Clark County Republican Party 2024 Convention Rules 

 

Except where noted in highlighted text, these rules were taken directly from the Washington State Republican Party Caucus and Convention Manual.  

 

Rule 26: Declaration of Candidacy for delegate to the State Convention 

In a county which is required to or elects to have a printed ballot under Rule 27, then any Republican who is a registered voter within the County/District he seeks to represent, wishing to be considered to the position of delegate to the state convention, and wishing to have his/her name appear on an alphabetized printed ballot for such post shall notify the county chairman or chairman's designated representative in writing at least 72 hours prior to the opening gavel of the county convention/legislative district caucus. Notice of this shall be contained in the convention/caucus call. 

NOTE: Clark County convention is March 16, 2024. All persons meeting the above requirements shall have their application form completed and emailed no later than 9:00am Wednesday March 13, 2024. Application form is available on the county website: https://clarkrepublicans.org/washington-state-republican-delegate-application  

 

Rule 27: State Delegate Ballot 

In the case of any district election or any at-large county election in which five (5) or more delegate positions are to be elected, the county chairman shall produce a ballot listing each declared candidate for delegate to the state convention in alphabetical order by last name/first name. Said ballot shall be used in the first ballot only for delegates to the state convention. Said paper ballot shall contain blank spaces equal to the number of delegates allotted for the purpose of write-in candidates or EACH ROUND OF BALLOTING SHALL BE PRINTED. FIRST ROUND WILL SEPARATE RULE 26 CANDIDATES AND those nominated from the floor. ANYONE BEING NOMINATED FROM THE FLOOR MUST BE PRESENT AT CONVENTION AND A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN FROM THE DISTRICT THEY SEEK TO REPRESENT. In any case, the produced ballot, whether paper or electronic, must assure secrecy, auditability, and visual verification of the results. BALLOTS REJECTED FOR OVERVOTE WILL NOT BE COUNTED OR CURED. REJECTED BALLOTS FOR OTHER THAN OVERVOTE SHALL BE RESCANNED IF REQUIRED. 

 

Rule 28: Nominations from the Floor to be Allowed 

Unless otherwise provided by county rule, nominations from the floor for delegates to the state convention shall be in order and remain open until the chair LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR has called for further nominations three (3) times without response. NOMINEES FOR STATE DELEGATE BEING NOMINATED FROM THE FLOOR MUST BE PRESENT AT THE CONVENTION AND A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN FROM THE DISTRICT THEY SEEK TO REPRESENT. The county organization shall not be responsible for publishing, posting, or alphabetizing nominations from the floor on the first ballot. 

 

RULE 29: Majority Vote Required for State Convention Delegates 

Where there are more nominees than positions to be elected, all voting shall be by secret written or electronic ballot. In any case, the produced ballot, whether paper or electronic, must assure secrecy, auditability, and visual verification of the results. Each delegate may vote for as many candidates as there are positions to be voted for on that ballot. OVERVOTE BALLOTS WILL NOT BE COUNTED OR CURED.  REJECTED BALLOTS FOR OTHER THAN OVERVOTE SHALL BE RESCANNED IF REQUIRED. There shall be no cumulative voting (JOE SMITH, JOE SMITH, JOE SMITH). Those candidates for delegate to the state convention who receive a majority of the votes cast (over fifty percent]50%} of the number of votes cast), ARE DEEMED ELECTED. 

 

 

Example: If there are 50 voting delegates then 26 votes represent a majority and any nominee receiving 26 more votes shall be deemed elected. Succeeding ballots shall be conducted until all delegate positions have been elected by a majority of the votes cast, except as provided in Section C below. 

The following rules of elimination shall be used: 

 

A.  On the second ballot, each candidate who received less than 10% of the total vote on the first ballot shall be eliminated. 

 

B.   On the third ballot, each candidate who received less than 20% of the total vote on the previous ballot shall be eliminated. 

 

C.   On the fourth ballot, sufficient candidates receiving the lowest number of votes on the previous ballot shall be eliminated so that the ballot includes twice the number of unfilled positions to be voted on. These candidates receiving the most votes shall be elected without regard to whether they have a majority of the votes cast. 

