Florida Republicans Hit the Polls Early

Garrett Quinn | January 27, 2012

Jacksonville, Fla.—Why does Florida, the fourth largest state in the union, have only 50 delegates up for grabs in Tuesday's Republican primary? Quite simply, the state crossed the powers that be. Florida violated the rules passed by the Republican National Committee that require Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada to be the first four states to vote in the nominating contest and was therefore stripped of half of its delegates. If Florida had followed the rules the state would be sending 100 delegates to the Republican convention in Tampa this August.

The official GOP critiera for determining how many delegates each state gets at the convention are pretty complex. You can read all of it here.

If the primary drags on can we expect a fight over the reinstatement of Florida's delegates?

Possibly, though after last night’s debate it is increasingly difficult to see how there could be a brokered convention in Tampa. This race would need to maintain its intensity well beyond March 6's Super Tuesday vote for the reinstatement issue to be raised in the same forcefull way it was back in 2008 on the Democratic side. In that race, delegates were so precious that both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigned in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Of course, history also tells us that the threat of reduced delegate numbers goes out the window after it becomes clear who the nominee is going to be. In 2008, both parties reinstated Florida’s delegates, ensuring that they would get access to the convention floor, voting rights, and, of course, crucial hotel space.

Meanwhile, Florida Republicans have been busy since last Saturday voting for their preferred candidate. Florida has been doing this early voting thing mostly problem free since 2004 and this year's process comes to a close on Saturday afternoon. Over 32 states allow some variation of early voting. In Florida it means you can vote anywhere in your county as many as 10 days but no fewer than two days before the election. In addition, the Sunshine State also allows for "no questions asked" absentee voting. Unlike my native Massachusetts, where county government is nearly non-existent, Florida's county governments handle all election activity.

While Florida makes it very convenient for people to vote, there are still roadblocks when you get to the actual polling station. There was an army of poll workers at the two voting stations I visited in Ponce de León's old stomping grounds of St. Augustine. Outside of every voting station in Florida is a sentry known as a poll deputy. He is usually a retired law enforcement agent and it is his job to make sure no funny business goes on outside the polling place. Next up is an inspector who asks questions but seems mostly to act as a second line of defense against voter fraud.

Once you make it past these guardians of democracy you have to show some form of ID to get your actual ballot. Fortunately for would-be voters, many forms of ID are acceptable for voting purposes in Florida.

"It's easier to manage people over an eight day period rather than managing all of those people on one day. It's so much easier," said Vicky Oakes, supervisor of elections for St. John's County. Oakes described the early voter turnout this year as "good so far."

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Eduard van Haalen|1.27.12 @ 9:45PM|#

FrisT!

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Ch@er|1.28.12 @ 8:46AM|#

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Dekedin|1.27.12 @ 9:57PM|#

Former Senator Bill Frist?

Eduard van Haalen|1.27.12 @ 10:07PM|#

Indeed.

Tho he was from Tennessee, but if he's retired, maybe he's in Fla now.

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Mr. FIFY|1.27.12 @ 10:02PM|#

Which of the big-government Repubs will win?

Sevo|1.27.12 @ 10:13PM|#

Obama?

Doktor Kapitalism|1.27.12 @ 10:24PM|#

Reagan?

Mr. FIFY|1.27.12 @ 10:33PM|#

Ron Reagan Junior?

Doktor Kapitalism|1.27.12 @ 10:39PM|#

No, the Fourth, you fool!

Mr. FIFY|1.27.12 @ 10:48PM|#

I smell a The Boys from Brazil theme here.

Doktor Kapitalism|1.27.12 @ 10:26PM|#

Don't worry, folks, old Fred's down at the bottom of the list. It just got cut off when they took the picture.

In all seriousness, the spacing between the names makes that a plausible explanation.

Incidentally, did Buddy drop out yet?

|1.27.12 @ 10:27PM|#

If Florida had followed the rules the state would be sending 100 delegates to the Republican convention in Tampa this August.

Pretty sure that if not for the penalty, Florida would be sending 99 delegates, not 100. 10 base at-large plus 3*27 (congressional districts) plus 3 for the party leaders plus 5 bonus (R gov and state legislature) = 99.

They rounded up with the penalty.

