| D. |
Nominating Convention |
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1. |
The Utah County Republican Party Nominating Convention shall be held during the month of April or May of each even-numbered year and before the State Republican Party Nominating Convention, for the purpose of selecting party candidates for the County Elections. Oral notice of the convention shall be given at each Voting Precinct Caucus meeting and written notice shall be mailed to each delegate. The Convention shall convene at the time and place designated by the Executive Committee and shall conduct party business as directed by the Executive Committee. |
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2.1. |
The Utah County Republican Party Nominating Convention business shall include, but is not limited to, the following: |
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a. |
Certification of County Delegates to the Convention. |
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b. |
Election of members of the County Central Committee for ensuing term by the following motion:
“I move that the voting membership of the Utah County Republican Party Central Committee consist of the Voting Precinct Chairs and Vice-Chairs; the Party’s Elected County Officers; the Party’s Appointed County Officers; the Legislative District Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Education Officers; and all County, State and Federal Republican Elected Officials.”
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c. |
Selection of Delegates to the State Republican Party Convention by the following motion:
“I move that we elect the Delegates to the Utah State Republican Convention from Utah County. These Delegates are those persons nominated as State Delegates according to the formula adopted by the Central Committee in Bylaw 1. A list of these nominated Delegates has been submitted to the Convention Chair."
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d. |
Nomination of Candidates: Nominating and seconding speeches may be made on behalf of any candidate who has properly filed a declaration of candidacy or an acceptance thereof with the County Clerk. Subdivisions: Caucuses of delegates from political subdivisions may be held in conjunction with the Convention to receive nomination of candidates for offices representing such subdivisions. |
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e. |
Balloting: Only certified delegates shall proceed to cast official secret ballots for all contested offices. Balloting shall open and close at the discretion of the convention for such time as will afford all duly accredited delegates an opportunity to cast their ballots. |
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f.e. |
Election Results: Ballots shall be counted by judges selected by the Convention. Unless the Central Committee adopts differing rules at least sixty (60) days prior to a Convention, the following rules shall apply to balloting at a Nominating Convention. |
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i. |
Upon completion of the counting of ballots by the Convention Judges Election Committee, if one Candidate receives sixty percent or more of the votes cast, he or she shall become the party’s Candidate in the General Election, without running in the Primary Election. |
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ii. |
If there are five or more candidates and no Candidate receives sixty percent or more of the votes cast, the three Candidates who receive the highest number of votes shall be placed on a ballot and voting shall proceed again. If one Candidate then receives sixty percent or more of the votes cast, he or she shall become the party’s Candidate in the General Election without running in the Primary Election. |
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iii. |
If there are fewer than five candidates and no Candidate receives sixty percent or more of the votes case, or if no Candidate in the second round of balloting described above receives at least sixty percent of the votes cast, the two Candidates who receive the highest number of votes shall be placed on a ballot and voting shall proceed again. If one candidate then receives sixty percent or more of the votes cast, he or she shall become the party’s Candidate in the General Election without running in the Primary Election. |
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iv. |
If, in the balloting described above, no Candidate receives at least sixty percent of the votes cast, the two final candidates shall be declared the party’s nominees to run at the Primary Election. |
| E. |
Organizing Convention |
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1. |
The Utah County Republican Party Organizing Convention shall be held on or before the 15th of August of each odd-numbered year. Notice of the Convention shall be mailed no later than forty days prior to the date of the Convention to the same delegates as attended the next previous Nominating Convention or to their duly appointed successors. The Convention shall convene at the time and place designated by the Central Committee and shall conduct party business as directed by the Executive Committee. |
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2.1. |
The Utah County Republican Party Organizing Convention business shall include the election by ballot of the four County Party Officers and State Central Committee members as provided in the Bylaws and the ratification of a Party Platform. Only qualified members who filed a declaration of their candidacy with the County Party Secretary at least fourteen days before the convention shall have their names placed on the ballots provided by the Party. The Convention Chair shall certify to the Convention the election results. |
