For Immediate Release Thursday, May 26, 2016
ORLANDO — On the eve of the opening of the 2016 Libertarian Nominating Convention, a record 985 delegates and 344 alternate delegates hailing from 50 states plus D.C. were credentialed to select the party’s presidential and vice presidential nominees, possibly adopt changes to the party’s platform, and elect top party officials.
The convention will be called to order at 8:40 a.m. Friday, May 27 and adjourn approximately noon on Monday, May 30.
2016 is proving to be a banner year for the Libertarian Party:
- Dues-paying membership grew 30 percent from January to May of this year.
- Libertarian voter registration has consistently risen in the last 24 years* whereas other political parties have declined. As of February 2016, there are 411,250 registered Libertarians nationwide.
- Gov. Gary Johnson, one of the candidates vying for the LP presidential nomination, already polled in double digits twice this year against the Democratic and Republican presumptive nominees, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump (March, Monmouth University Poll, 11%; May, Fox News poll, 10%)
The Libertarian Party is the only alternative party expected to be on the ballot in all 50 states this year.
Key events of the weekend include:
| Vice presidential debate | Friday 7:00-8:00 P.M. |
| Presidential debate | Saturday 8:00-10:00 P.M. |
| Presidential and VP election | Starts Sunday morning 9:50 A.M. |
Syndicated radio host Larry Elder will moderate the presidential debate.
More schedule details can be found here: http://Libertarian.nationbuilder.com/schedule
‘We have an impressive line-up of Libertarian candidates running across the country, from local office to president,’ said NicholasSarwark, LP Chair. ‘The major parties offer Americans more government. Libertarians advocate for much less government, the key to real, sustainable job creation; personal freedom; and a peaceful, non-interventionist foreign policy.’
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Libertarian Party website: www.LP.org
Libertarian Nominating Convention website: LP.org/convention
To request a convention press pass, visit: LPPolicy.wufoo.com/forms/2016-lp-convention-media-credentialing-request
* Libertarian voter registrations on the rise:
Total U.S. Voter Registrations by Party
| Democrat | Republican | Independent | Libertarian | Green | Constitution | |
| Feb. 2016 | 41,341,965 | 30,447,217 | 27,606,975 | 411,250 | 242,023 | 77,916 |
| Oct. 2008 | 43,933,901 | 30,944,590 | 24,157,259 | 240,328 | 255,019 | 438,222 |
Percentage Change in U.S. Voter Registrations by Party
| Democrat | Republican | Independent | Libertarian | Green | Constitution | |
| Oct.’14 – Feb.’16 | -3.3% | -1.6% | -0.3% | 3.0% | -4.4% | -0.7% |
| 2012 – 2014 | -1.7% | -1.2% | 3.3% | 20.7% | 1.0% | 0.7% |
| 2008 – 2012 | -1.0% | 1.1% | 11.0% | 37.6% | -1.7% | -82.2% |
| 2004 – 2008 | 17.8% | 6.7% | 18.0% | 2.0% | -14.6% | 36.9% |
| 1992 – 2004 | 4.7% | 17.9% | 50.3% | 134.6% | 191.3% | N/A |
Source: Ballot Access News ; March 1, 2016
