PUERTO RICO DELEGATE SELECTION PLAN 

FOR THE 2012 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION 

SECTION I 

INTRODUCTION & DESCRIPTION OF DELEGATE SELECTION PROCESS 

A. INTRODUCTION 

1. Puerto Rico has a total of 20 delegates and 20 alternates pursuant to Rule 13 of the                                   Rules of the Republican Party as adopted by the 2008 Republican National Convention                         and amended by the Republican National Committee on August 6, 2010. In addition, the                           National Committeeman, National Committeewoman and Chairman of the Republican                 Party of Puerto Rico pursuant to Rule 13(a)(1) of the Rules of the Republican Party. 

2. The delegate selection process is governed by the Charter and Bylaws of the                           Republican Party of the United States, the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2012                         Republican National Convention (“Rules”), the Call for the 2012 Republican National                     Convention (“Call”), the Regulations of the Rules and Bylaws Committee for the 2012                         Republican National Convention (“Regs.”), the rules of the Republican Party of Puerto                       Rico, Article 8.009 of Law 78 of June 1st of 2011 (Puerto Rico Electoral Code of 2011) ,                                   the “Compulsory Presidential Primaries Act” (16 P.R.L.A. §1321­1353) and this                   Delegate Selection Plan.  

3. During the Republican National Committee’s (“RNC”) Summer Meeting in August                     2010, the RNC adopted revised rules governing the 2012 presidential nominating                     schedule and the methods for allocating delegates to the 2012 Republican National                       Convention. Rule 15(b)(2) of the revised Rules of the Republican Party requires that                         “any presidential primary, caucus, convention, or other meeting held for the purpose of                         selecting delegates to the national convention which occurs prior to the first day of April                             in the year in which the national convention is held, shall provide for the allocation of                               delegates on a proportional basis.” The new Subsection (2) requires that any state                         holding its presidential nominating process prior to April 1 include some form of                         proportional delegate allocation, as determined by the state. Any state holding its                       process on or after April 1 would be allowed to allocate national convention delegates                           on a winner­take­all basis. 

4. Following the adoption of this Delegate Selection Plan by the Republican Party of                           Puerto Rico Executive Committee, it shall be submitted for review and approval by the                           RNC Counsel’s Office. The Executive Director of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico                         and the Legal Counsel shall be empowered to make any technical revisions to this                           

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document as required by the RNC Counsel’s to correct any omissions and/or                       deficiencies as found by the RNC Counsel’s to ensure its full compliance with Party                           Rules. Such corrections shall be made by the Executive Director of the Republican                         Party of Puerto Rico and the Legal Counsel and the Plan resubmitted to the within 30                               days of receipt of notice of any findings by the RNC Counsel’s.  

5. Once this Plan has been found in Compliance by the RNC Counsel’s, any                           amendment to the Plan by the State Party will be submitted to and approved by the                               RNC Counsel’s before it becomes effective.  

6. The Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico, as the central                           governing body of the Party, shall adopt and file regulations for the Party no later than                               December 1st of the year immediately preceding the year in which the presidential                         primaries are to be held, in which the party shall participate pursuant to the law. (16                               P.R.L.A. § 1327) 

7. The Rules of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico state in Rule 4.1 that “the                               Republican Party of Puerto Rico shall conduct its presidential primary in accordance to                         Act No.6 of September 24, 1979, as amended, officially known as the "Compulsory                         Presidential Primaries Act". In the event that the aforementioned Act is repealed, or                         does not fully provide for the process at hand, the Executive Committee is authorized to                             promulgate those rules that it may deem necessary.  

B. DESCRIPTION OF DELEGATE SELECTION PROCESS 

1. The Compulsory Presidential Primaries Act defines a national party as “every political                         party that nominates and participates in the election of candidates for the offices of                           President and Vice President of the United States of America”. (16 P.R.L.A. § 1322(n)) 

2. The Puerto Rico delegate selection process will occur on March 18th, 2012, with a                             primary. Article 8.009 of Law 78 of July 1st of 2011 (Puerto Rico Electoral Code of 2011)                                 provides that “in the case of national party primaries, these can be held on any date                               starting with the first Tuesday in the month of March in the year of the general elections                                 until June 15th of the same year, as determined by the governing body of the local party                                 affiliated to the national party. The March 18th of 2012 date is enacted in compliance                             with Rule 15 of the RNC as described above. 

3. Each year in which the President of the United States is to be elected, a presidential                                 primary shall be held in Puerto Rico to allow electors to express their preference                           regarding candidates for nomination to the presidency of the United States by national                         

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parties that have an affiliated party. (16 P.R.L.A. § 1323). See also 16 P.R.L.A. §1338                             regarding alternate methods.  

4. Pursuant to Rule 13 (c) of the Rules of the Republican Party “any state Republican                               Party may set the date for any primary, caucus, convention, or meeting for the purpose                             of voting for a presidential candidate and/or electing, selecting, allocating, or binding                       delegates to the national convention subject to the scheduling provisions in Rule No. 15.                           To the extent a state Republican Party’s rules are in conflict with its state’s laws with                               respect to this rule, the provisions of this rule and the state Republican Party’s rules                             shall control. To the extent the provisions of the rule are inconsistent with the provisions                             of Rule No. 15, the provisions of this rule shall be controlling for all purposes. 

