KANSAS PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

It is Saturday, March 5
10:00am to 2:00pm
by secret paper ballot
any registered Kansas republican can Vote

How does the National Republican Party Pick Its Presidential Candidate?

Delegates selected by the Republican voters of the 56 states and territories will meet at the National Convention in Cleveland, July 18-22, 2016, and vote for the candidate.  There are 2472 delegates from the 56 states and territories.  1237 delegate votes are needed to win.

 

How many delegates does each state get?

The Republican Party Rules have a formula to determine how many delegates each state gets: (A) 10 per state, plus (B) 3 per congressional district, plus (C) the 3 national committee members, and plus (D) a variable extra number for the number of elected state and federal Republicans.  So it is based partially on the state’s population and partially on how Republican the state is in its voting.

 

How many delegates does Kansas get?

40 delegates.  That is the most it could get under the formula.

 

How does that Compare with Other States?

Biggest are:  CA: 172; TX: 155; FL: 99; NY: 95

Smallest:  Territories get 9; VT: 16; DE 16; RI: 19

Early States:  IA: 30; NH: 30; SC: 50; NV: 30

Neighbors:   NE: 36; MO: 52; OK: 43; CO: 37

 

How does a state allocate and select its delegates?

Every state has its own procedures.  States use primaries, caucuses, and conventions.  Most states have their voters vote for candidates, while others vote directly for delegates.   

 

What is the difference between a state Presidential primary, caucus and convention?

The terms vary, but essentially:

  • Primary:  A government run election, paid for by the tax payers, and run by the state elections system as a joint venture between the party and the government.  

  • Caucus:  A political party run election, run by party volunteers.  No tax funds are used.  Every state party does its caucus in its own way, so there is no standard method

  • Convention:  A large meeting of delegates or voters who assemble in one place

 

Why Does Kansas Use a Caucus and Not a Primary?

Two reasons:

1.  Cost:  A primary election would cost about $2 million.  Most states that use a primary merely combine it with the state's regular primary- so the presidential candidates are just one more line on the ballot.  Kansas' regular primary is in August, too late for a presidential contest, so it would need an entirely separate election.  A caucus costs the state nothing.  

2.  Party Building:  The political parties use the caucus process to engage volunteers and gain contact information from active voters.  Additionally, these are not like regular elections, the votes do not determine a candidate, the votes are the key input into a formula which determines the number of delegates allocated to a particular candidate.  

 

What Are the Kansas Democrats Doing?

They will also hold Caucuses March 5.  They have fewer locations and their internal operating procedures are different.  

 

Will There Still be a Kansas Primary Election in August 2016?

Yes.  The Republican and Democratic Party primary elections will take place August 2, 2016, at which the party members will select their candidates for US Senate, US Congress, State Senate, State House, State School Board, and County positions.  

 

What is a Kansas Presidential Caucus like?

Every county Republican Party is required to hold a caucus or run a joint caucus with a neighboring county.  Most do it in one location – schools, churches, armories, restaurants, hotel lobbies, and theaters have been used as locations.  Johnson County usually does it in multiple locations.  Voters may arrive between 10am and 2pm and cast a secret ballot.   These are partisan political events, so short speeches are given, candidates and elected officials will attend and meet the voters.  

 

Where are the Caucus Locations?

Click [ HERE ] for a location list.   There are 102 different caucus locations.   Three counties have more than one caucus location in the county, while 13 locations serve more than one county.  Three counties are split between different Congressional Districts- meaning they will need two different ballot boxes at their caucus.  

 

What names are on the ballot?

1. Jeb Bush

2. Dr. Ben Carson

3. Ted Cruz

4. Carly Fiorina (had to get ballots printed before she dropped out)

5. John Kasich

6. Marco Rubio

7. Donald J. Trump

8. Uncommitted

(names will be rotated)

 

What are the Constitutional Requirements to be President?

1.  Be "a natural born citizen,"  "obtained the age of thirty five years," and "been fourteen years a resident within the United States."  Article II, Section 1

2.  Cannot be elected more than twice, or having served more than two years of another person's term, elected more than once.   Amendment XXII, Section 1.

 

What Are the Requirments To File as a Candidate for the Kansas Caucus:  

Be filed with the Federal Elections Commission, pay a $15,000 filing fee, and provide official contact information.   

 

What is “Super Tuesday”?

In February, four states may hold their election process early:  Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.  Starting Tuesday, March 1, any other state may go.  Many states will hold their election as early as possible- making Tuesday, March 1 :”Super Tuesday.”

 

Why Doesn't Kansas Go on Super Tuesday?

Because our caucus is all-volunteer run, and we could not get enough volunteers on a work day.  

 

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.  George H.W. Bush won.

  • 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 order picks a candidate until all are assigned.  (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.

 

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.

 

What is a Normal National Convention Schedule?

Delegates arrive Sunday night or Monday morning.  The entire Kansas delegation will stay in one hotel, although delegates may stay locally as long as they attend all convention activities.  Each morning there will be a breakfast probably sponsored by Kansas elected officials.  During the midday period delegates may attend receptions or other activities.  Some delegates will attend meetings of committees, like the national platform committee.  At night the convention will meet and there will be speeches, and votes.  There will probably be night receptions after the convention closes for the evening.   The Presidential candidate will be elected Thursday night.  Friday, everyone departs.  

 

How do I Participate in the Caucus?

On Saturday, March 5, bring a government issued photo ID (like a driver’s license) to the caucus location.  Be prepared for lines during the check-in process.  Each voter will have to have their registration verified.  

 

What can I expect at the Caucus when I show up?

Caucus chairs are given broad latitude in running their event.  Once you are checked-in, you will proceed to the main seating area.  The chair of the caucus will call the meeting to order at 10:00 AM.  Following the introduction, there will be the opportunity for representatives from various campaigns to present information about their candidate.  Once all the representatives have had an opportunity to discuss their candidate, ballots will be distributed and you can vote.  People can come in at any time to vote.  Voting will be by secret ballot.  You will only vote for one candidate.  You do not have to stay after you have cast your ballot.

 

Is Special Registration Needed for the Caucus?

No.  As long as you are a registered Republican on February 4 you can vote.  Bring a government issued photo ID with you to verify your voter registration.

 

What time will the Results be Announced?

The caucus chair will announce the results of their caucus after all of the ballots have been cast and counted.  The state party will post statewide results on the party website as they are received and verified.  But- there are provisional ballots that will not be counted until 10 days after the Caucus, so the March 5 results are preliminary and if it is a close race, the delegate allocation could be modified.