Primary Elections Explained

In the unlikely event that you were confused:

The Florida closed primary is scheduled for Tuesday January 31, 2012. A panel of state leaders voted to advance Florida's primary despite last-minute efforts from the Republican National Committee to lobby the state to remain in compliance of party rules that say most states must wait until March.

In most of the Republican contests, the candidate who wins the most votes in that state's primary wins all the party's delegates for that state - a system known as 'winner takes all'. Florida is a 'winner takes all' state.

Republican superdelegates are officially known as Automatic Delegates. Each state is allowed three superdelegates. In Florida they are Lenny Curry, Sharon Day, and Paul Senft, Jr. These three are bound by the primary results.

And now you know.

Update 1/15/2012: Peter Feamon of Palm Beach County has replaced longtime national committeeman Paul Senft of Haines City.