5. Every person qualified to vote in the general election in Puerto Rico pursuant to the                               Electoral Code of 2011 

6. Participation in Puerto Rico’s delegate selection process is open to all Republican                         voters who wish to participate as Republicans and sign a pledge of support for a                             candidate. 

7. Puerto Rico’s voter registration deadline for the Presidential Primary is the same as                           established by the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission. 

8. At no stage of Puerto Rico’s delegate selection process shall any person be required,                             directly or indirectly, to pay a cost or fee as a condition for participating. Voluntary                             contributions to the Party may be made, but under no circumstances shall a contribution                           be mandatory for participation. Any voluntary contributions made to the Puerto Rico                       Republican Party by potential delegates or alternates during this process shall be used                         to help defray possible convention costs for low­income delegates. 

9. No persons shall participate or vote in the nominating process for the Republican                           presidential candidate who also participates in the nominating process of any other                       national party for the corresponding elections.  

10. Puerto Rico will use a proportional representation system based on the results of                           the primary for apportioning delegates to the 2012 Republican National Convention                     provided nonetheless that the candidates reach a specific threshold established herein.. 

11. Puerto Rico is participating in the state government­run presidential preference                     primary that will utilize government­run voting systems. 

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12. The Republican Party of Puerto Rico will take positive steps to promote the                           acquisition of accessible precinct based optical scan systems, wherever possible.  

13. Seek enactment of legislation, rules, and policies at the state and local level to                             ensure that direct recording electronic systems, if any are used, include a voter verified                           paper trail. 

SECTION II­ PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES 

A. BALLOT ACCESS  1. Every person qualified to vote in the general election in Puerto Rico pursuant                           to the Electoral Code of 2011, shall be entitled to vote in the presidential                           primaries of the national party of his choice, held pursuant to chapter 16 of the                             Puerto Rico Laws Annotated. Every elector who wishes to exercise the electoral                       right provided by law shall do so in the congressional district and precinct in                           which he is registered. The affiliated political parties may provide affiliation forms                       to be completed by the elector at the time he is to cast his vote. (16 P.R.L.A.                                 §1325)  2. The Republican Party of Puerto Rico shall file evidence before the Chairman                         of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission, no later than December 1st of the                           year immediately preceding the year in which the election of the President of the                           United States of America is to be held, that certifies that it has been recognized                             as an affiliate of the Republican National Committee. (16 P.R.L.A. §1328.  3. The Puerto Rico Electoral Code does not mandate a candidate­filling fee.  4. Each presidential candidate shall use his or her best efforts to ensure that his                             or her respective delegation within the state delegation encourages the “broadest                     possible participation by men and women, young people, minority and heritage                     groups, senior citizens, and all other citizens in the delegate election, selection,                       allocation or binding process” pursuant to Rule 14 of Rules of the Republican                         Party.    5. No later than sixty (60) days prior to the holding of presidential primaries, the                             Secretary of State of Puerto Rico shall determine and prepare a list of the names                             of the candidates who aspire to the nomination for President of the United States                           for the Republican Party and each one of them shall be notified of their inclusion                             of said list by certified mail, with return receipt requested. The names of each of                             the candidates included in the list shall appear on the ballot as presidential                         candidate, unless said person certifies, no later than thirty (30) days prior to the                           

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holding of presidential primary, in writing, to the Secretary that he or she will not,                             nor has the intention to be a presidential candidate. No later than twenty­eight                         (28) days prior to the holding of the presidential primary, the Secretary of State                           shall notify the names of the persons that will appear on the ballot as presidential                             candidate to the President of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico, the president                         of the Republican National Committee and the Chair of the Puerto Rico State                         Elections Commission. 

SECTION III.­Selection of Delegates and Alternates 

1. No later than December 15 of the year prior to the date of the primaries provided                               in this chapter are to be held, the Republican Party of Puerto Rico shall file                             before the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission an official certification by the                       chief authority of the Republican National Committee in question, certifying the                     number of delegates and alternate delegates to the national nominating                   convention of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL. (16 P.R.L.A.                     §1331)  

2. Every group of candidates for delegate or alternate delegate that wish to appear                         on the ballot as a group must file its candidacy before the chairman of the                             Republican Party of Puerto Rico, with a copy to the Chairman of the Puerto Rico                             State Elections Commission, stating their names, addresses, electoral precinct                 and senatorial district in which he resides, the name of the presidential candidate                         to whom he wishes to be committed or, in the case of an uncommitted group, the                               name of the candidate to delegate under whose name the group wishes to                         appear, in addition to any other information that by law or regulation is required,                           no later than thirty (30) days prior to the holding of the presidential primary as                             candidate for alternate delegate in which he shall state his name, address,                       electoral precinct and senatorial district in which he resides in addition to any                         other information that by law or regulation is required. When the rules and                         regulations of the National Party require it, he shall also consign his condition of                           commitment to an aspirant to the presidential candidacy, or his noncommitment.                     (16 P.R.L.A. §1332)  