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3. |
Ratification of a Party Platform. |
| F. |
The Executive Committee shall call other meetings and conventions as needed. |
| G. |
Convention Committees |
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1. |
The Credentials Committee shall consist of the county party secretary and at least 12 qualified members to assist the party secretary to create and maintain the delegate list, produce the credential packets, distribute the delegate credentials, present to the delegates the number of credentialed delegates at the convention, secure and deliver all unclaimed credentials to the certification committee. The chair of the Credentials Committee shall be a member of this committee and shall be elected by this committee. |
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2. |
The Election Committee shall consist of the county party vice-char and at least 24 qualified members whose duty shall be to conduct balloting and vote counting. At least two members shall be assigned to each ballot box. That box and the ballots inserted therein shall be under their sole custody until counting is complete. The chair of the Election Committee shall be a member of this committee and shall be elected by this committee. |
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3. |
The Certification Committee shall consist of the Audit Committee Chair and at least the five elected qualified members of the Utah County Republican Party Audit Committee. The Certification Committee shall adjudicate credential challenges. The Certification Committee shall certify the validity of all elections. They shall also supervise poll watchers and counting procedures, and shall receive any complaints of any credentialing, balloting or voting irregularities. This committee shall be the custodians of the ballots, tally sheets, unclaimed credentials and attendance records until such time as they are no longer needed. The chair of the Certification Committee shall be a member of this committee and shall be elected by this committee. |
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4. |
The Rules Committee shall consist of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee Chair and at least the seven qualified members of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee. The Rules Committee shall establish the Convention Rules with other convention officers and host facility. The chair of the Rules Committee shall be a member of this committee and shall be elected by this committee. |
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5. |
Committee members of the Credential Committee and Election Committee and additional members of the Certification and Rules Committees, as needed, will be randomly chosen from the precinct secretaries and treasurers who are willing to serve as volunteers at the convention. Any secretary or treasurer may decline the opportunity to participate. |
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6. |
No candidate, immediate family member of a candidate, or public elected official, shall serve on any convention committee. |
| H. |
Candidate Information. A candidate meeting shall be held for the purpose of educating candidates and to determine by random drawing the nominating order of candidates, the order of the candidate names on the ballots and the selection of booth space in the exhibition hall. Each candidate shall be required to verify in writing that he or she has read and understands the CANDIDATE RULES AND REGULATIONS including, but not limited to such items as proper distribution of campaign literature, regulation of signs, time limit of nominations and speeches, opportunity for poll watchers, etc. The CANDIDATE RULES AND REGULATIONS shall be established by the Rules Committee, the convention officers and the hosting facility. This candidate meeting shall be held no sooner than the candidate filing deadline and no later than March 31st. This candidate meeting shall be conducted by the county party chair or vice-chair. Finalized CONVENTION RULES established by the Rules Committee shall be provided to all candidates at least two weeks prior to the Convention. |
| Bylaw 7.5 - Standing Convention Rules |
| A. |
Purpose. The Utah County Republican Party Nominating Convention shall select Republican Party candidates for elected public offices. The Utah County Republican Party Organizing Convention shall elect by ballot the County Party Officers and the State Central Committee members as provided in the Bylaws. Both the Nominating and Organizing Conventions shall conduct party business as directed by the Executive Committee. |
| B. |
Call. The Nominating Convention shall be held during the month of April or May of each even-numbered year and before the State Republican Party Nominating Convention. Oral notice of the convention shall be given at each Voting Precinct Caucus meeting and written notice shall be mailed to each delegate. The Convention shall convene at the time and place designated by the Executive Committee. The Organizing Convention shall be held on or before the 15th of August of each odd-numbered year. Notice of the Organizing Convention shall be mailed no later than forty (40) days prior to the date of the Convention to the same delegates as attended the next previous Nominating Convention or to their duly appointed successors. The Convention shall convene at the time and place designated by the Central Committee. |
| C. |
Rules of Order. The County Party Constitution, Bylaws, these Rules and the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern this Convention, in that order. |
| D. |
Order of Business. The order of business shall follow the agenda adopted by the delegates and may be altered at any time according to the will of the convention. A recommended agenda shall be provided to the delegates with the final call to convention at least two weeks prior to the date of this Convention. The recommended agenda may allow for guest speakers, but not until after all official business has been conducted. |
