Here is some info on the Primary Election process.
The San Antonio three-judge federal panel issued an order setting a May 29th Primary Election and a related administrative calendar for the election.
Of particular importance – the order sets a re-opened filing period for the primary ballot, which will commence on Friday morning, March 2nd at 9:00am and runs through Friday, March 9th at 6:00pm.
So if you are interested in running for office or have previously posted and need to change or withdraw, you will have till the end of the day Friday to get it done.
The first day of the period for a voter to submit an application for an early ballot by
mail for the general primary, or for both the general primary and the runoff election,
as described in Texas Election Code § 84.00 1(d) and (e) and § 84.007, shall be
March 30, 2012
On or before April 25, 2012, the registrar shall issue a voter registration certificate to each voter in the county whose registration will be effective as of the date issued.
What will this mean for the delegate process. For most counties there will be no precinct caucus meeting to decide delegates for the County convention. There are a couple of counties that have expressed interest in doing precinct caucuses in the republican party, but only a couple at this point.
Basically this process for this year will start at the county convention. You will have to swear to voting in the party primary even tho the primary will not be held until a later date.
Resolutions will be allowed to be presented at the convention (we don’t know all the rules yet). Anyone who wishes to participate will be allowed to participate at the county convention. Delegates of course will be chosen for the State convention at the county convention. The biggest difference here is that since the primary will be held after the county convention, this means that all delegates will be uncommitted to the state convention. Depending on whether the rules are written properly this could make a Ron Paul (or any candidate for that matter) takeover of the Texas Delegates a possible chance in this election. It could be possible to lose the popular vote and still win election via the delegates.
Here are some of the new dates….
April 14 or April 21, 2012 District, and County Conventions
May 14-25, 2012 Early Voting for the Primary Election
May 29, 2012 Primary Election Day
June 7-9, 2012 State Convention
July 24-27, 2012 Early Voting for the Primary Runoff Election
July 31, 2012 Primary Runoff Election Day
I will post more info as it becomes available.