Presenter warns proposed convention rule could eliminate viable candidates by summing low vote totals

Lowell Nelson, a member of the state central committee, warned delegates that a proposed amendment to caucus and nominating convention procedures could eliminate viable candidates during successive ballots.

Nelson walked through the proposal’s two key changes. Under the first, if any candidate’s votes exceed the sum of all candidates receiving fewer votes, those lower vote‑getting candidates would be eliminated. Nelson gave a numeric example in which candidates A, B and C receive 10, 15 and 20 votes and candidate D receives 55: under the proposed rule, A, B and C would all be eliminated despite having a mathematical path to the primary ballot on later ballots.

"This particular change ... would eliminate all three of those candidates," Nelson said, calling the outcome "unfair" because one of the low‑vote candidates could later consolidate support and qualify for the primary. He also flagged a separate tie rule that would eliminate tied low‑vote candidates unless their combined votes exceed 40 percent, and he argued this tie language can produce arbitrary elimination depending on coin tosses or dropouts.

Nelson recommended delegates vote against the change at the convention and explained that rejecting the amendment would retain the current language, which he said applies only to statewide candidates and uses a "previous year" affiliation test. Organizers said the language and consequences have produced filing confusion in past cycles when state filing offices applied rules inconsistently.

No formal vote was taken in this meeting; delegates were reminded that the constitutional amendments will be considered at the state convention on Saturday.