Uncle Pfizer|1.27.12 @ 10:31PM|#

Florida should lose it's statehood just for electing Bush the Elder the 1st time.
/allegedly

wareagle|1.28.12 @ 10:02AM|#

right...because Dukakis was clearly such a superior choice.

|1.27.12 @ 10:33PM|#

Err, you linked to a discussion of the DNC rules. Here's a discussion of the GOP rules for 2012:

For Jurisdictions with Constitutionally Elected Members of Congress:
10 At-Large delegates from each state, that is, 5 at-large delegates for each U.S. Senator [Rule 13(a)(1)].
3 District delegates for each U.S. Representative as established by the 2012 census [Rule 13(a)(3)].
For Jurisdictions without Constitutionally Elected Members of Congress [Rule 13(a)(4)]:
6 at-large delegates from American Samoa.
16 at-large delegates from the District of Columbia.
6 at-large delegates from Guam.
6 at-large delegates from the Northern Mariana Islands.
20 at-large delegates from Puerto Rico.
6 at-large delegates from Virgin Islands.
For all Jurisdictions - 3 party leaders: the national committeeman, the national committee woman, and the chairman of the state Republican Party. [Rule 13(a)(2)]
Bonus Delegates
President: States casting a majority of their 2008 Electoral Votes for the Republican Candidate receive 4.5 + 0.60 × the Jurisdiction's Total 2008 Electoral Vote in bonus delegates. Should the District of Columbia cast the majority of their electoral votes for the Republican Candidate, the District will receive 4.5 + (0.30 × 16) in bonus delegates. Round any fractions UP to the next whole number. [Rules 13(a)(5) and 13(a)(7)]
U.S. Senate: Award 1 bonus delegate for each Republican Senator elected in the 6 year period between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2011. Limit 2. [Rule 13(a)(6)]
Governor States electing a Republican Governor between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit: 1. [Rule 13(a)(5)(i)]
U.S. House: States electing Republicans to 50% or more of their U.S. House seats between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit 1. [Rule 13(a)(5)(ii)]
One Chamber: States electing a Republican majority to one chamber of the state legislature (OR the legislature is presided over by a Republican) between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit 1. [Rule 13(a)(5)(iii)]
All Chambers: States electing a Republican majority to all chambers of the state legislature (OR all chambers are presided over by a Republican) between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 receive 1 bonus delegate. Limit 1. [Rule 13(a)(5)(iv)]

Eduard van Haalen|1.27.12 @ 10:39PM|#

They can calculate delegates by complicated formulae, but they can't do enough arithmetic to figure out the country is broke?

Doktor Kapitalism|1.27.12 @ 10:40PM|#

It's all about priorities.

Sevo|1.27.12 @ 10:42PM|#

How do you think they do on the over/under for the Superbowl?

The GOP|1.28.12 @ 11:18AM|#

States casting a majority of their 2008 Electoral Votes for the Republican Candidate receive 4.5 + 0.60 × the Jurisdiction's Total 2008 Electoral Vote in bonus delegates.

Ha! And some call us "The Stupid Party"!

|1.27.12 @ 11:38PM|#

"...the fourth largest state by population in the union.."

Spartacus|1.28.12 @ 10:54AM|#

Yes. By penis size we are first in the world. Denmark gets bonus points for having it upright, but we still win.

rather|1.27.12 @ 11:53PM|#

"It's easier to manage people over an eight day period rather than managing all of those people on one day. It's so much easier"...to spot the dead people voting?

Eduard van Haalen|1.28.12 @ 11:08AM|#

Just give them some brains, they'll forget all about voting and shamble back to their graves satiated.

LarryA|1.28.12 @ 5:11PM|#

Do you know how exhausting it is to vote eight times in just one day?

The Crackshot Crackpot|1.28.12 @ 12:05AM|#

Also, the War of 1812 may or may not have been an honest war.

What?

|1.28.12 @ 12:25AM|#

Also, you may or may not be a blogwhore.

Mr. FIFY|1.28.12 @ 1:31AM|#

What year was that, again?

|1.28.12 @ 12:59AM|#

Matt Welch on the Buffet Rule on Fox on Hot Air

Greg|1.28.12 @ 1:28AM|#

Butthead: Heh, heh. You said pole.

free2booze|1.28.12 @ 1:35AM|#

Once you make it past these guardians of democracy you have to show some form of ID to get your actual ballot.

