The Benton County Republican Central Committee is hard at work getting ready for the Republican Presidential Caucus. On Saturday, March 2, citizens across the state of Missouri will file into their town halls or community centers to join together and, as Susan Steiner said, “have your voice heard and learn about your party’s platform.”
The Benton County Republican Caucus will be held in the Warsaw Community Building at 181 West Harrison Street in Warsaw. The two most important things to remember Saturday morning are: 1) bring a photo ID, just like when going to vote, and 2) be early! Caucus goers must be inside or in line BY 10:00 AM or they cannot be allowed inside to take part in the caucus.
It is helpful, but not necessary, to pre-register. Caucus goers can go online to Missouri GOP’s web page (Missouri.gop), click on 2024 Caucus at the top of the page, scroll down and pre-register. Pre-registering requires the person to enter their driver’s license or state issued ID number, but it is quick, easy and will save time the morning of the event. Once registered, the voter will receive an email to print and bring Saturday morning, or they may simply pull up the email on their phone for verification. This allows the voter to skip the registration line and go straight to the ID Verification line.
The meeting will start with the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, the reading of the Call to Convention and the announcement of how many individuals are present and eligible to vote.
Next, the voters will elect a caucus chair and caucus secretary.
Finally, it’s time for the people to be asked to vote for their choice for Republican candidate for President. There may be people who speak on behalf of a particular candidate. If so, the speakers are limited to 3 minutes each. As of now, there are 3 candidates who can be selected to receive Missouri’s electoral college votes: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and Ryan Binkley. Once the speakers have finished, the attendees will be asked to move to a particular area in the gymnasium designated for their choice of candidate.
Any candidate receiving 15% or less of the votes will be eliminated. Those who initially showed their support for that candidate may move to one of the remaining candidate’s areas and another count will be taken. Only those whose candidate received less than 15% will be able to switch candidates.
With only 3 candidates to choose from, it’s highly possible one candidate will receive enough votes that the other 2 candidates both have less than 15% making choosing the candidate a quick process.
Once the Presidential candidate has been selected, it’s time for the Election of Delegates and Alternates. Benton County is responsible for sending 5 delegates and 5 alternates to each, the 4th District Congressional Convention, and the Missouri State Convention. The slates can be made of the same people, but do not have to be. What must be is 5 delegates and 5 alternates for each. A slate cannot be accepted by the District or State Credentials Committee with less than the delegate assignment.
The final item for the day is the Republican Platform discussion. The draft platform will be available on the GOP website on February 23. If there is anything a person believes should be eliminated, added, or changed within the platform, this is the opportunity to voice it. The Caucus Chair will request any additions, deletions, or changes to the proposed Platform. All suggested amendments or changes to the platform should be typed or printed and include the name, signature, registered voting address and telephone number of the person submitting the motion. Only suggestions receiving a majority vote of the Caucus will be forwarded to the respective Congressional Convention.
On April 6, the 5 delegates and 5 alternates will attend the 4th Congressional District Convention where 3 delegates and 3 alternates will be chosen to go to the National Republican Convention in Milwaukee. Then they will take up any platform changes submissions to be voted on and just as the county level, an amendment must have majority support before being sent to the state for consideration.
On May 4, members of the State Convention will elect an additional 27 delegates and 27 alternates to go to the National Convention from July 15 through July 18, 2024. Just as the conventions before them, the Republican Platform amendments will be considered and voted on.
What better way to show love and devotion to our country than to literally stand up and be counted, starting with the county Benton County Caucus all the way to the Republican National Convention floor. Delegates will go forward and take the name of the Benton County Caucus winner to the next level, and then the next until our Missouri delegates make it to the National Convention to make our collective voice heard across the nation.
