Missouri Republican Party - 2016 Delegate Allocation and Selection

https://www.missouri.gop/election-2016/#delegates

Delegate Allocation Plan

MISSOURI HAS 52 NATIONAL DELEGATES. IF A CANDIDATE WINS AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY STATEWIDE THIS IS HOW THEY WILL BE ALLOCATED:

If a candidate wins 50%+1 of the votes cast in the March 15 presidential primary, Missouri will be a winner-take-all state and all Missouri delegates will be bound to vote for the winner at the national convention. Please note that votes will be cast for candidates who drop out of the race or suspend their campaign prior to March 15 will not be counted in the calculation.

IF NO CANDIDATE WINS AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY:

If no candidate wins an absolute majority of votes cast in the March 15 presidential primary, candidates will be awarded delegates in this manner:

  • The top vote-getter in each Congressional District will be awarded 5 delegates (3 Congressional District delegates and 2 at-large delegates).
  • The top vote-getter statewide will be awarded 12 delegates.

Caucusing for Beginners

What are caucuses?

The Missouri Republican Party’s caucuses are public meetings held every four years to select delegates to the Congressional District Conventions and the State Convention, as well as review and consider amendments to the state party platform.


Why do we have caucuses?

Missouri state law (RSMO 115.776) requires the Missouri Republican Party to “conduct a series of caucuses culminating in congressional and state conventions” for the purposes of selecting delegates to the national convention.


Where will the caucuses take place?

At least one caucus will be held in all 114 counties and the city of St Louis. The state party will also post local caucus details online as they become available.


Who can participate in a caucus?

Any self-declared Republican who is registered to vote in Missouri can participate in the caucuses. You must participate in the county where you are registered to vote.


Will we vote for candidates at the caucuses?

No. At the caucuses, attendees will vote on the individual delegates to attend the Congressional District Conventions and the State Convention. You will vote for candidates when you go to the polls in for the March 15 primary.


I’ve never been to a caucus before. What should I expect?

Caucusing can be fun, challenging, and sometimes frustrating process. Arrive early and plan to spend several hours at the caucus. Bring your photo id to ensure you are able to gain entry.

After the meeting is called to order and a few items of business are taken care of (reading portions of the Call, certifying the list of qualified voters, etc), the caucus chair will be elected by voice vote or a show of hands. Similarly, a caucus secretary will be elected. Delegates and alternates to both the state convention and the congressional district conventions will be elected. Finally, the platform will be discussed and amendments suggested.


I’m going to be out of town on the date of the caucuses. Can I send a proxy in my place?

Unfortunately, no. Proxies are not allowed.


I heard that previous caucuses were unruly. Have those problems been addressed?


It’s natural that there will be disagreements at caucuses, because people who attend often have strongly held political beliefs; however, the Missouri Republican State Committee has taken a few steps to in an effort to reduce some of the confusion and acrimony that occurred at previous caucuses.

Unlike 2012, our national delegates will be bound based on the results of the presidential preference primary on March 15, 2016. Additionally, the state party will, for the first time, require all local caucuses to follow a single set of rules. You can read the rules here. This will further streamline the process, reduce tension among attendees, and ensure that all participants know what to expect before they attend.


How to I become a delegate or alternate?

If you want to be a delegate or alternate to your Congressional District convention, the state convention, or the national convention, you must first be elected. Congressional District and State Convention delegates and alternates are elected at the local caucuses. National Convention delegates and alternates are elected at the Congressional District and State Conventions. Keep it mind that it can be difficult to become a national delegate or alternate, as only about 100 people from across the state will be selected as national delegates or alternates. Learn more about becoming a national delegate here.


Missouri Republican Party Instructive Materials for Potential Delegates

Why become a delegate?

For many people, serving as a delegate to the Republican National Convention is an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Delegates have a front-row seat at an event that draws the attention of the world: the nomination of the Republican candidate for President of the United States.

Procedure to become a delegate:

National delegates are elected at the Congressional District Conventions and the State Convention.

Ø The Congressional District Conventions will take place on April 30, 2016, in each of Missouri’s 8 Congressional Districts. Each convention, made up of delegates elected at the local caucuses, will elect 3 national delegates. National delegates may be elected as part of a slate or individually, depending on the rules approved at each convention.

Ø The State Convention will take place on May 20-21, 2016, in Branson, MO. The convention, made up of delegates elected at the local caucuses, will elect 25 national delegates. National delegates will be elected as part of a slate submitted by a State Convention delegate. According to the Standing Rules of the 2016 Missouri Republican State Convention: “Only full and complete slates will be considered. To be considered full and complete, a proposed slate must include 25 names for At-large Delegates and 25 names for At-large Alternates. No person shall be listed on any slate without his or her prior approval, nor shall any person appear on more than one slate. All persons agreeing to be listed on a slate of delegates and alternates must pledge to vote in accordance with the Rules Governing Caucus & Convention Participation in the Call of the Missouri Republican State Committee… Deadlines for submitting nominations to the nominating committee shall be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 21, 2016, unless otherwise noted by the [Convention] Chairman.”

Please note that you do not need to be elected to serve as a delegate to the State or Congressional District Conventions in order to serve as a national delegate.
PDF