“However, the Republican caucus procedure is a straight up straw poll vote (after short pitches by candidate representatives). 1 participant = 1 vote No 15% minimum or pressure to change allegiance.”
From what I read in the link, the actual republican vote is referred to as a straw poll and is only a “guide” to those actually selecting the delegates.
You are correct. If the caucus chairman desires, they can call for the straw poll (vote) to be a simple show of hands. Many simply use blank pieces of paper on which the people write the name of their candidate and put them in a box.
The way it was explained to me is that the delegates do not absolutely have to vote according to the straw poll. However, it's kind of an honor system and from I've been told the delegates almost never stray from the straw poll results for their precincts/districts.