state rules for alaska state that if a candidate drops prior to the state convention they are to be reapportioned accordingly. Trump and Cruz both picked up additional due to that.
My understanding is that each state sets their own rules on if a candidate is free once a candidate drops. If the state rules allow then they can vote someone else, if not then they are forced on the first ballot to vote as the election/caucus results stated.
But now what happens with the 8 state rule?
For instance, if Trump is the only one with 8 states, how do any of the delegates pledged to a different candidate vote for someone who is not nominated?
Do they abstain on the first ballot? What constitutes winning the first ballot? If delegates for all other candidates either don't vote or abstain, Trump gets 100% of the votes cast. Does he still need 1237?