Article VIII Section 5

Preparatory Informational Meetings and Straw Polls

A. The endorsement process for County, State or Congressional candidates, or for National Convention delegates and alternate delegates, shall begin early enough to allow for the timely and efficient conduct of preparatory informational and vetting meetings and straw polls by School District Area Committees, General Assembly District Committees, or Congressional District Committees. No later than such date as set each year by the County Chairman, prospective Republican County, State or Congressional candidates, or National Convention delegates and alternate delegates, should file a letter with the County Chairman indicating their interest in being endorsed.

B. After such date as set by the County Chairman, each School District Area Committee, General Assembly District Committee, or Congressional District Committee shall hold informational and vetting meetings and straw polls with all Republican candidates who have requested endorsement as prescribed in subsection A above. The scheduling of these Committee meetings shall be coordinated between the County Chairman and the Chairmen of the School District Area Committees and shall be held in a sufficient period of time prior to the meeting of the applicable endorsing Committee.

C. Prior to the first informational and vetting meeting and straw poll, the County Chairman may establish uniform procedural rules for the conduct of such meetings, with the advice and consent of the Leadership Team. A straw poll shall be taken by secret ballot at the conclusion of each Committee informational and vetting meeting. The results of the straw poll shall immediately be conveyed to the County Chairman, or his/her designee, who shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, announce the said results publicly.

D. Notice, Attendance and Conduct

(1) Notice of meetings shall be provided to all candidates for endorsement as identified by the County Chairman, and all members of the area committees holding the meeting. Such notice shall be provided in writing at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting. Notice shall include an Agenda and timing for candidates to present themselves and answer questions.

(2) Committee members of the election district for which offices will be on the ballot shall attend the informational and straw poll meeting(s). Committee members unable to attend may substitute a resident, registered Republican of his/her voting district to act for him/her (a proxy), provided such substitution is made in writing on a form provided by the County Committee and filed with a designated person at the meeting. If committee members are unable to attend their own straw poll, they may attend that of other area committees, which are within one of the Election Districts subject to the meeting, however may not comment, ask questions or vote.

(3) Unless otherwise prescribed in the County Chairman’s procedural rules issued in accordance with section C above, all such meetings shall be closed to the public, including members of the press, with the exception of a candidate’s assistant during the candidate’s interview. Candidate’s assistants shall be permitted to hand out the candidate’s materials, but may not comment or ask questions.

(4) Area committees may join together to hold informational and vetting meetings and straw polls. Joint meetings may include all members of the area committees involved, or
members of a particular Election District the subject of the meeting. The results of the votes shall be provided to the County Chairman, or his/her designee, separately for each committee or portion thereof.

(5) Committee members shall vote for the total number of positions for each office. Straw Poll ballots which do not indicate votes for the total number of positions for each office shall be deemed to be incomplete and invalid, and shall not be counted.