RULE 31 – Candidate Qualifying for Presidential Preference Primary

A. Purpose of Candidate Qualifying Requirements

The Republican Party of Florida finds it necessary for Republican presidential candidates to make a preliminary showing of substantial support in order to qualify for a place on the presidential preference primary ballot. The provisions of this rule are intended to accomplish the party’s legitimate objectives through reasonable and non-discriminatory restrictions on ballot access.

B. Form of Republican Presidential Candidate Oath

Each Republican presidential candidate, in order to have his or her name submitted to the Secretary of State for placement on the presidential preference primary ballot under section 103.101(2) of the Florida Statutes, shall take or subscribe to an oath or affirmation in writing. A copy of the oath or affirmation shall be made available to the candidate upon request to the Republican Party of Florida and shall be substantially in the following form:

I, _______________________, am a candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination for
the office of President of the United States of America. I hereby request that the
Republican Party of Florida include my name on the list of presidential candidates
to be placed on Florida’s Republican presidential preference primary ballot.

_______________________________
 Signature of Candidate

_______________________________
 Signature of Witness

STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF

Sworn to (or affirm) and subscribed before me this ____ day of _____________ , 20__.

                                               _____________________________________
                                               Signature of Notary Public

Personally Known:________ or
Produced Identification:
Type of Identification Produced:

C. Methods of Qualifying for Presidential Preference Primary Ballot

Each Republican presidential candidate seeking to appear on the presidential preference primary ballot shall:

  1. Florida Freedom Summit Option—- In an election without an incumbent Republican President seeking to appear on the presidential preference primary ballot, any candidate invited to attend the Republican Party of Florida’s Florida Freedom Summit, may qualify through personal appearance at the Florida Freedom Summit to execute and file the Candidate Oath prescribed by this rule, which shall be witnessed by the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida or the Chairman’s designee, and by paying a candidate qualifying fee made payable to the Republican Party of Florida in the amount of $25,000; or

  2. Qualifying Fee Option—- No later than 5 p.m. on November 22, qualify by filing with the Republican Party of Florida the Candidate Oath prescribed by this rule and a candidate qualifying fee made payable to the Republican Party of Florida in the amount of $100,000; or

  3. Petition Option-— No later than 5 p.m. on November 22, qualify by filing with the Republican Party of Florida the Candidate Oath prescribed by this rule and RPOF Candidate Petitions on the RPOF prescribed Petition Form, collected by volunteers, containing the original, wet-ink signatures and printed names of at least 2,000 registered Republican voters from each of Florida’s 28 Congressional Districts. The Republican Party of Florida will: 1) check the Petition Forms to verify the signatories’ status as registered Republican voters in the stated Congressional Districts; and 2) determine whether the required number of signatures has been obtained. A signature shall not be verified as valid and counted toward the required number of signatures unless the signature is on the proper RPOF prescribed Petition Form and the Petition Form contains all of the following information:

    1. The voter’s printed and legible name;

    2. The voter’s address (including city and county);

    3. The voter’s congressional district number;

    4. The voter’s date of birth or voter registration number;

    5. The voter’s original, wet-ink signature; and

    6. The date the voter signed the Petition Form, as recorded by the voter; or

  4. Presidential Option-— No later than 5 p.m. on November 22, an incumbent Republican President of the United States may qualify by submitting a letter to the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida indicating a desire to have their name submitted for placement on the presidential preference primary ballot. A letter submitted pursuant to this Option fulfills the requirement for the Candidate Oath prescribed by this rule.

    No other proxy or alternative qualifying method for the presidential preference primary shall be available. Any qualifying fees collected under this Rule will be devoted entirely to grassroots engagement activities in support of the Republican Party’s candidates in the General Election. The Republican Party of Florida retains the sole and exclusive authority to adjudicate compliance with all requirements of this party rule.

D. Submission of List of Presidential Candidates

By November 30 of the year preceding the presidential preference primary, the Republican Party of Florida shall submit to the Secretary of State a list of its presidential candidates who have qualified for the Republican presidential preference primary ballot in accordance with this rule.