, allocations for National Convention delegates and alternate delegates shall be made as follows:

(1) That particular Republican presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) shall be allocated three (3) National Convention delegates and three (3) National Convention alternate delegates from each congressional district.

(2) That particular Republican presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) shall be allocated all of the National Convention at-large delegates and at-large alternate delegates.

If no particular Republican presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) receives fifty percent (50%) plus one of the total vote cast for all Republican presidential candidates (and, if applicable, uncommitted) at the Presidential Preference Vote, allocations for National Convention delegates and alternate delegates shall be made as follows:

(1) The Republican presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) who receives the most votes in the Presidential Preference Vote for a congressional district shall be allocated the three (3) National Convention delegates and three (3) National Convention alternate delegates for that particular congressional district.

(2) National Convention at-large delegates and at-large alternate delegates shall be elected on a basis that insures that the proportion of the at-large National Convention delegation that is committed to each Republican presidential candidate equals, as nearly as is practicable, the proportion of the statewide vote that was cast for each respective presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) at the statewide Presidential Preference Vote. The determination of these proportions shall only include the votes cast for that particular Republican presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted), if the total vote cast for that particular Republican presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted), equals at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total statewide vote cast for all Republican presidential candidates (and, if applicable, uncommitted) at the Presidential Preference Vote (hereinafter the "Threshold Vote"). The State Party Chair shall assure that the proportion of the at-large National Convention delegation committed to a particular presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) is equal to the proportion of the statewide Presidential Preference Vote. That number shall be determined by dividing the total statewide Presidential Preference Vote received by each presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) by the total statewide Presidential Preference Vote cast for all Republican presidential candidates (and, if applicable, uncommitted), not including within the total statewide Presidential Preference Vote those votes cast for any candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) that did not equal or exceed the Threshold Vote. The resulting percentage for each candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) shall be multiplied by the number of at-large delegates allotted to the state of Michigan and rounded to the nearest whole number (.5 and above rounds up, below .5 rounds down), which shall be the number of delegates and alternate delegates that that candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) shall receive from the at-large National Convention delegation. If as a result of rounding off to the nearest whole number, there are more than the number of at-large delegates allotted to the state of Michigan, the number of positions shall be decreased to the number of at-large delegates allotted to the state of Michigan by subtracting the necessary number of positions from the Republican presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) receiving the fewest votes cast at the Presidential Preference Vote. If as a result of rounding off to the nearest whole number, there are less than the number of at-large delegates allotted to the state of Michigan, the number of positions shall be increased to the number of at-large delegates allotted to the state of Michigan by adding the necessary number of positions to the Republican presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) receiving the most votes cast at the Presidential Preference Vote.

D. Selection the Individual National Convention Delegates and Alternate Delegates

At the congressional district caucuses on Friday, April 8, 2016, the congressional district caucuses shall elect the National Convention delegates and alternate delegates that are allocated to that presidential candidate (or, if applicable, uncommitted) in that congressional district.

At the State Convention meeting on Saturday, April 9, 2016, State Convention delegates shall vote on the slate of at-large delegates and at-large alternate delegates proposed by the Credentials Committee. In the event that a name on the slate is rejected by the applicable State Convention delegates, the Credentials Committee shall suggest a replacement name (which may be the same name) for consideration, as the State Convention only has the authority to reject, but not amend, any name on this slate.

If, after having been selected as a delegate to the National Convention, such delegate is unable to attend the National Convention, then the Credentials Committee shall fill such vacancy with an individual who was selected as a National Convention alternate delegate from the congressional district in which such vacancy occurs; provided, however, that if such vacancy occurs at least seven (7) days prior to the National Convention, the Credentials Committee shall only fill such vacancy after consultation with the District Chair of the congressional district in question. Since the elevation of a National Convention alternate delegate to a National Convention delegate will create a vacancy in a National Convention alternate delegate slot, the Credentials Committee shall select a replacement to fill this vacant National Convention alternate delegate slot; provided, however, that if such vacancy occurs at least seven (7) days prior to the National Convention, the Credentials Committee shall only fill such vacancy after consultation with the District Chair of the congressional district in question.

If, after having been selected as an alternate delegate to the National Convention, such alternate delegate is unable to attend the National Convention, then the Credentials Committee shall select a replacement to fill this vacant National Convention alternate delegate slot; provided, however, that if such vacancy occurs at least seven (7) days prior to the National Convention, the Credentials Committee shall only fill such vacancy after consultation with the District Chair of the congressional district in question.

