CALIFORNIA 2004

173 Total Delegates: 159 CD & 14 AL
Primary
Delegates Bound for 2 Ballots
Winner-Take-All (by CD and AL)
Delegate List Filing: 3/2/04
Primary: 3/2/04
Cert. & Call to Conv.: 4/3/04


Step 1 – Presidential Preference Primary

Purpose: To determine which presidential candidate’s delegates and alternate delegates
will attend the state nominating convention where the national convention delegates and alternate delegates are elected.

Timing: 3/2/04

Process: The presidential candidate who receives a plurality of votes within a congressional district is awarded that district’s three (3) CD delegates. The candidate winning a plurality of votes statewide is awarded all AL delegates. Party Bylaws Art. VI § 6.01(A).

Step 2 – Delegate List Filing

Purpose: To certify to the state party the names of the delegates and alternate delegates who will participate in the nominating convention if the candidate wins the primary.

Timing: 2/2/041: List of delegates must be submitted to Secretary of State. 4/1/04: List of alternates must be submitted to Secretary of State.

Process: Each presidential candidate must form a slate of CD and AL delegates. The names of the persons chosen as delegates must be submitted to the Secretary of State by 2/1/04. A list of alternates must be submitted to the Secretary of State by 4/1/04. Cal. Elec. Code § 6461

Step 3 – Certification and Call to Convention

Purpose: To issue a call to convention to the delegates and alternate delegates designated on the affidavit of the candidate who received the greatest number of votes in the presidential preference primary.

1 Actual deadline falls on Feb. 1, 2004, which is a Sunday. Deadlines falling on a holiday or a Sunday get pushed over to the following business day. Cal. Elec. Code § 15.

Timing: 4/3/04

Process: The secretary of the state party sends certificates and a call to convention to
the delegates and alternate delegates listed on the affidavit of the presidential candidate who received the greatest number of votes in the presidential preference primary. Id. at § 6422.

Step 4 – Organizing Convention Delegation

Purpose: To select national convention delegation chairman and choose committee persons.
Timing: Promptly after the selection of delegates.
Process: National Party Rules require the election of a delegation chairman, as well as one (1) man and one (1) woman for each of the four (4) Convention Committees, including: Committee on Resolutions (Platform), Committee on Credentials, Committee on Rules and Order of Business, and Committee on Permanent Organization. States are required to file notice with the RNC Secretary the selection of these committee members and their state delegation chairman. Alternate delegates may not serve as delegation chairman or as members of the convention committees (RNC Rules, Rule 40(a)).

Elector Selection

Purpose: To select presidential electors.
Timing: 10/1/04
Process: Republican nominees for the offices of Gov., Lt. Gov., Treasurer, Controller, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, the Republican nominees for U.S. Senate in the past two senatorial elections, the Assembly Republican leader, the Senate Republican leader, the elected officers of the Republican State Central Committee, the National Committeewoman and National Committeeman, the President of the Republican County Central Committee Chairmen's Association, and the chairperson or president of each Republican volunteer organization officially recognized by the Republican State Central Committee shall act as presidential electors, except that Senators, Representatives, and persons holding an office of trust or profit of the United States shall not act as electors. The remaining presidential elector positions, and any vacant positions, shall be filled by appointment of the chairperson of the Republican State Central Committee in accordance with the bylaws of the committee. The name, residence address, and business address of each appointee shall be filed with the Secretary of State by October 1 of the presidential election year. Cal. Elec. Code § 7300.

Table of Authorities

California Republican Party Bylaws.
California Elections Code.