# 1996 Libertarian National Convention

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.

## Primaries

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 | Candidates and results | Candidates and results | Candidates and results | Candidates and results | Total votes cast | Ref |
| Date | Contest | Harry Browne | RT Rick Tompkins | IS Irwin Schiff | DO Doug Ohmen | Other/Uncommitted | Total votes cast | Ref |
| February 20 | New Hampshire | 40.1% 653 votes | Unknown Reported as "scatter" | 20.7% 336 votes | Unknown Reported as "scatter" | 39.2% 638 votes | 1,627 votes | |
| February 27 | North Dakota | 100% 145 votes | Not on ballot | Not on ballot | Not on ballot | Not on ballot | 145 votes | |
| February 27 | South Dakota | 63.1% 334 votes | Not on ballot | 36.9% 195 votes | Not on ballot | 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% 307 votes | 935 votes | |
| March 19 | Illinois | 73.9% 1,249 votes | Not on ballot | 26.1% 441 votes | Not on ballot | Not on ballot | 1,690 votes | |
| 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% 115 votes | 13,519 votes | |
| May 14 | Nebraska | 100% 28 votes | Not on ballot | Not on ballot | Not on ballot | Not on ballot | 28 votes | |
| Totals votes earned | 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 | 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
### First ballot

Harry Browne was nominated on the first ballot, gathering a majority of the voting delegates and defeating Rick Tompkins, Irwin Schiff and Doug Ohmen.
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 | Color key: 1st place 2nd place 3rd place 4th place 5th place |

## Voting for vice presidential nomination

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.

### Voice vote

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 | Color key: 1st place 2nd place |