2026 State Nominating Convention Rules

April 25, 2026 

2026 State Nominating Convention Rules Committee:

Gina Worthen (Chair) – Cache County,
Jaime Munns – Box Elder County, Peter Greathouse – Millard County

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A. PURPOSE 

1. This 2026 Nominating Convention shall nominate Republican Party candidates for First Congressional District, Second Congressional District, Third Congressional District, Fourth Congressional District, multi-county State Senate, multi-county State House of Representatives, and multi- county State School Board of Education.
2. In addition, the Nominating Convention shall conduct party business including amendments to the State Party Constitution, and State Party Bylaws. The Nominating Convention shall consider amendments to the standing State Party Platform. 
3. The Utah Republican Party has and is exercising its First Amendment Rights to assemble and to freely associate with those it chooses.

B. CALL 

1. The Utah Republican Party State Nominating Convention shall convene at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the UCCU Center, UVU campus, in Orem, Utah. 
2. Multi-county State Senate, multi-county State House of Representatives, and multi-county State School Board of Education races shall convene beginning at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, April 25, 2026. 
3. Only properly credentialed state delegates shall vote in the elections.
4. Credentialing shall begin at 7:00 a.m., Saturday, April 25, 2026.

C. RULES OF ORDER 

1. The State Party Constitution and Bylaws, these Rules and the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern this Convention. These rules shall govern any conflict with Robert's Rules.
2. The applicable Convention Rules defined in the bylaws shall not be altered or suspended, save by properly noticed Constitution or Bylaw amendment, except the rules may be modified for the purpose of accommodating venue rules.
3. These proposed rules shall govern all conduct before the convention, until amended or adjusted by the Rules Committee, Convention Committee, and/or adopted by a vote of the delegates.

D. ORDER OF BUSINESS 

1. The order of business of this convention shall follow the agenda adopted by the delegates. 
2. All challenges to the qualifications of an individual delegate to serve must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. at State Party Headquarters three days prior to the day of the Convention. 
3. The Credentials Committee shall attempt to contact challenged delegates to resolve any disputes and shall make a report for Convention adoption. 
4. The Credentials Committee report shall be the first order of business of the Convention. The Credentials Committee shall report the number of delegates registered as present with proper credentials and shall make a final report immediately preceding candidate speeches.
5. Debate time for adopting the agenda shall be limited to 10 (ten) minutes. 
6. Debate time for adopting the rules shall be limited to 10 (ten) minutes. 
7. To make the best use of time,  the Chair may choose to conduct elections simultaneously or allow candidate speeches for one election while ballots are being counted for another.

E. SEATING AND ADMISSION 

1. Only credentialed state delegates may participate in the business of the Convention; however, the Convention Chair may invite any individual to address the Convention.
2. Members of the public and media will be admitted to the convention hall to view the proceedings, as long as they follow proper conduct and the directions of the chair and Sergeant-At-Arms and the Convention Committee. 
3. In the hall, seating shall be organized by county, with a separate area for visitors and media. Only credentialed media members may sit in the media section. A media credential card is non-transferable and must be obtained before the Convention from the ConventionCommittee.
4. Each delegate to this Convention will be issued a credential card that is non-transferable and must be displayed at the time of balloting and any voting. In the event the party provides devices for electronic voting, the device or scantron ballot is non-transferable. Each delegate who does not return their voting device will have to pay money to the Utah Republican Party to cover any and all costs and penalties associated with replacing the device
5. The list of delegates maintained by the Credentials Committee is deemed to be the official list of delegates for the Convention.
6. Any changes to the delegate list must be reported to the Credentials Committee by the respective county chair or their pre-designated representative by the deadline to change delegates.

F. RECOGNITION TO SPEAK

1. A delegate must state his/her name and county and be recognized by the Convention Chair before speaking on Convention business. 
2. No delegate may speak more than once or longer than two (2) minutes upon the same question, unless allowed by a majority of the Convention. 
3. The Convention Chair may invite other individuals to address the Convention.