3. The Chairman of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall remit to the                         corresponding presidential candidate, by certified mail and acknowledgement of                 receipt, the names and addresses for the groups and individuals who wish to                         aspire committed to such presidential candidate within the two (2) days following                       the last date for filing candidacies for delegate or alternate delegate. The                       presidential candidate to whom this information has been remitted must notify the                       list of candidates he approves of, by certified mail and acknowledgement of                       receipt, to the Chairman of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission no later                         

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than two (2) days after receiving it. The presidential candidate shall approve a                         list of no more than the number of alternate delegates that should be selected in                             each respective senatorial district. If no reply or refusal of a specific person is                           received from the presidential candidate, it shall be understood that the                     candidate approves the list submitted. (16 P.R.L.A. §1332)  

4. The Presidential Primaries established in the “Compulsory Presidential Primaries                 Act” shall consist of one balloting in one single ballot where electors shall                         express their preference for the aspirant to the presidential candidacy of the                       Republican National Party of which they are bona fide members and a ballot to                           elect delegates and alternate delegates to the National Nominating Convention.                   The result of the expression of preference for the presidential candidate shall not                         affect the election of delegates or alternate delegates. (16 P.R.L.A. §1333)  

5. The balloting in said primaries will be carried out through the open­poll system.                         The primaries shall be held according to the applicable provisions of §§ 3001 et                           seq. of the Electoral Code, with due guaranties at all times, of the elector’s right                             to equal, direct, free and secret suffrage, using the identification card provided in                         §§ 3001 et seq. of the aforementioned statute. (16 P.R.L.A. §1333)  

6. Only one electoral list shall be used to identify the electors in which the                           preference of the elector must be specified as to the national party for which he                             plans to vote. (16 P.R.L.A. §1333)   

7. No person shall participate and/or vote in the nomination process for presidential                       candidates of one national party who has also participated in the nomination                       process of any other national party for the corresponding election.  

8. All electors shall certify under oath that he/she has not participated, nor shall                         participate in any electoral process regarding the selection of the presidential                     candidates or delegates to national nominating conventions for the same                   presidential election of a national party other than the one he/she plans to vote                           [in]. This oath shall be taken by a polling­place official duly certified by an                           electoral representative and shall constitute a certification for the purposes of                     Section 225 of Act. No. 115 of July 25, 1974, known as “Penal Code of Puerto                               Rico”. (See also 16 P.R.L.A. §1333).  

9. Delegates and alternate delegates would be bound to endorse in the first                       balloting at the national nominating convention the aspirant to the presidential                     nomination for which they were selected and also duly certified for that right by                           

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the Chairman of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission. (16 P.R.L.A.                     §1336)  

10.The adjudication methods of the delegates elected shall be governed by the                       regulations of the national parties and the standards to be adopted in accordance                         thereto. (16 P.R.L.A. §1337)  

11.All twenty (20) delegates and twenty (20) alternate delegates from Puerto Rico                       are delegates at large.  

12.Each candidate for President shall be awarded at­large delegates from Puerto Rico                       authorized by the Republican National Committee proportionately, according to the ratio                     of votes they received to the total votes cast on an islandwide basis. Provided however,                             no delegates shall be awarded to any candidate for President receiving less than fifteen                           percent (15%) of the vote, and such votes shall be allocated among the other candidates                             in proportion to their total vote. If one candidate for President receives a majority (50%)                             of the total islandwide votes cast, then that candidate shall be awarded all at­large                           delegates from Puerto Rico.  

13.After the primary is held as provided by law, the Chairman of the Puerto Rico                             State Elections Commission in coordination with the electoral representative of                   the Republican Party shall canvass the votes. When it has been concluded, but                         no later than fifteen (15) days after the date on which the primaries were held,                             the Chairman of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall notify the                       central directing body in Puerto Rico of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico, the                           Secretary of the Department of State, the president of the Republican National                       Committee and all the candidates who have appeared on the ballot of the                         outcome of the presidential primaries in terms of absolute numbers. He shall                       also certify, within the aforementioned period, the persons who have been                     elected as delegates and alternate delegates, pursuant to the rules and                     regulations of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico. (16 P.R.L.A. §1344)  

SECTION IV­ JURISDICTION  1. The Chair of the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall have the                       

responsibility of carrying out any activity, procedure or duty needed to                     implement the “Compulsory Presidential Primaries Law.” (16 P.R.L.A. §1346)  

2. Everything related to the electoral process, distribution of electoral material,                   designation of polling place officials, challenging of voters, and others                   connected with the general presidential primary process provided herein shall                   

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be governed by the applicable provision of the Electoral Code as established                       by Law 78 of June 1st of 2011. 

 

(Adopted by the Republican Party of Puerto Rico on September 28, 2011)  

 

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