Many Santorum supporters, when looking over the sample ballot (here), are wondering how to vote for delegates in light of the fact that Santorum does not have any "committed delegates" on the ballot. Good question, my friend, and I'm here to help. First, a little explanation about GOP delegate selection (hat tip my friends at Tennessee Eagle Forum).
Each voter, ideally, has the opportunity to vote for 17 delegates to attend the Republican National Committee Convention. That number (17) includes 14 delegates who "serve" as at-large representatives (essentially for the entire state) and 3 delegates who serve as representatives of a particular congressional district. Most of the delegate candidates are "committed" to vote for a certain candidate at the convention.
If a presidential candidate wins 2/3 of the vote, then s/he is entitled to have fill ALL of the 17 available delegate slots. If no candidate receives more than 2/3 of the votes cast, delegates are appointed (spread out) to all candidates that receive more than 20% of the vote. Delegates shall be apportioned according to the ratio of votes received among candidates receiving more than 20% of the votes cast. Here's an example:
Candidate A (42% of vote) - wins 6 delegate spots
Candidate B (33% of vote) - wins 5 delegate spots
Candidate C (21% of vote) - wins 3 delegate spots
Candidate D (14% of vote) - wins 0 delegate spots
Given that the dividend (the number being divided) is 14, the equal apportioning of delegates could be mathematically impossible, and in that event, the State GOP executive committee is "authorized to modify the provision that causes the problem to ensure a mathematically possible result.
Delegates from each congressional district are allocated in a similar fashion. If a candidate receives two-thirds (2/3) of the vote, that candidate receives all the delegates for that congressional district. If no candidate receives two-thirds (2/3), the candidate that receives the plurality of votes receives two delegates. The candidate receiving the next highest number of votes receives the remaining delegate.
The "committed delegates" essentially must win a campaign within a campaign in order to serve, because they will only have the opportunity to represent TN at the convention (a) if their candidate (the one to whom they're "committed") wins a high enough percentage of votes to earn delegates and (b) if they win enough votes to beat out other delegates committed to the same candidate.
So, where does that leave a voter whose candidate does not have any committed delegates? The bottom line is that how you vote for delegates will neither help Well, you can just vote for none, or vote for delegates who are committed to other Presidential candidates. It will not affect your vote for president. The key (duh) is to vote for your presidential preference, which will help your candidate to earn more delegate spots, and if you know a particular delegate (committed to another candidate) whom you would most trust to represent Tennessee at the National Convention, then it might be wise to vote for him or her. Given the nature of the primary system, perhaps the most under-appreciated aspect of the Convention is that delegates must vote on the party's platform. Squishy Republicans have been agitating for decades to move the GOP leftward, and your delegate vote can help prevent that. I just voted for a couple of folks I know and trust who were running as delegates . . . and then wrote my name in ;)
Each voter, ideally, has the opportunity to vote for 17 delegates to attend the Republican National Committee Convention. That number (17) includes 14 delegates who "serve" as at-large representatives (essentially for the entire state) and 3 delegates who serve as representatives of a particular congressional district. Most of the delegate candidates are "committed" to vote for a certain candidate at the convention.
If a presidential candidate wins 2/3 of the vote, then s/he is entitled to have fill ALL of the 17 available delegate slots. If no candidate receives more than 2/3 of the votes cast, delegates are appointed (spread out) to all candidates that receive more than 20% of the vote. Delegates shall be apportioned according to the ratio of votes received among candidates receiving more than 20% of the votes cast. Here's an example:
Candidate A (42% of vote) - wins 6 delegate spots
Candidate B (33% of vote) - wins 5 delegate spots
Candidate C (21% of vote) - wins 3 delegate spots
Candidate D (14% of vote) - wins 0 delegate spots
Given that the dividend (the number being divided) is 14, the equal apportioning of delegates could be mathematically impossible, and in that event, the State GOP executive committee is "authorized to modify the provision that causes the problem to ensure a mathematically possible result.
Delegates from each congressional district are allocated in a similar fashion. If a candidate receives two-thirds (2/3) of the vote, that candidate receives all the delegates for that congressional district. If no candidate receives two-thirds (2/3), the candidate that receives the plurality of votes receives two delegates. The candidate receiving the next highest number of votes receives the remaining delegate.
The "committed delegates" essentially must win a campaign within a campaign in order to serve, because they will only have the opportunity to represent TN at the convention (a) if their candidate (the one to whom they're "committed") wins a high enough percentage of votes to earn delegates and (b) if they win enough votes to beat out other delegates committed to the same candidate.
So, where does that leave a voter whose candidate does not have any committed delegates? The bottom line is that how you vote for delegates will neither help Well, you can just vote for none, or vote for delegates who are committed to other Presidential candidates. It will not affect your vote for president. The key (duh) is to vote for your presidential preference, which will help your candidate to earn more delegate spots, and if you know a particular delegate (committed to another candidate) whom you would most trust to represent Tennessee at the National Convention, then it might be wise to vote for him or her. Given the nature of the primary system, perhaps the most under-appreciated aspect of the Convention is that delegates must vote on the party's platform. Squishy Republicans have been agitating for decades to move the GOP leftward, and your delegate vote can help prevent that. I just voted for a couple of folks I know and trust who were running as delegates . . . and then wrote my name in ;)
I am listed as a Perry delegate in the 6th Congressional district, but I have told the party leadership I will back Santorum if selected to be a delegate. - Justin Wax
ReplyDeleteThanks Justin . . . are you wanting to be written in? Unless Perry gets more than 20% of the vote, you won't be elected as a delegate.
ReplyDelete