Libertarian Party Colorado Candidates

Here are excerpts from the LPCO Constitution and LPCO Bylaws (as Adopted in Convention – April 6th, 2003) that may be of interest to candidates.

Constitution: Article VI - CONVENTIONS

Section 2

In appropriate even-numbered years, the Convention shall nominate candidates for statewide elective positions. [snip]

Constitution: Article VII - NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES

Section 1

Nomination of candidates for offices requiring the vote of all the electors of the state shall be made by a majority vote of Party members present and voting at the Party Convention, and who have been members for at least 90 days prior to the Convention, or by a committee designated thereby. Nomination of candidates for all other offices may be made in the same way. If a majority is not achieved for a nomination, the candidate other than "None Of The Above" (NOTA) receiving the lowest number of votes shall be removed from the ballot and the vote shall be taken again. At no time shall NOTA be removed from the ballot, even under suspension of convention rules. Voting shall continue in this manner until a majority vote has been made for either one of the candidates or NOTA.

Section 2

Nomination of all other candidates may be made by the Party affiliates or district caucus of Party members and affiliates representing the area or district in which the candidate must run in accordance with such procedures as the affiliate or district caucus may provide, subject to the requirements of Section 3 herein, and further subject to ratification by a Party Convention or the Convention's designated committee, as provided in Article VII, Section 1.

Section 3

Each candidate shall be a member of the Party and shall sign a statement to the effect that he or she supports the Statement of Principles of the Libertarian Party.

Any three Party members who believe that a candidate nominated under this Article has violated his or her pledge to support the Statement of Principles may file a written complaint asking a Party Officer to request a special hearing. At any Officer's request, the Board shall schedule a hearing within 15 days to hear the complaint. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested to the candidate and to the complainants not less than 7 days before the hearing is held. Further evidence may be introduced at any time during the hearing process. At the hearing the Board may, by a two-thirds vote, revoke the candidate's Certificate of Designation. No Party member may participate in more than one complaint during any calendar year, nor shall any complaint making the same or similar charges against the same candidate be heard more than once.

Section 4

In order to qualify for campaign assistance from the Party, any candidate for public office shall be endorsed by a majority of Party members at the State Convention, by a committee designated thereby, or by the Board of Directors.

Section 5

Any candidate representing the Party in a partisan contest where party identification on the ballot is permitted shall use the designation "Libertarian". Only candidates approved by the process set forth in this article may use this designation.

Section 6

The United States Supreme Court has recognized that the nomination of candidates under political party rules fall under First Amendment Freedom of Association protections and therefore override state laws when such rules so state. Therefore, all rules for nominating candidates are limited to only this Article, and all state laws regarding nominating candidates are to be considered overridden and void. The Party reserves all First Amendment Rights in this regard.

Bylaws: Article IX - ELIGIBILITY

All candidates for public office must be registered members of the party for 60 days prior to the last date on which the party can file its certificate of designation with the appropriate election official.