Republican voters go to the polls in three states today to caucus for the candidates of their choice and the awarding of delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., later this year.
Each state has different rules for awarding its delegates. Here's a look at how the process will work in each state.
Colorado
Only registered Republicans can express their presidential preference during a vote at local caucuses at 7 p.m. MST, according to the Colorado GOP. Any voter can attend the caucus. Candidates or their representatives will have one minute each to appeal to voters before the balloting, the Denver Post reported. Thirty-six delegates (and an equal number of alternates) will attend a county convention in April where they will be declared for candidates who are still running at that time. Those delegates will be pledged to a specific candidate at the national convention.
Minnesota
Republican voters will attend caucuses to select only delegates to a county convention for each candidate who receives votes at the local caucus meetings. The Duluth News Tribune reported county conventions will determine which delegates are sent to the state and national conventions on behalf of presidential candidates. The 40 delegates are not bound to vote for the candidate they are chosen to represent and can switch their support to another candidate, if their chosen candidate withdraws before the August national convention.
Missouri
Show-Me State voters will go to the polls in what the media refers to as a "beauty contest" because the state's delegates will not be awarded until a March 17 official statewide caucus. As the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported last year, the state's primary will be held today as state law requires, but the Republican delegates will not be awarded until each county holds a caucus to choose delegates on March 17. Any registered voter, regardless of party affiliation, will be entitled to vote at the March 17 caucus. This rule was implemented by the Missouri Republican Party after the RNC instituted penalties to states that voted too early. In April, those delegates will meet in each congressional district to determine which candidate they will support. All 52 Missouri delegates will be able to switch if their candidate is no longer running at that time.
Dan McGinnis is a freelance writer, published author and former newspaper publisher. He has been a candidate, campaign manager and press secretary for state and local political campaigns for more than 30 years.
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