Oh, the horror! How dare anyone be forced to endure such a miserable burden.

Mensan|1.28.12 @ 2:29PM|#

Yeah, that doesn't actually happen. At least not at my precinct. They just ask for your name.

In 2010 it was a problem for me, because when I showed up they said that I had already voted. Only then did they ask for ID. I provided two IDs and my voter registration card, and then they let me cast a provisional ballot.

Either someone else claimed to be me, and voted in my place, or the poll workers were so incompetent that they marked off the wrong name as having voted. Either way, I have no way of knowing if my real vote was ever even counted.

The Angry RPh|1.28.12 @ 5:17AM|#

My wife and I voted for RP Thursday a.m. LOTS of RP signs hereabouts, much more than for any other candidate. I hope it's reflected in the primary results.

Fist of Etiquette|1.28.12 @ 5:50AM|#

While Florida makes it very convenient for people to vote, there are still roadblocks when you get to the actual polling station.

What you describe seems more like speed bumps than roadblocks.

wareagle|1.28.12 @ 10:06AM|#

yes, god forbid someone might want to check and be sure that a voter actually is who he/she claims to be. "Vote early, vote often" wasn't just a cute phrase someone made up, and I believe there were stories of about a thousand dead folks having voted in SC. Fraud? What fraud?

Libertarian2|1.28.12 @ 7:04AM|#

I don't know about other counties, but here in St Johns county, voting is a breeze. Once, when voting was very heavy, I had to wait in line for almost 3 minutes. Here's how it's been (for me anyway): (1) after the volunteer (bless the volunteers!) at the door asks you if you're in the right precinct (doesn't check -- just asks) (2) you walk in and they check your name off a list. I think I've shown ID at this point, but not positive I've had to do it everytime. If so, it's your driver's license they want to see, not your voting card -- they don't care about your voting card. (3) they hand you a ballot and you step up to a stand where you color in the bubbles on a paper ballot -- definitely my favorite way to vote. (4) say hello to another nice volunteer who is standing next to something that looks like a giant paper shredder, and drop your ballot in. (5) take your little "I voted" sticker from the nice volunteer so that when you go to work you can say, "I'm only registered Republican so that I can vote for Ron Paul."

mad libertarian guy|1.28.12 @ 8:46AM|#

Surprise! Progressive presidents use military metaphors in order to train citizens in to acting like good soldiers by doing what they're told, and allowing unfettered top-down control in which it is expected that the executive should have unilateral power.

Obama, an unfettered executive wielding a swollen state, began and ended his address by celebrating the armed forces. They are not “consumed with personal ambition,” they “work together” and “focus on the mission at hand” and do not “obsess over their differences.” Americans should emulate troops “marching into battle,” who “rise or fall as one unit.”

Well. The armed services’ ethos, although noble, is not a template for civilian society, unless the aspiration is to extinguish politics. People marching in serried ranks, fused into a solid mass by the heat of martial ardor, proceeding in lock step, shoulder to shoulder, obedient to orders from a commanding officer — this is a recurring dream of progressives eager to dispense with tiresome persuasion and untidy dissension in a free, tumultuous society.

Progressive presidents use martial language as a way of encouraging Americans to confuse civilian politics with military exertions, thereby circumventing an impediment to progressive aspirations — the Constitution and the patience it demands.

Who the fuck knew?

|1.28.12 @ 9:12AM|#

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Mint Berry Crunch|1.28.12 @ 9:36AM|#

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WU3ZBz08O4

Sam Grove|1.28.12 @ 11:31AM|#

Gary Trudeau rehashes "progressive" anti-libertarian trope and rags on Ron Paul at the same time via Doonebury:
http://www.doonesbury.com/strip

Sam Grove|1.28.12 @ 11:50AM|#

sp Doonesbury

Cytotoxic|1.28.12 @ 11:57AM|#

He defines the 'douche liberal' form of progressive.

LarryA|1.28.12 @ 5:20PM|#

Actually I thought it was a satirically accurate portrayal of the way the media covers libertarian politics.

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