CNMI Republican Party

Rules of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Republican Caucus

March 15, 2016 @ 6:00pm Minachom Atdao, Tinian, Rota

1. Purpose: On March 15, 2016 (the “Caucus Date”) the Republican Party of the Northern Mariana Islands Association (RPNMIA) will hold its caucus for the selection of six at-large Delegates and six at-large Alternates to the Republican National Convention to be held in Cleveland, Ohio during July 18-21, 2016. These Rules and the Appendices hereto shall govern the conduct of the caucus and shall be posted on the RPNMIA Facebook page and prominently displayed at each caucus site during the caucus.

2. Caucus Sites – Opening and Closing of Balloting: The caucus sites shall be as determined no later than two weeks prior to the Caucus Date by a subcommittee of the RPNMIA appointed by the President of the RPNMIA consisting of no fewer than three persons who are also members of the RPNMIA. There shall be one site located in Saipan, Tinian, and Rota (the “Caucus Sites”). Balloting shall be opened promptly at 6:30 p.m. (CNMI Time) and shall close promptly at 8:00 p.m.(CNMI time).

3. Eligibility to Participate in the Caucus: Participation in the caucus shall be limited to persons who are official CNMI Republican party members as determined within the RPNMIA By-Laws.

4. Supervision of the Caucus Sites: Supervision of the Caucus Sites and implementation and enforcement of these Rules shall be the responsibility of no fewer than two persons present at each Caucus Site and designated by the Caucus Subcommittee (“Caucus Supervisors”). Such persons shall be selected from among persons eligible as electors as set forth in Section 3, above. Caucus Supervisors shall be familiar with these Rules.

5. Verification of Eligibility: Eligibility to participate in and cast a ballot at the caucus shall be verified by a Caucus Supervisor. Prospective electors shall present valid photo identification upon entry to the caucus and eligibility shall be verified by reference to updated lists of eligible RPNMIA members.. Such lists may be maintained in electronic form. Presentation of a valid CNMI voter’s registration card shall be deemed prima facie evidence of eligibility to participate in and cast a ballot at the caucus.

6. Delegate Candidates – Delegates:
Candidates for election as Delegates and Alternates (“Delegate Candidates”) must meet the eligibility requirements of participation in the caucus as set forth in Section 3, above, and shall be those persons having declared their candidacy by submission of a written declaration of candidacy to the President of the RPNMIA no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 15, 2016. No special form of declaration shall be required except that such declaration shall bear the signature and include the name, address and telephone number of the declarant. Delegate Candidates shall be deemed to have promised, if elected, to vote for the Republican candidate declared as the winner of the RPNMIA Caucus on the first ballot of the Republican National Convention. Should the Republican Presidential Candidate that is declared the winner of the RPNMIA Caucus withdraw his or her candidacy prior to the Republican National Convention, all delegates will convene and determine as a group which candidate to support as a group on the first ballot. On all ballots after, delegates will be free to vote as individuals.

7. Candidates for the Republican Party Presidential Nomination:
a) Candidates will be required to submit in writing by January 1st, 2016 their intent to be placed on the ballot for consideration by the RPNMIA. This form will be accompanied by a payment of $7,500 made payable to the RPNMIA and transmitted either in check form or wire to the RPNMIA.
b) Ballot position will be set in alphabetical order.

8. Ballots and Voting: Two ballots will be issued to each elector and will be voted on in the following order: 1st ballot will have each candidate for the Republican Party Presidential nomination that has fulfilled (7); 2nd ballot will have each candidate for Delegate and Alternate Delegate. Each elector shall be entitled to complete and cast one ballot including votes for no more than six Delegate Candidates. Ballots shall include official ballots cast by electors present at the caucus site.

a) Records of Participation: As each elector is qualified the name of each elector shall be recorded in alphabetical lists maintained at the caucus site. No person shall be allowed to participate or cast a ballot whose name has been recorded as having previously cast a ballot at the caucus.

b) Official Ballots: The Official Ballots shall be substantially in the form as the Sample Ballot Form set forth as Appendix 1 of these Rules, with such additions or modifications (e.g., caucus supervisor initials or watermarks) approved by the Caucus Subcommittee to insure clarity and that only Official Ballots issued at the caucus are placed in the ballot boxes and tallied at the close of the balloting. Official Ballots in sufficient number shall be prepared and distributed by the Caucus Subcommittee to the caucus sites on the Caucus Date prior to the Opening of the Balloting. Electors verified in accordance with Section 4, above, shall be given one Official Ballot and allowed to mark such ballot in private. Each such elector shall then deposit his/her single Official Ballot in the ballot box provided for such purpose in accordance with Subsection 7(f), below.

