RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE SELECTION MEETING
TO SELECT THREE (3) PERSONS QUALIFIED TO FILL A VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF
SWEETWATER COUNTY CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT,
TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE SWEETWATER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR APPOINTMENT
April 18, 2026
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Sweetwater County Republican Party.
1.2 “Central Committee” means the Central Committee of the Sweetwater County Republican Party as defined by Wyoming State Statute, consisting of Precinct Committeemen and Precinct Committeewomen, including their proxies, in attendance.
1.3 “Executive Committee” means the duly elected officers of the Sweetwater County Republican Party.
1.4 “Selection Process” means the process to select three (3) candidates for nomination to fill the declared vacancy in the office of the Sweetwater County Clerk of District Court.
1.5 “Quorum” means those Central Committee members present and credentialed in accordance with party by-laws.
1.6 “Voting Thresholds”: Unless otherwise specified, all voting thresholds in these rules shall be calculated based on the members of the Central Committee present and voting at the meeting, provided a quorum is present.
2. RULES OF PROCEDURE
2.1 All rules not otherwise provided by statute or party by-laws shall be interpreted by the Chairman, subject to appeal to the Central Committee.
2.2 These rules or decisions of the Chairman may be changed by a majority vote of the Central Committee.
3. RECESS AND ADJOURNMENT
3.1 The Chairman may recess the meeting for up to fifteen (15) minutes, or for such additional time as reasonably necessary to allow the Teller Committee to complete its duties.
3.2 Additional recesses may be approved by a majority vote of the Central Committee.
3.3 The Central Committee shall remain in session until three (3) candidates are selected.
3.4 A motion to adjourn prior to completion requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Central Committee.
3.5 If adjourned early, the meeting shall reconvene at the earliest practicable time to fulfill statutory obligations.
4. PARTICIPATION AND VOTING
4.1 Only Central Committee members present, or their properly authorized proxies in accordance with Section 5, may vote.
4.2 Participants include Central Committee members, officers, Chairman’s designees, and eligible candidates.
4.3 The public may observe but may not participate.
5. PROXY VOTING
5.1 Proxies must comply with WS 22-4-114 and county by-laws.
5.2 Each proxy must be a registered Republican from the same precinct.
5.3 No person may hold more than two (2) proxies.
5.4 Each proxy shall be issued a separate ballot.
6. CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE
6.1 The Chairman shall appoint an odd-numbered Credentials Committee of at least three (3) members.
6.2 The committee shall report eligible voters and valid proxies.
7. TELLER COMMITTEE
7.1 The Chairman shall appoint an odd-numbered Teller Committee of at least three (3) members.
7.2 Teller Committee members shall not be candidates in the Selection Process.
7.3 The Teller Committee shall distribute, collect, tally ballots, and report results.
8. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
8.1 Appointed by the Chairman to maintain order and manage candidate movement.
9. TIMEKEEPER
9.1 Appointed by the Chairman to enforce time limits.
10. PARLIAMENTARIAN
10.1 May be appointed by the Chairman to advise on procedure.
11. CHAIRMAN’S DESIGNEE
11.1 The Chairman may appoint a designee to perform assigned duties.
12. NOMINATIONS
12.1 Candidates meeting application requirements by the deadline shall be considered nominated.
12.2 Upon approval by a majority vote of the Central Committee, the floor may be opened to additional nominations.
12.3 If fewer than three (3) candidates apply, nominations shall be accepted from the floor.
13. DISQUALIFICATION
13.1 The Chairman, with authorization by a majority vote of the Central Committee, may disqualify a candidate for failure to meet statutory eligibility requirements or for material noncompliance with application requirements.
14. ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION
14.1 The Chairman shall decide eligibility based on official voter registration records.
15. CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS CANDIDATES
15.1 Candidates who are Central Committee members may vote.
15.2 Such candidates shall otherwise be treated as candidates and be sequestered.
16. BALLOTS
16.1 Voting shall be by secret paper ballot.
16.2 A ballot containing fewer selections than the maximum allowed shall be valid.
16.3 A ballot containing more selections than permitted or multiple votes for the same candidate shall be void in its entirety.
