Massachusetts Republicans Caucus This Weekend. Wait -- What?

Boston, MA - Donald Trump crushed Massachusetts' GOP primary back in March, so you'd be forgiven for thinking that was the end for Massachusetts presidential politics until November. Not quite.

Republicans statewide gather to caucus Saturday, meeting in Massachusetts' nine congressional districts to pick 27 of Massachusetts' 42 delegates for the Republican National Convention in July. This matters even more than your typical election year, because Massachusetts' picks potentially tip the scales against Trump in case of a contested convention.

If Trump cruises through the next few state primaries, it may be no question. Attaining the right number of delegates (1,237), means the first vote at the convention will make him 2016's Republican presidential nominee.

Should he fall short, however, things get interesting.

On the first vote at the convention, Massachusetts elected delegates are bound to follow state voters' decision in March: 22 delegates vote Donald Trump, eight delegates for John Kasich, eight for Marco Rubio, and four delegates for Ted Cruz.

But if Trump does falls short of 1,237 nationwide, Massachusetts' delegates become unbound on the second vote.

Doubt that this is exciting news? State party members do not.

According to WBUR, Republicans are expecting record turnout at Saturday’s caucuses.

Because the state caucuses are closed to registered Republicans alone, some have worried this biases delegates toward the party establishment. Trump commandeered nearly 50 percent in a primary vote with high turnout from Massachusetts unaffiliated voters. Steve Koczela, president of MassInc Polling Group, breaks down those concerns in analysis for WBUR here.

Here's how to participate in Saturday's caucuses, per the state GOP:

On Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 10am, caucuses will be held concurrently in each of the nine congressional districts. 6) Check‐in for each caucus will begin at 9am. Each Republican entering the caucus will be required to show Massachusetts government issued photo identification. This will be checked against the registered voters list. Those appearing on the list will be allowed entry into the caucus. Those that do not appear on the list may show a voter registration card, a letter from the town or city clerk, or other official Massachusetts documentation that verifies their voter registration before February 10, 2016. Individuals without identification, or those that do not appear on the list and do not provide other proof of registration, will not be allowed admittance to the caucus.

>> Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr/Creative Commons