Republicans won't be voting for Presidential nominee at February Caucuses

Seaview - A change in how Washington State Republicans allocate votes for the 2016 Presidential Nominee means local Republicans will not be voting for their choice of President at the February 20th Caucuses. Instead the primary vote on May 24 will determine who the delegates elected to the national convention will support.

Republicans will caucus on February 20th across the state at 10am. Pacific County will hold two pooled precinct locations, in Long Beach and South Bend. At the caucus, attendees will break into their precincts to discuss the party purpose, principles and platform; and to elect delegates to the Pacific County Republican Convention on April 4th in South Bend. At the county convention, delegates will vote on the County Party Platform and elect delegates to represent Pacific Co at the Washington State Republican Party Convention being held in Pasco on May 19-21. At the state convention delegates will be elected to the national convention in Cleveland, Ohio July 18-21.

"Washington State Republicans will use the vote of the people in the primary election on May 24th to determine who the delegates vote for on the first ballot at the national convention in Cleveland next July," says Nansen Malin, Pacific County Republican Party Chair. "In the past, we used a formula that combined caucus votes and the primary vote. But since Republicans believe in one person, one vote, the rule change reflects voting only once in the primary election. The process is more representative of the people." Delegates from Washington State will be bound to vote according to their Congressional District and the state at-large outcome of the primary election. Malin continued, "I have been getting calls because after the Iowa Caucuses people are confused about how our nominee is elected. Each state sets their own rules which are approved by the national committee. To further add to the confusion, the Democratic Party selects their nominee by caucus only, the primary vote is only a beauty contest for their candidates."

To win the nomination, a candidate needs 51% of the delegate votes. "If we do not have a majority winner on the first ballot in Cleveland, then the law of the jungle ensues!" Malin explained. "In that situation, delegates are free to vote for the candidate of their own choice. So in the end, delegate elections could matter."

Malin encourages local Republicans go to www.pacificgop.com where the tab titled caucus/conventions has detailed information for the local and nation process of selecting the nominee. Precincts in the south county will meet at in Long Beach and in north county in South Bend. To attend a caucus, you must sign a form to declare you consider yourself a Republican and will not participate in another caucus, bring photo I.D. and be a registered voter in Pacific County. Further information can be found at www.pacificgop.com or by calling Chair Malin at 642-2444, email [email protected].