Thread: Pennsylvania Republicans have a weird primary. Here’s how it works

This doesn't explain what is going on.

First of all, when you register to vote in Pennsylvania (online) it says you must register either Republican or Democrat to vote in the primary election

https://www.pavoterservices.state.pa...plication.aspx

Next it says in the article,

Pennsylvania GOP primary voters directly elect most of their delegates, who are not officially tied to any candidate.

....

On the Pennsylvania Republican primary ballot, delegate prospects are not listed with any candidate allegiances. But some have publicly announced whom they would support, allowing voters to essentially know which camp they’re backing in the primary.

So, apparently, the primary election casts ballots for delegates, not nominees.

But,

Finally, many delegate candidates have vowed to vote for the winner of their congressional district or the statewide primary.

“My vote is a judgment for voters to make,” said Pennsylvania delegate candidate Charlie Gerow, who served as cochairman of Carly Fiorina’s presidential campaign. “I’m going to vote for the candidate that carries my congressional district on the first ballot.”

That sounds like there is a primary election for the nominees, not the delegates. Where does the direct election for the delegates take place?

Could somebody explain what is going on?

NBC: Cruz to Win Half Of Pennsylvania's Delegates, "Even If He Comes In Distant Third"

By Ian Schwartz
Posted on April 19, 2016

NBC's Hallie Jackson reports Cruz has changed his focus to Pennsylvania and making a play for the state's unbound delegates. Jackson, the network's Cruz correspondent, said even if Cruz has a third place finish in Pennsylvania's Republican primary, he'll win more than half the delegates.

"It's very telling that's Ted Cruz tonight is not in Brooklyn or Manhattan or any of the boroughs or state. He's in Pennsylvania," reported Jackson.

"He'll be in Philly for his watch party tonight," Jackson said. "That's indicative of where he and his campaign see this race going, to Pennsylvania, where they are looking to make a play for these unbound delegates. Even if they come in a distant third, a top campaign aide tells me, they will still, they believe, pick up more than half the delegates there."

"They're looking at more than 30," Jackson said.

Pennsylvania allots 71 delegates in the Republican primary; 54 of which are unbound.

How Pennsylvania selects delegates, via The Green Papers:

54 of the Commonwealth's 71 delegates to the Republican National Convention will be directly elected (their names appear on the ballot) in a LOOPHOLE type primary, in which delegates are elected separately from a presidential preference.

Each of the 18 Congressional District is allocated 3 delegates (54 = 18 districts × 3 delegates/district). Rule 8.4 of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania's Rules states that all delegates elected by Congressional District "...shall run at large within the Districts and shall not be officially committed to any particular candidate on the ballot.".

17 (10 base at-large delegates plus 4 bonus delegates plus 3 RNC delegates) of the Commonwealth's 71 delegates to the Republican National Convention delegates are bound for the 1st ballot to the candidate who receives the most votes in the Pennsylvania Presidential Primary.

The delegates are released if the candidate withdraws, suspends, or terminates his/her campaign or publicly releases his/her delegates.

[Rule 8.3]
Primary

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vid...ant_third.html

See a real PA. Sample Ballot @ http://www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/32940

(May download slowly.)

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

See a real PA. Sample Ballot @ http://www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/32940

(May download slowly.)

Yes, that explains it. What a mess. The ballot includes entries for both the delegates and the presidential nominees.

Why can't the political parties run their own elections and keep government out of it? Think of all the tax dollars wasted on this circus.