G. PLATFORM AMENDMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS 

1. Only amendments to the Platform and resolutions which have been submitted in writing with seconding endorsements from at least five (5) state delegates other than the sponsor and received at the Republican State Party Headquarters by 5:00 p.m., on the Thursday 28 days before the Convention shall be presented to the Platform/Resolutions Committee for review. 
2. There shall be a limit of no more than two amendments or resolutions by any one delegate.
3. The Platform/Resolutions Committee will meet with amendment and resolution proponents to discuss the amendments and resolutions preceding the Convention at Republican Party Headquarters. 
4. The Platform/Resolutions Committee shall forward non-redundant, significant amendments and resolutions to the Convention for consideration.
5. Amendments and resolutions may only be made during the time specified in the agenda approved by the Convention.
6. The Convention may determine, by a majority vote, the order in which resolutions shall be considered.
7. The debate and summation time for each amendment and resolution shall be determined by the convention agenda. Equal debate time shall be allowed for proponents and opponents of the motion. 
8. Unless determined otherwise, the time deemed by the agenda for each separate amendment and resolution shall be no more than six (6) minutes of total debate time, unless extended by a majority of the Convention, as follows: One (1) minute introduction for the sponsor, then alternating periods of one (1) minute for each side followed by 30 seconds for  sponsor summation. The debate time shall be exclusive of the time required to move and read the amendment or resolution and the time for summation. 
9. Substitutions, amendments, or any other changes to Platform Amendments or Resolution proposals shall not be considered at the Convention. Platform Amendments and Resolution proposals shall not be divided.
10. In the event that amendments are in order, the amendments must be delivered to the Convention Chair in writing at the time of, or prior to, making the motion.
11. Platform amendments shall be adopted by a 2/3 vote.

H. CONSTITUTION, BYLAWS, AND RULES AMENDMENTS

1. In order to be considered at the Convention, amendments to the Party Constitution, and proposed changes to the Bylaws and Convention Rules must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday which occurs 28 days prior to the State Convention, at Republican State Party Headquarters. 
2. The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall forward those duly submitted Constitution and Bylaw amendments either to the Convention or to the State Central Committee for consideration, and shall forward those duly submitted other Rules amendments to the Convention.
3. The Constitution & Bylaws Committee shall make an introductory report, including its recommendation, for each proposal immediately prior to debate on the respective proposal.
4. The debate and summation time for each amendment and bylaw change shall be determined by the convention agenda.Equal debate time shall be allowed for proponents and opponents of the motion.
5. Unless determined otherwise, the time deemed by the agenda for each separate amendment shall be no more than six (6) minutes of total debate time, unless extended by a majority of the Convention, as follows: One (1) minute introduction for the sponsor, then alternating periods of one minute for each side followed by 30 seconds sponsor summation. The debate time shall be exclusive of the time required to move and read the amendment and the time for summation.
6. Substitutions, amendments, or any other changes to Constitution and Bylaw proposals shall not be considered at the Convention. Constitution and Bylaw proposals shall not be divided.
7. In the event that amendments are in order, the amendments must be delivered to the Convention Chair in writing at the time of, or prior to, making the motion.

I. CANDIDATE RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Only Republican candidates who have properly filed for elected public office as required by law, and who meet the requirements of Utah State Law, the Utah Republican Party Constitution, and the Utah Republican Party Bylaws, shall be considered by the Convention. In accordance with Party Bylaws, all Candidates shall have filed a letter of intent and disclosure statement at State Party Headquarters no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday which occurs  28 days prior to the State Convention. 
2. Signage and distribution of literature rules shall be established by the rules committee, convention officers and the host facility. 
3. The Candidate or his/her representative shall sign a document which states they have read and understand the CANDIDATE RULES AND REQUIREMENTS. 
4. Candidates will observe proper decorum, subject to the ruling of the Convention Chair. 
5. All candidates, special interest groups, and other organized groups shall pay a refundable cleaning deposit before the convention. The fee shall be $300. 
6. Anyone distributing materials at the Convention shall be responsible to remove their materials after the Convention, from the facility and the parking area. Clean up is required in order to get the refundable cleaning fee returned.
7. Basic rules apply to all who have paid the refundable cleaning fee. (The intent is to have fairness, to treat all equally.)
8. Any and all literature distributed must prominently display the name and contact information of the group or person responsible for it. Any literature being distributed without this disclosure may be removed from the premises. 

J. NOMINATIONS AND CANDIDATE PRESENTATIONS

1. Opposed candidates shall be allowed three (3) minutes for presentation. 
2. Opposed candidates in multi-county legislative and state school board elections shall be allowed three (3) minutes for presentation. 
3. All other opposed candidates shall be allowed three (3) minutes for presentation. 
4. Candidates are not required to have a nomination or second but may if they so desire. The total time limit remains the same regardless. 
5. The order of presentation shall be decided by random drawing. Refer to Section M.2 below.
6. The intent is to have fairness, to treat all candidates equally.
7. In Multiple Round Balloting, prior to a second round of balloting, remaining candidates shall be allowed one (1) minute each with 30 seconds for candidates in any subsequent rounds, if they desire.

K. PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENTS

1. Candidates and organizations are responsible for observance of these rules by their staff, campaigns, committees, supporters and delegates. Violations will result in forfeiture of deposits and removal of all signs of the violating group or individual. Each candidate or organization is responsible for the clean-up of anything produced by, distributed by, or bearing the name of that candidate or organization.
2. Candidates and organizations will have access to the convention hall for booth and signage set up as scheduled by the Utah Republican Party.
3. Signage:
   • a. Schedule for setup and sign take-down will be available from the State Republican Headquarters two weeks prior to the Convention (Friday, April 10, 2026.)
   • b. Candidates and organizations may put up their signage no earlier than scheduled by the Utah Republican Party. 
   • c. No candidate will be allowed to display signs unless they comply with the bylaws and pay the $300 refundable cleaning deposit.
   • d. Both indoor and outdoor sign arrangements must remain in designated areas only and must comply with facility rules as well as instructions from the Utah Republican Party and Rules Committee. 
   • e. The Utah Republican Party staff, the Rules Committee members, and the host facility staff may move any signs that do not comply with the rules or that are not in designated areas.
   • f. No signs may appear in or around the staging area of the Convention.
   • g. Signs and campaign materials may not block any exit, service outlets, or fire extinguishers. Aisles, corridors, passages, vestibules, elevators and stairways shall be kept free and clear of obstructions and shall be used only for ingress and egress. No signs may be placed within 10 feet of an exterior door. No signs may be affixed to or hang from the outside of the building, lamp posts, sign posts, fences or trees. No signs are allowed in the parking areas, or on the sidewalks.
   • h.  Nothing may be affixed to any surface at the Convention Center or any part of the facility grounds. 
   • i. Candidate/Campaign flags are considered signs.
4. Booths:
   • a. All booth space, including the setting up of any tables inside or outside the Convention Center, must be obtained from or approved by the Utah Republican Party.
   • b. Multi-county district elections will be held in separate rooms. Candidates who wish to have a table outside of the room prior to district meetings must contact party headquarters. A $600 fee will be charged.
   • c. Booth location was chosen by lottery on April 6, 2026.
   • d. Booths shall not be taken down until the Convention is officially adjourned on Saturday.
   • e. Candidates and organizations renting booth space shall sign the Convention Booth Rental Terms Agreement with the Utah Republican Party.  
5. No campaigning or electioneering will be allowed within 10 feet of the credentialing, registration, or balloting areas except in specific party-designated booth locations.
6. All decorative materials must be flame proof and in accordance with fire regulations.
7. Projections (images projected electronically) are allowed only on surfaces directly above or immediately behind rented booth space by the candidate or organization that reserved that space, or as part of a media presentation if included in individual candidate’s speaking time by the candidate designated to speak.
8. Items Not Allowed: The following are not allowed inside or outside the facility: helium balloons, confetti, glitter, hay/straw, drones, flammable crepe paper and tissue paper decor, any flammable materials, animals (with the exception of service animals for disabled individuals.)
9. Food: Distribution of food must first receive permission from the UCCU Center. 
10. Distribution of Material:
    • a. There shall be no restrictions on the distribution of printed material, except that materials may not be pre-distributed on the chairs in the convention hall and no materials may be distributed in the rooms where multi-county and school board elections are held. Only the Utah Republican Party may distribute materials in the Convention’s main assembly hall, or in any area where voting occurs.
    • b. All printed material shall have a disclaimer identifying the responsible person or organization and a valid phone number that must be clearly printed on the material. Any literature being distributed without this disclosure may be removed from the premises.
    • c. No material shall be distributed which is deemed to be indecent, obscene, or immoral, including nudity and graphic obscenities. Such material shall be removed. 
    • d. For safety, individuals passing out printed materials may not restrict the flow of people into or out of the facility, especially around the entrance/exit doors.
    • e. Materials may only be distributed in areas designated by the facility and the Utah Republican Party.
    • f.  Candidates, organizations and individuals using the Convention for distribution, campaigning or any other promotional or reporting use shall be responsible to research and comply with the hosting facility’s policies and procedures and the Rules and Arrangements Committees’ requirements.
11. Video Recording: Any video or other recording and its purpose at the Convention shall be disclosed  in advance to and receive the approval of the Convention Committee or the Convention Chair and if required, the Convention venue host. No video recording is allowed during balloting.
12. The Convention Committee may limit access badges for certain areas. 
13. The Rules Committee may make alterations or amendments to this section of the rules as needed to meet demands of the host facility and the Utah Republican Party.
14. The rules committee, convention committee, law enforcement, Sergeant-at-Arms, facility security and/or staff, may remove or have caused to be removed, any booth, display, flyer, or signage, that does not comply with the rules or that is obscene.
15. Disabilities: The Utah Republican Party is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure any officer, delegate or member of the public that is disabled is provided with full and equal access and enjoyment in conventions. When provided sufficient advance notice, the Utah Republican Party will provide reasonable accommodations necessary to ensure equal opportunities for participation.