Regardless of the foregoing rules for elimination, every ballot shall include a number of candidates not less than twice the number of unfilled positions to be voted on if sufficient candidates have been nominated. When this requirement conflicts with the above rules, the candidate receiving the highest votes on the previous ballot who was eliminated shall be included until the number of candidates remaining is twice the number of unfilled positions, 

In the event of ties for election or elimination, the result shall be determined by lot. 

 

By Monday, March 18, 2024, elected delegates must complete registration forms https://wsrp.org/convention/  and submit payment for the state convention. Should any elected delegate fail to complete their registration forms and submit payment by the deadline, their position is forfeited, and their delegate status awarded to the first alternate. Said elected delegate will be moved to the last alternate position slot available. The state chairman will notify the county chairman and alternate within 24 hours. By March 25, 2024, the newly-designated delegate must complete registration forms and submit payment for the state convention and shall forfeit their delegate position if they do not, the newly-designated delegate shall receive a credit towards delegate registration any amount paid for alternate registration. 

If the first-ranked alternate declines the delegate position, the next-ranked alternate shall be the designated delegate and notified in the same manner as above; provided that all registration forms are completed, and fees are paid for the newly-designated delegate(s) no later than March 29, 2024. 

WSRP shall make Delegate/Alternate Registration Packets available ONLINE to all counties prior to their county or legislative conventions. 

 

Rule 30: Election of State Convention Alternates 

Alternate delegates shall be allocated in the same manner as delegates under Rules 20, 21, and 22 (SEE clarkrepublicans.orgFOR RULES 20,21, AND 22). Nominations for alternates to the state convention shall be made from the floor of the same caucus that elected delegates. NOMINEES FOR ALTERNATE POSITIONS AT THE STATE CONVENTION MUST BE PRESENT AND A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN FROM THE DISTRICT THEY SEEK TO REPRESENT. There shall be two ballots, if necessary for the position of alternate delegate. BALLOTS SHALL BE ELECTRONIC, WITH THE NAMES OF NOMINEES LISTED IN THE ORDER NOMINATED. On the first ballot all candidates receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be elected to position numbers in accordance with the highest vote-getter following in a diminishing order. The second ballot shall fill the remaining vacant alternate delegate positions by a plurality vote, also in diminishing order. If fewer candidates are nominated than the number of positions allocated, a single ballot shall suffice. By Friday, March 29, 2024, alternates shall complete registration forms https://wsrp.org/convention/ and submit payment for the state convention. 

IN THE EVENT OF TIES FOR ELECTION OR ELIMINATION, THE RESULT WILL BE DETERMINED BY LOT. 

 

RULE 32: Proxies; Unit Rule; Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised 

At the county convention/district caucus, the unit rule shall not be permitted, nor shall county convention or district caucus adopt a resolution binding its delegates to vote as a unit at the state convention. Proxies shall not be accepted AT THE COUNTY CONVENTION. All business shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, and the county bylaws or rules, except where either is inconsistent with these rules. 

 

 

Rule 35: Credential Challenges 

This rule is adopted in full and available for review at Clarkrepublicans.org  

 

 

CLARK COUNTY SPECIFIC RULES: 

1.  Any additions to the platform must be submitted in writing to the platform chair Kirk Vangelder no later than 5pm, Thursday March 14, 2024. 

2.  One minute speaking limit for or against. Speakers may only speak one time for one minute per motion. The maker of the motion may speak two times for one minute each. 

3.  Debate shall alternate between for and against. 

4.  Motions to amend should be carefully thought out, then written out and handed to the secretary after making the motion. 

5.  Only voting members of the delegation are permitted in the voting section. 

6.  The Chair of the Clark County Republican Party (CCRP), Matt Bumala, is the Public Information Officer for all media regarding this convention and everything regarding the CCRP. 

7.  Voting begins when the delegates break into Legislative Districts, there shall be no further admittance to the voting floor for the balance of the convention. 

8.  Only 2024 CCRP recognized Republican candidates may distribute campaign literature at convention. 

9.  The last call for those wanting to be considered for nomination to State Delegate or Alternate shall be made by the Chair prior to Legislative voting.