| E. |
Seating and Admission. Only current county delegates shall be admitted and allowed to participate in the business of this Convention. These delegates shall be given first-priority seating. Members of the public and media shall be admitted to the convention hall to view the proceedings as long as they follow proper conduct and the directions of the Chair and Sergeant-of-Arms. |
| F. |
Recognition to Speak. A delegate must be recognized by the chair and then state his or her name and precinct before speaking on convention business. No delegate may speak more than once or longer than two (2) minutes upon the same question, unless allowed by a majority of the convention. |
| G. |
Candidate Rules and Requirements. For the Nominating Convention, only Republican candidates who have properly filed for elected public office as required by law and meet the requirements of the Utah County Republican Party Bylaws shall be considered as candidates by the Convention. For the Organizing Convention, only candidates who have properly filed for a county party officer position or state central committee position shall be considered as candidates by the Convention. The filing period for the Organizing Convention shall be from March 1st to March 15th of every odd-numbered year. The declaration of candidacy for the county party officers and state central committee must be duly filed with the party secretary. |
| H. |
Nominations. Unopposed candidates shall be declared the party’s nominee by a vote of acclamation by the respective delegates assigned to that race. In contested races the nominating order and the order of candidate names on the ballot shall be determined in advance by random drawing or a throw of the dice. Opposed candidates shall be allowed ___ minutes for presentation. Candidates are not required to have a nomination or second, but may if they so desire. The total time limit remains the same regardless. The intent is to have fairness, to treat all candidates equally. |
| I. |
Physical Arrangements. All duly filed candidates will be provided one (1) booth space selected randomly in advance. Any additional booth space will be available for a rental fee on a first-come basis to organizations approved by the Utah County Republican Party Steering Committee. |
| J. |
Quorum. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the county delegates. |
| K. |
General Voting Rules |
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a. |
Each delegate to this convention will be issued a credential card, credential packet and wrist band that is non-transferable which must be displayed at the time of balloting and any voice voting. Proper picture identification will be required for delegates to receive their credentials. |
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b. |
Directly after the opening ceremony the Credentials Committee shall report the number of delegates registered as present with proper credentials and shall make a final report immediately preceding candidate nominating speeches. The credential table will close thirty (30) minutes after the official commencement of the convention. |
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c. |
There will be no absentee voting, proxy voting or early voting. |
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d. |
Polls shall open at the point designated by the agenda and close at the discretion of the convention for such time as will afford all duly accredited delegates an opportunity to cast their ballots. Once the chair announces that the polls will close (voting will end), delegates shall have five (5) additional minutes to cast their ballots. |
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e. |
Only certified delegates with proper credentials shall proceed to cast official ballots for all respective contested races into the designated ballot boxes. A ‘show of emptiness’ of each ballot box shall be offered to each poll watcher immediately prior to the casting of any ballots. All convention ballot boxes shall be in a stationery location outside the convention hall. The senate and legislative district caucus ballot boxes shall be in a stationery location and remain inside the caucus until the casting and counting of ballots is complete. Election Committee members shall punch credentials as individual ballots are cast into the ballot boxes. |
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f. |
Paper ballots shall be counted by members of the Election Committee and votes shall be recorded in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order. |
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g. |
Each opposed candidate shall be permitted to have one (1) poll watcher per person assigned to count in his or her race. Poll watchers are allowed to closely observe the casting of ballots and counting of votes, but are not permitted to touch the ballots. Once the voting is closed no one may leave the ballot counting room before the vote tally for that office has been announced to the Convention without an escort from the Election Committee. |
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h. |
Final election results will be announced by the Convention Chair in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order. |
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i. |
If any election result is contested, the executive committee shall conduct a re-count of the ballots with poll watchers and candidates invited to be present. |
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j. |
Certification of the elections shall be the responsibility of the elected Audit Committee. |