L. QUORUM 

1. Any number of credentialed state delegates officially assembled shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business except that a majority of those credentialed shall be required for considering Resolutions and changes to the Party Constitution, Bylaws, and Platform.

M. GENERAL VOTING RULES

1. Convention General Voting 
   • a. Other than the election of candidates or other balloting as noticed in the convention call, voting shall be by voice, by a show of delegate credentials, paper ballot, or electronic device. Only ballots supplied by the Utah Republican Party shall be recognized and used as legitimate, official ballots for voting. 
   • b. When it is clear that there has been a full vote and there can be no reasonable doubt as to which side prevailed, the Convention Chair may not recognize a call for division. 
   • c. The first call for division shall be recognized if 25 delegates rise to support it. This first call shall be considered to be a call for a vote by show of credentials judged by the Convention Chair. 
   • d. After the ruling on the vote by show of credentials, a second call for division shall be accepted if 50 delegates stand in support. This division shall be an actual count of the delegates. 
   • e. Suspension of a Convention Rule shall be by a 2/3 vote with a quorum present. 
   • f. There will be no absentee or proxy voting. 
   • g. The Credentials Committee, directly after opening ceremonies, shall make a preliminary report, reporting the number of delegates registered as present with proper credentials. A final report shall be made immediately preceding candidate speeches. In multi-county elections, the number of delegates present with proper credentials shall be announced by the chair immediately preceding candidate speeches. 
   • h. Unopposed candidates shall be declared the party’s nominee by the Convention Chair.
   • i. After all properly nominated opposed candidate speeches, voting will be conducted in the designated locations when the Convention Chair calls for the vote. 
   • j. It is the prerogative of the Convention Chair to open and close balloting at appropriate times. 
   • k. The Elections Committee shall ensure the ability to cast a ballot. If delegates lose their keypad or paper ballot, they will not receive a replacement and will have no means of voting.
   • l. Ballots shall be cast as directed by the Elections Committee. Each delegate shall cast one vote for each office to be filled.
   • m. In all races, the total number of ballots cast for each candidate shall be reported to the Convention.
     
   • n. Tampering: No individual may tamper with, interfere with, impede, or in any way commit election fraud or election tampering. Testing of the election system may only be conducted by the Elections Committee or at its direction. Any individual who is found to have engaged in any of these prohibited activities or to have voted without credentials shall be removed from the Convention and referred to the SCC for disciplinary action. 
   • o. Electronic Keypads: Delegates will be given the opportunity to verify their electronic keypad or device is working properly by conducting test votes. If an electronic keypad is deemed faulty the delegate will exchange it for one that works properly. Upon verification, delegates shall cast their ballots electronically in the contested races that are balloted through electronic voting. 
   • p. The chosen system and method of voting for convention elections shall: 
     1. Track and report on every ballot that is issued; 
     2. Mark every ballot with a unique identifier that does not identify the voter, but can be recorded by the voter;
     3. Not associate, directly or indirectly, the voter with the unique identifier on the ballot; 
     4. Detect and report fraudulent ballots; 
     5. Report the vote(s) and unique identifier of every ballot; 
     6. Be externally auditable, independent of the system;
     7. Prohibit absentee or proxy voting;
     8. Not exclude or imply the exclusion of paper ballots.

2. Federal, Statewide, State Legislative, State School Board of Education Balloting 

   • a. In contested statewide and federal races, candidate names shall appear on the ballot by random drawing at least seven (7) days before the Convention. The order in which the letters are drawn shall be the order in which they appear on the ballot. The result of this random alphabet drawing will also be used to determine speaking order.
   • b. The random alphabet drawing was held on April 6, 2026. The results of the random alphabet draw will be made available on the state party’s website. The results of the drawing are: 

   Q F E C G R B S M V I H Y O Z P X A T N L W J U D K .

   • c. Ballots:
     1. Spoiled Ballots: Ballots (a) containing more than one (1) vote in a race unless instructed by the Chair to mark more than one candidate; or (b) which are not clearly marked; or (c) with a vote for any person who was not properly nominated; or (d) for a candidate  who has withdrawn or been eliminated from the race; will be considered spoiled and will not be counted for that race,  either for a candidate or in the calculation of a majority threshold. Spoiled paper ballots may be exchanged prior to deposit  in the ballot box upon the showing of proper credentials and the surrendering of the spoiled ballot at the “Spoiled Ballot  Desk(s)” where the spoiled ballot shall be exchanged and immediately destroyed in the presence of the requesting  voter. 
     2. Only State Delegates, upon presentation of proper credentials, will be allowed to deposit their own ballots in the designated ballot boxes when casting a paper ballot. 