If, after having been selected as an at-large delegate to the National Convention, such at-large delegate is unable to attend the National Convention, then the Credentials Committee shall fill such vacancy with an individual who was selected as a National Convention at-large alternate delegate. Since the elevation of a National Convention at-large alternate delegate to a National Convention at-large delegate will create a vacancy in a National Convention at-large alternate delegate slot, the Credentials Committee shall select a replacement to fill this vacant National Convention at-large alternate delegate slot.

If, after having been selected as an at-large alternate delegate to the National Convention, such at-large alternate delegate is unable to attend the National Convention, then the Credentials Committee shall select a replacement to fill this vacant National Convention at-large alternate delegate slot.

E. No Allocation of Delegates upon the Occurrence of Certain Events

Notwithstanding any provision in these Rules to the contrary, if at any time (even after the conclusion of the State Convention or during the National Convention), a Republican presidential candidate, who takes any of the following actions, shall not be allocated and/or lose any delegates and alternate delegates that he/she may have otherwise been allocated pursuant to these Rules:

(1) Publicly withdraws from contention as a Republican candidate for President of the United States.

(2) Suspends his or her campaign as a Republican candidate for President of the United States.

(3) Endorses another candidate for President of the United States.

(4) Seeks the nomination of a political party other than the Republican Party for any political office.

The foregoing actions are irreversible. For example, if a Republican presidential candidate suspends his or her own campaign as a Republican candidate for President of the United States, a subsequent withdrawal of such action will not cure the loss of allocation of delegates as provided in this Rule 19E.

In the event that any of the foregoing actions occurs as determined by the Credentials Committee, then the Credentials Committee shall so notify the Republican presidential candidate in question. If the Republican presidential candidate in question disagrees with the Credentials Committee's determination, then the Republican presidential candidate in question must file an appeal with the MRSC within five (5) calendar days of the Credentials Committee's determination. Provided that a timely appeal is filed, a majority vote of the MRSC (either present at any meeting, telephonic conference, or voting by Internet/e mail) shall be necessary to reverse the determination of the Credentials Committee as to whether any of the foregoing actions occurred.

In the event that a Republican presidential candidate is not allocated and/or loses delegates or alternate delegates by operation of this Rule 19E, such delegates or alternate delegates shall be deemed “uncommitted” delegates and alternate delegates to the National Convention.

F. Contest Procedure

(1) The Credentials Committee is hereby empowered to hear any challenges whatsoever related to the Michigan delegation to the National Convention. The Credentials Committee shall have the power to adopt procedural rules, not inconsistent with these Rules, which shall govern the expeditious prosecution of contests before the Credentials Committee. When any deadline set out in this Rule falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, such deadline shall be extended to the following day.

(2) In order to initiate a challenge whatsoever related to the Michigan delegation to the National Convention, a notice of contest must be filed as provided herein. A notice of contest shall state the grounds of the contest and shall be filed, no later than ten (10) days after the conclusion of the State Convention (unless such deadline is extended by the Credentials Committee), with the State Party Chair and shall be sent, simultaneously, by registered mail to the person or persons being contested. A notice of contest may be filed only by a person who is eligible to participate at any level in the delegate selection process in Michigan.

(3) Only contests that are timely filed under these Rules shall be considered.

(4) For the purposes of this Rule 19F, the term “party” shall mean a person or persons who shall have filed a notice of contest pursuant to this Rule, and the person or person whose right to be seated as a delegate or alternate delegate is the subject of such notice of contest.

(5) Within ten (10) days after a notice of contest is filed pursuant to Rule 19F(2), each of the parties shall file with the State Party Chair at least three (3) printed or typewritten copies of the statement of position in support of the party’s claim to sit as delegates or alternate delegates to the National Convention together with such affidavits or other evidence as desired. The State Party Chair, upon receiving the statement of position of a party, shall furnish the opposing party a copy of said statement of position. Each statement of position shall begin with a summary of not more than one thousand (1,000) words setting forth succinctly a synopsis of the statement of position and a specific statement of the points relied upon.

(6) The Credentials Committee shall render its decision as to each contest as quickly as possible. The Credentials Committee shall promptly serve its decision upon the parties by the most expeditious method available, providing for written evidence of receipt including, but not limited to, overnight delivery service.

(7) Any appeal of the decision of the Credentials Committee may be made to the Republican National Committee pursuant to the Rules of the Republican Party as adopted by the 2012 National Convention. However, no notice of contest may be filed with the Republican National Committee unless a notice of contest has been submitted and decided by the Credentials Committee pursuant to this Rule 19F.

G. Intent to Send Full National Convention Delegation

That the full Delegation of National Delegates and Alternates of the Michigan Republicans be sent to the National Convention in 2016, notwithstanding the fact that the Delegation may be chosen prior to March 1, 2016.

See also

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