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1996 Libertarian National Convention

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1996 Libertarian National Convention
1996 presidential election
Nominees
Browne and Jorgensen
Convention
Date(s)July 5–8, 1996
CityWashington, DC
Candidates
Presidential nomineeHarry Browne of Tennessee
Vice-presidential nomineeJo Jorgensen of South Carolina
‹ 1993 · 2000 ›

The 1996 Libertarian National Convention was held in at the Hyatt Regency-Capitol Hill Hotel in Washington, DC, during the first weekend in July. Harry Browne was chosen as the party's nominee for president in the 1996 election.

"Declare your Independence" was the theme of the convention.

Libertarians hold a national convention, every two years to vote on party bylaws, platform and resolutions and elect national party officers and a judicial committee. Every four years it nominates presidential and vice presidential candidates.[1]

Primaries

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Some non-binding primary contests were held in some states:

Legend:   1st place
(popular vote)
2nd place
(popular vote)
3rd place
(popular vote)
Candidate unable to
appear on ballot
Date Contest Candidates and results Total votes cast Ref

Harry Browne
RT
Rick Tompkins
IS
Irwin Schiff
DO
Doug Ohmen

Other/Uncommitted
February 20 New Hampshire 40.1%
653 votes
Unknown
Reported as "scatter"
20.7%
336 votes
Unknown
Reported as "scatter"
39.2%[a]
638 votes
1,627 votes [2]
February 27 North Dakota 100%
145 votes
Not on ballot 145 votes
South Dakota 63.1%
334 votes
Not on ballot 36.9%
195 votes
Not on ballot 529 votes
March 5 Massachusetts 44.4%
386 votes
12.8%
111 votes
7.6%
66 votes
Unknown
Reported as "scatter"
35.3%[b]
307 votes
935 votes [3]
March 19 Illinois 73.9%
1,249 votes
Not on ballot 26.1%
441 votes
Not on ballot 1,690 votes [4][5]
March 26 California 49.8%
6,730 votes
23.6%
3,189 votes
15.3%
2,064 votes
10.5%
1,421 votes
0.9%[c]
115 votes
13,519 votes
May 14 Nebraska 100%
28 votes
Not on ballot 28 votes
Totals votes earned 51.7%
9,525 votes
17.9%
3,300 votes
16.9%
3,102 votes
7.7%
1,421 votes
5.8%
1,060 votes
18,408 votes
Convention ballot 69.1%
416 delegates
12.3%
74 delegates
5.3%
32 delegates
3.3%
20 delegates
10.0%
60 delegates
602 delegates

Voting for presidential nomination

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First ballot

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Harry Browne was nominated on the first ballot, gathering a majority of the voting delegates and defeating Rick Tompkins, Irwin Schiff and Doug Ohmen.[6]

1996 Libertarian Party National Convention total vote count: Round 1
Candidate Total votes cast Percent of votes cast
Harry Browne 416 69.1%
Rick Tompkins 74 12.3%
None of the Above 60 10.0%
Irwin Schiff 32 5.3%
Doug Ohmen 20 3.3%
Color key: 1st place 2nd place 3rd place 4th place 5th place

Voting for vice presidential nomination

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The convention voted to suspend the rules and allow a voice vote for the vice presidential nomination. After an initial voice vote led to a roll-call vote, Jo Jorgensen easily prevailed against no opposition, with 36 votes going to None of the Above.[7]

Voice vote

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1996 Libertarian vice presidential nomination
Candidate Total votes cast Percent of votes cast
Jo Jorgensen 459 92.7%
None of the Above 36 7.3%
Color key: 1st place 2nd place

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Includes:
    • 10.8% write-ins for Pat Buchanan (176 votes)
    • 6.3% write-ins for Forbes (103 votes)
    • 22.1% for other write-ins (359 votes)
  2. ^ Includes:
    • 237 votes (27.2%) for Uncommitted
    • 70 votes (8%) reported as "scatter"
  3. ^ 115 write-ins for Ralph Nader

References

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  1. ^ Libertarian Party Bylaws Archived 2008-06-05 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Winger, Richard (6 March 1996). "Ballot Access News -- March 6, 1996". Ballot Access News. Vol. 11, no. 13. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  3. ^ "1996 President Libertarian Primary". state.ma.us. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  4. ^ Winger, Richard (3 April 1996). "Ballot Access News -- April 3, 1996". Ballot Access News. Vol. 12, no. 1. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  5. ^ Winger, Richard (28 May 1996). "Ballot Access News -- May 28, 1996". Ballot Access News. Vol. 12, no. 3. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Libertarian Convention Nomination Speeches". C-SPAN Video Library. July 6, 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  7. ^ "Libertarian Convention Acceptance Speeches". C-SPAN Video Library. July 6, 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
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