The Libertarian Party of Nevada (LPN) is the affiliate of the Libertarian Party in the state of Nevada. It is headed by State Chair Charles Melchin.
History
The Libertarian Party of Nevada is the third largest political party in the State of Nevada. It has existed since the founding of the Libertarian Party of the United States in 1971. It is considered a minor political party by the State of Nevada and has been since 1972. This status indicates that the LPN has ballot access, but no primary voting. Instead, it holds its own primary election during its State Conventions.
The Libertarian Party of Nevada has continued to grow in both influence and voter registration since its inception. This is largely due to the big-government ideologies of the Democratic and Republican parties; voters with libertarian ideologies began to look elsewhere.
Assemblyman John Moore of the 8th District switched party affiliation from the Republican Party to the Libertarian Party on January 8, 2016, giving the Libertarian Party their first Assembly seat in Nevada history. Moore went on to lose his re-election bid on November 8, 2016, after the state Libertarian Party censured him for votes cast during a special session of the Nevada Legislature.
Party platform
The current platform for the party was ratified in May 2015 at the convention. The platform includes a variety of topics where civil liberties have been restricted or there has been an overreach by the government. These topics include: Marriage equality, reductions in alcohol regulation (including lowering the drinking age to 18), increasing jobs through encouraging competition, lowering taxes and fees on businesses, abolishing the minimum wage, increasing competition in education, returning federal lands to the State of Nevada and the people, ending eminent domain abuse, adding Constitutional Carry to the Nevada Constitution, promoting open-borders policies, and ending the War on Drugs.
Party bylaws
The current bylaws for the Libertarian Party of Nevada were accepted in Convention in November 2013. The following constitutes a summary of those bylaws, which are presented in full on the Libertarian Party of Nevada's website.
Preamble
People should be allowed to live as they choose so long as they do not initiate violence or engage in coercion, theft, or fraud. We adopt the Statement of Principles of the National Libertarian Party.
I. Name
The name of this organization shall be The Libertarian Party of Nevada, hereinafter referred to as LPN.
II. Object
The object of this organization shall be to elect Libertarians to public office within the state of Nevada.
III. Membership
Section 1. General Membership: Any person registered to vote as LPN shall be considered a member of the LPN.
Section 2. Dues-paying Membership: Any resident of Nevada shall be considered a dues-paying member of the LPN provided they:
Already qualify as a general member under Section 1, and have donated at least sixty dollars ($60) in monetary or in-kind contributions to the LPN in the past 365 days.
IV. Convention
Section 1. The LPN shall hold a LPN State Convention (hereafter referred to as "Convention") in even-numbered years for the purpose of choosing Candidates for Public Office as well as whatever other business deemed necessary and proper. This includes, but is not limited to, amending bylaws, choosing delegates to the Libertarian Party National Convention, and filling vacancies in the executive committee. This convention shall take place before the beginning date for a minor political party to file its list of candidates with the Nevada Secretary of State's office. If the beginning date for a minor political party to file its list of candidates with the Secretary of State is prior to February 1 of the even-numbered year, then the Convention may be held up to 60 days before the first date to file even if that moves the convention to the previous year.
Section 2. The LPN shall hold a Convention in odd-numbered years anytime from January to May for the purpose of electing Executive Committee members, amending bylaws, and whatever other business deemed necessary and proper.
Section 3. A special Convention shall be held within one-hundred and twenty (120) days upon petition of one-third of the LPN members or a three-fourths vote of the executive committee. Such a petition shall state the business of the special Convention, and no other business shall be considered at such a Convention.