Membership & Dues

Over the last several months, the Utah Libertarian Party has added hundreds of names to our e-mail list and our Facebook site. This is important, as it helps us expand the number of people who know about our party, and are interested in voting for us. As we get closer to next year’s election season, however, it is more important that ever to increase our membership base. For those of you who are not familiar with the membership situation, I will hopefully make it simpler than it seems.

For many years, someone who wanted to officially join the Libertarian Party paid dues at the national level, of $25.00. This entitled them to membership in both the national and state parties. Dues collected by the national party were shared with the local parties. For a few years, in the late 1900's and early 2000's, the party tried to abolish membership dues, and base its income on donations. It didn’t work, and the party went back to a membership dues format a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately for state parties, the dues paid to the national party are no longer shared. Those dues support the national office, and pay for a newspaper which is now published 6 times a year (formerly monthly). I would hope that many of you are national members, but national membership is really a separate matter from membership in the Libertarian Party of Utah.

The Libertarian Party of Utah is the organization that actually maintains our ballot spot, and finds and assists candidates for public office. We must get roughly 2% of the statewide vote for one of our candidates, in even numbered years, to maintain an automatic place on the ballot. The automatic place on the ballot also allows us to collect $2.00 donations directly from Utah State Income Tax Forms. While this is an important source of funds for us, it does not generate enough money to run the party or to actively support candidates. Therefore, we have a separate dues structure for members of the Utah Libertarian Party. Dues are $20.00 a year, or $5.00 for students. Our newsletters and access to our website are open to everyone who wishes to be kept current; but party membership is important if you want to really be involved. Party membership is necessary to vote on party officers, the party platform, and other party business. We ask that everyone interested in the Libertarian Party consider paying their dues. Information on how to do that can be found on our website at lputah.org. If you are a first time member, we ask that you fill out the membership form and sign the pledge. If you are renewing, we will not insist on you making out a new application. The pledge associated with membership is meant to remind everyone that we do not seek to spread our political philosophy by force. The very nature of Libertarianism is that people are free to choose as they may please.

The U.S. Constitution provides that someone can vote in both a general election and a primary election without paying a “poll tax” or membership dues. Therefore, our membership application has a separate spot for those who would like to vote for candidates for public office, at our conventions held in even numbered years, without paying dues. We have, in the past, referred to these peoples as “pledge signing members”. At the next convention, there will be a proposal to eliminate the confusion, by eliminating the classification of “pledge signing member”. Those signing the pledge and indicating they want to vote on our candidates for public office (whether they will appear on the ballot or not) may still do so. They are not, strictly speaking, members of the party. To us, it is very important that those who support the party become members, as that really is our chief source of money, and it identifies those who are willing to commit to being Libertarians.

A small party like ours has traditionally been unable to do much to support candidates for office. We are working hard, however, to increase our ability to make monetary contributions to candidates, as well as to give them volunteer and organizational support. If you consider yourself a Libertarian, and if you want to help the party grow and be heard, we need you to pay your dues and become an official member. Please consider doing so today, or give one of the party officers a call to get your questions answered, before committing. Thank you so much for your support. Without you, we can do nothing.