If The President Becomes Incapacitated, Rules Allow The GOP To Replace Him On Ballot

Michael Cantrell   |  

Oct 2, 2020

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Republican National Committee rules give the Republican Party the authority to replace President Donald Trump on the ballot as the party’s nominee if he should become incapacitated, die, or drop out of the race before the November 3rd election.

This is a serious concern at the moment as President Trump tested positive for the coronavirus early Friday morning, which is an illness that has had some rather serious complications for individuals who are in his age range.

As of Friday, the president was only experiencing mild symptoms and still plans on carrying out the duties of his office throughout his recovery. Hopefully, he is able to do that and recover.

Here’s more on what folks are saying the potential impact of his diagnosis could be on the upcoming election via Washington Examiner:

The RNC appears prepared. Under Rule No. 9, RNC members would meet in the event of Trump’s death, incapacitation, or if he dropped out of the race, and hold a vote to select a new presidential nominee. If necessary, RNC members would vote in a new nominee for vice president, too — for example, if Vice President Mike Pence were chosen for the top of the ticket.

According to the rules, the vote would be decided by each state’s delegation of RNC members, which is comprised of the state’s RNC committeeman, its separate RNC committeewoman and the chairman of the state party. Additionally, each state’s delegation of three RNC members would wield votes equal to however many nominating delegates were seated from that state during the August convention in Charlotte that renominated Trump and Pence.

It appears the RNC would be authorized to replace Trump, Pence, or both even after the Nov. 3 election. For instance, if either or both died, dropped out, or were incapacitated after the election, the RNC, through Rule No. 9, could provide a new candidate, or candidates, for the Electoral College to vote on when the electors in each state meet to cast their votes on Dec. 14.

This process is still applicable even though voting in the election is already underway.

The reason for that is that a vote for the president or one for Biden on the presidential ballot is a vote for the electors for both the Democratic and Republican parties. According to our Constitution, electors would then be empowered to go ahead and vote for whoever was chosen to replace Trump on the ballot.

Here is some information from the RNC rulebook on this:

RULE NO. 9 Filling Vacancies in Nominations (a) The Republican National Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for President of the United States or the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States, as nominated by the national convention, or the Republican National Committee may reconvene the national convention for the purpose of filling any such vacancies. (b) In voting under this rule, the Republican National Committee members representing any state 9 of 43 shall be entitled to cast the same number of votes as said state was entitled to cast at the national convention. (c) In the event that the members of the Republican National Committee from any state shall not be in agreement in the casting of votes hereunder, the votes of such state shall be divided equally, including fractional votes, among the members of the Republican National Committee present or voting by proxy. (d) No candidate shall be chosen to fill any such vacancy except upon receiving a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election.

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this, folks. Pray for the president to have a speedy recovery and to be able to discharge the duties of president not just now, but for the next four years.