16.4 Illegible names may be excluded without invalidating remaining valid selections.
16.5 Any vote cast for a person who has not been properly nominated or who is determined to be ineligible shall not be counted. Such vote shall be disregarded without invalidating the remaining valid selections on the ballot.
16.6 All determinations are subject to review by the Chairman and appeal to the Central Committee.
17. CAMPAIGN MATERIALS
17.1 Campaign materials may be distributed prior to the meeting.
17.2 Campaign signs are prohibited during the Selection Process.
18. CANDIDATE SEQUESTRATION
18.1 Candidates shall remain in a separate waiting area.
18.2 Candidates will be called individually.
18.3 No cell phones or other electronic communication devices, including but not limited to smartwatches, tablets, or similar devices, shall be permitted in the waiting area.
19. CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
19.1 Each candidate may speak for up to three (3) minutes.
19.2 Order shall be determined by lot.
19.3 The Chairman or designee may ask follow-up questions.
20. TIME LIMITS
20.1 Time limits may be established or adjusted prior to each phase of the Selection Process.
20.2 The Chairman may extend time limits at his or her discretion if reasonably necessary.
21. FIRST ROUND VOTE
21.1 If more than six (6) candidates are nominated, a first round vote shall be conducted.
21.2 Each member may vote for up to six (6) candidates.
21.3 All candidates receiving at least one (1) vote shall be eligible to advance, up to a maximum of six (6) candidates.
21.4 If more than six (6) candidates receive votes, only the six (6) candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall advance.
21.5 Ties for the sixth position shall be resolved by runoff vote, then by lot if necessary.
22. SPECIAL PROCEDURE FOR EXACTLY THREE CANDIDATES
22.1 If exactly three (3) candidates are nominated, each candidate shall be permitted to make a statement in accordance with Section 19.
22.2 No vote shall occur until all candidate statements have been completed.
22.3 Following the candidate statements, the Central Committee may, by majority voice vote, recommend all three (3) candidates as nominees without further balloting. No written ballot shall be required unless ordered by a majority vote of the Central Committee.
23. QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES
23.1 Following the First Round Vote, only the remaining six (6) or fewer candidates shall proceed to the question phase.
23.2 Questions shall be submitted in writing by members of the Central Committee.
23.3 The Chairman, in consultation with the Teller Committee, shall select up to five (5) relevant questions.
23.4 Each candidate shall be asked the same questions.
23.5 Each candidate shall respond individually and shall not exceed two (2) minutes per answer.
23.6 Candidates not currently being questioned shall remain sequestered and shall not observe the questioning of other candidates.
24. SECOND ROUND VOTE
24.1 Each member may vote for up to three (3) candidates.
24.2 The three (3) candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be selected as the three (3) candidates for nomination.
25. TIED CANDIDATES
25.1 If a tie affects the selection of one or more of the final positions, only the tied candidates shall proceed to a tie-breaking process.
25.2 Tie-breaking shall be conducted solely among the tied candidates and shall not reopen voting for any other candidates or positions already determined. Candidates not involved in the tie shall not be eligible to receive votes during the tie-breaking process.
25.3 The tie-breaking process shall consist of:
(a) one additional vote limited to the tied candidates;
(b) if a tie persists, an additional runoff vote limited to the tied candidates;
(c) if the tie remains unresolved, selection by lot.
25.4 Votes conducted under this section are solely for resolving the tie and shall not be considered a new or full round of voting.
26. WITHDRAWAL
26.1 A candidate may withdraw at any time prior to the final vote.
27. FAILURE TO SELECT THREE CANDIDATES
27.1 If fewer than three (3) eligible candidates remain at any stage, nominations may be reopened by a majority vote of the Central Committee.
28. FINAL NOMINEES
28.1 The three (3) selected candidates shall be submitted to the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners as nominees for appointment to the office of Sweetwater County Clerk of District Court.