3. Counting Room and Results

   • a. The Elections Committee Chair is responsible for the ballot counting room and poll watchers and electronic keypads.

   • b. The Elections Committee Chair shall be responsible for the security of the ballots, ballot boxes, the accuracy of the count, and directing the access and conduct of all persons within the ballot counting room.

   • c. The Elections Committee Chair is responsible to address any election related complaint and has the authority to take any  election related complaint or concern to the Convention Chair.

   • d. Restrictions:

     1. Cameras, cell phones and other recording and communication devices are not allowed in the ballot counting room, except as allowed by the Elections Chair. Ballot counters or poll watchers may not have these devices.

     2. The elections committee members and rules committee members may retain their communication devices while in the room for essential communication only. 

     3. No Electioneering (campaigning materials, buttons, shirts, hats, stickers, etc.) are allowed in the election counting room.

   • e. Poll Watchers:
     1. Each opposed candidate for Federal, State, State Legislative and State School Board offices shall be permitted to have one poll watcher per ballot counting station.
     2. These observers may not leave  the ballot counting room before the vote tally for that office has been announced to the Convention. 
     3. Poll watchers’ belongings such as purses, wallets, and all forms of electronics must be stored in a secure area outside of the  ballot counting room. Poll watchers who bring electronics into the ballot  counting room or break any other associated rule are immediately  disqualified from the Convention and may be asked to leave.
     4. Candidates shall not be poll watchers.

   • f. Ballot counting shall not commence until after polls have been closed for at least five (5) minutes. Challenges to balloting must be made to the Convention Chair or Designee before that time expires.

   • g. For paper ballots, all ballots shall be examined, and each properly cast ballot shall be individually counted and the vote recorded. Official tally sheets shall be used to record each counted vote, and shall be kept with the  supporting  ballots. These materials shall be preserved by the Party Officers in a secure location for at least five (5) business days  following the Convention. 

   • h. Multi-Round Elimination Process:  In the case of multiple ballots, more than one candidate may be eliminated in each round, provided that the sum of the  votes received by the candidates to be eliminated does not exceed the number of votes received by the next highest  candidate, and that at least two candidates remain on the ballot. The two top candidates shall participate in the final ballot. If no candidate on the final ballot receives 60% or more of the votes cast, both candidates shall proceed to the primary election. 
   • i. A candidate for an office that receives 60% or more of the votes cast at any point in the balloting process at the state nominating conventions shall proceed to the general election.
   • j. Challenges: Any challenges to the counting process must be made to the Elections Committee Chair or designee before the election results of that race are announced. 
   • k. Recounts:
     1. 1. Any candidate requesting a recount or challenging an election must file a request in writing to the Elections Committee  Chair by 5:00 pm, two (2) business days following the Convention. 
     2. Recounts or challenges may only be brought if they might legitimately affect the outcome of the election. 
   • l. The Elections Committee may conduct an audit using (a) method(s) of their choosing, including using professional precision scales to weigh ballots. The method of calculating votes by weight shall only be used for an audit, and shall not be the official vote count.
   • m. Only the elections committee members and/or rules committee members are allowed to enter or leave the ballot counting room during the counting of ballots for necessary purposes relating to their duties. They shall not disclose the election results to anybody prior to the results being announced to the convention body.

N. CREDENTIALS

1. Challenges pertaining to state delegate credentials or eligibility must be received in writing at State Party Headquarters no later than 5:00 p.m. three days prior to the State Convention. The Credentials Committee report shall be the first order of business at the convention. Nothing in this provision shall prohibit any delegate from moving an amendment to the credentials report at the convention. No challenges will be sustained against delegates who were selected according to their county's rules. 
2. Counties shall submit a current, updated, and final list of state delegates to the State Party no later than 5:00 p.m., five days before the state nominating convention. Changes to the list of delegates must be submitted to the credentials committee by the respective county chair or their pre-designated representative by the deadline. 
3. The list of delegates maintained by the Credentials Committee is deemed to be the official list of delegates for the convention. 
4. The personal information scanned for delegate check-in shall not be kept or used by a vendor, third-party or the Utah Republican Party for any purpose other than delegate check-in for the 2026 State Convention. 

Be Respectful and Considerate of others in attendance.