“Not even Einstein could easily understand the selection process today. The delegate selection system is intentionally complicated, making it extremely hard for voters to control the commitment of delegates to any particular candidate,” said Mike Stuart, Chairman of Donald Trump’s West Virginia campaign and former leader of the state’s Republican Party.
“I think the selection process for delegates in West Virginia not only is bad. It may be the worst in the country,” he said.
Just what Trump needs, after he was trumped by the system in Colorado and also Wyoming.
Even if Trump scores a landslide in the popular vote, his delegate count will depend on his supporters conquering a convoluted voting system.
According to historical precedent, many voters stop voting after the state legislative and county races on the six-page form and skip the confusing delegate elections page. Voters are given lists of delegates in groups according to candidates and told to select a certain number from each group and a certain number from each Congressional district. If they accidentally select the too many their entire selection is disqualified.
Bob Miller, Jr., an uncommitted contender, says, “Unfortunately, this will be a very random process with so many candidates for so few spots.”
Trump has positioned a legal team to make sure voters know which Trump delegates voters can choose when they vote. The team will also be prepared to battle any questionable results.
Preliminary interviews and emails indicate Trump is well positioned for a comfortable win. The state’s coal mining district appears to favor Trump, which aligns with the counties in neighboring Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio that all overwhelmingly supported Trump.
However, because of the state’s track record with its convoluted ballot and because of the advance preparation of Senator Cruz’ campaign in the state, Trump’s team is taking nothing for granted.
Trump campaign manager Stuart says the state’s delegation selection process has long needed reform and is “designed to maintain the status quo.”
“We could well be in post-election in West Virginia a period of serious examination of ballots and voting,” he said. “It’s not an anti-Trump rule. It’s just a bd way to select a president.”
The West Virginia primary is May 10th.
h/t MonogaliaCountClerk, Politico
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