c) Substitute and Voided Ballots: In the event that an elector desires to obtain a substitute Official Ballot for any valid reason, such as a desire to change his vote, or spoilage of the ballot, he/she shall be given a substitute Official Ballot for use only after having surrendered the previously issued Official Ballot. Each ballot so surrendered shall be immediately and prominently marked as “Voided” and shall be kept separate and apart from all other ballots.

d) Ballot Boxes: The Caucus Subcommittee shall provide one or more ballot boxes for use at each Caucus Site. Such boxes may be of cardboard construction. Each box shall be examined by the Caucus Supervisors at the Caucus Site prior to the opening of balloting and declared to be empty. Each ballot box shall then immediately be sealed with tape in such a manner as to prevent tampering and seals and/or signatures affixed to such tape in such a manner as to make any such tampering detectable by ordinary observation. Ballot boxes may not thereafter be opened except in the presence of the Caucus Supervisors after the close of the balloting.

e) Spoiled Ballots: A ballot shall be deemed spoiled if any of the following conditions pertain:

i. If the ballot contains votes for more than one (1) person on ballot one and more than six (6) persons on ballot two;
ii. If the ballot contains lewd, impertinent or extraneous markings;
iii. If the ballot is substantially torn or defaced;
iv. If the ballot bears obvious evidence of tampering;
v. If the condition of the ballot is such that the intentions of the elector cannot be reasonably determined.

9. Procedures for Tallying Votes: As soon as practicable after the close of balloting the ballot boxes at each caucus site shall be opened and the ballots tallied by the Caucus Supervisors and the total number of votes received by each Presidential Candidate and each Delegate Candidate recorded. Spoiled ballots shall be disregarded but shall be separately preserved. Provisional Ballots shall be tallied separately from other ballots and the provisional votes for each Delegate Candidate separately recorded. As soon thereafter the results of the tallies shall be reported in writing to the RPNMIA Board of Directors. Such writing shall also include the total number of electors participating, the number of Official Ballots cast, the number of Official Ballots voided, and the number of spoiled ballots. All ballots, including spoiled ballots, voter participation lists, and tally sheets shall be preserved until such time as the RPNMIA Board of Directors shall determine.

10. Disputes and Challenges: Any disputes or challenges to the caucus procedure or to the inclusion or exclusion of any elector or ballot shall be made in writing to the Caucus Subcommittee at or before the close of business hours on March 15, 2016. Challenges to procedures or actions of the Caucus Supervisors that could have been timely cured prior to the close of balloting must have been presented in writing to such Caucus Supervisors in order to be thereafter maintained.

11. Subcommittee to Resolve Disputes: Prior to the Caucus Date the President shall designate a Subcommittee of no fewer than three persons who are members of the RPNMIA Board of Directors to resolve all disputes and challenges received pursuant to Section 9, above. Members of the Caucus Subcommittee may be members of the Dispute Subcommittee. The Dispute Subcommittee shall resolve the challenge or dispute by majority vote. The decisions of the Dispute Subcommittee may be summary in nature, shall be reported in writing, and shall be final.

12. Certification of Results and Notification of Delegates and Alternates: Prior to the Caucus Date, the President shall designate a Subcommittee of no fewer than three persons who are members of the RPNMIA Board of Directors and not themselves Delegate Candidates (the “Certification Subcommittee”). The Certification Subcommittee may consist of the same persons as the Dispute Subcommittee. Such Subcommittee shall meet as soon as practicable after the receipt of the tallies by the RPNMIA Board of Directors in accordance with Section 8, above. Final certification of the results shall be made once it is determined that no practical differences in results can be obtained by any reasonable resolution of the status of Provisional Ballots and pending disputes or challenges. The Presidential Candidate receiving the highest number of votes will be certified as the Official Winner of the RPNMIA Caucus. Additionally, those Delegate Candidates receiving the six highest vote totals shall be certified as Delegates. Those Delegate Candidates receiving the next six highest vote totals shall be certified as Alternates. Ties shall be resolved by a draw of cards. As soon as practicable after the certification of results the Delegates and Alternates shall be notified in writing of their selection. Each Delegate and Alternate shall have five days to confirm, in writing, that he or she accepts election as a Delegate or Alternate and is presently willing and able to attend the Republican National Convention. If any Delegate or Alternate fails to so confirm, his or her name shall be struck and the list of selected Delegates and Alternates adjusted accordingly. The President shall then notify the Republican National Committee of the names of the Delegates and Alternates to the Republican National Convention.

13. Substitution of Delegates and Alternates – Appointment of Substitute Alternates: In the event that a Delegate becomes unable or unwilling to fulfill the duties of a Delegate he or she shall be replaced as Delegate by the next available Alternate in the order of priority as determined by the total number of votes obtained by such Alternate. Any vacancies among Alternates shall be filled by appointment by the President from the list of Delegate Candidates who failed to be elected as Delegate or Alternate in the order of the number of votes they received.