We're just under a month away from the 2018 Libertarian Party National Convention to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana from June 30th- July 3rd. If you've never been before you may feel a bit overwhelmed by the procedures, rules, bylaws, platforms, the parliamentary procedure... any number of things that may be foreign to you if you - like me - came from the activist side of things.
One of the most bizarre items you may encounter is the famous token system. What is the token system, you might ask? Well, it's one of the ways delegates can vote on certain preferences. I'll start from the beginning:
Upon your arrival you will go check in at the credentials table. These are the people who will confirm your status as a delegate and hand you your welcome packet. Within the welcome packet you will find 5 tokens. These tokens are generally about the size of a quarter, made of cardboard or similar material, and painted gold. (I don't know exactly what they'll look like this year, but this description will get you started.)
You will want to sign your name onto each of your tokens. Those are your tokens. Don't lose them or they could be used against your interests.
In non-presidential nomination years - such as this one - the tokens will be used to remove planks from the party platform. In other words, if there is a plank that you want to delete, you will go around and ask people to donate their tokens to you for the purpose of deleting that plank.
You have until one hour prior to the scheduled time of the platform committee report to turn your accumulated tokens into the Convention Secretary along with notice of which plank you would like to delete. If you have collected tokens equal to 20% of the number of credentialed delegates then your plank's deletion will be subjected to a vote of the body of the convention without discussion.
So what does this mean? It means that planks which have become unpopular over time can be quickly deleted at a pretty low threshold.
I do not recommend full deletion of any planks at this time, so I will be holding onto my tokens as a keepsake. I will NOT BE throwing them away. If someone hates a plank enough, they will dig through trash cans to try to accumulate enough of them.
It's just another fun way to handle these sorts of things, and I really like the token system. LP Conventions are pretty much my favorite thing. Hope to see you all there!
For the full language of the token system, see below:
RULE 7: DEBATING AND VOTING -- PLATFORM
The current Platform shall serve as the basis of all future platforms. At Regular Conventions, the existing Platform may be amended. Additional planks, or additions to planks, must be approved by 2/3 vote. A platform plank may be deleted by majority vote.
After the adoption of the convention agenda, the convention will vote whether to delete planks from the existing platform. This will be accomplished as follows:
a. The Credentials Committee shall issue five signature tokens to each delegate. b. Tokens shall only be issued to delegates. Delegates are responsible for
transferring possession of unused tokens to their alternates if necessary.
c. Each delegate may cast each token as a recommendation for deletion of one
plank by noting on the token the plank to be deleted and signing the token.
d. A delegate may cumulate recommendations by casting any number of tokens for
deletion of the same plank.
e. Delegates will be given until one hour prior to the scheduled start of the platform
report to mark their tokens and deliver them to the Secretary.
f. Prior to the scheduled start of the platform report, the Secretary shall review the tokens received and tabulate and report the tokens submitted for deletion of each plank.
g. As its first item of platform business, the convention shall vote whether to delete each of those planks that received a number of tokens for deletion equal to 20% or more of the number of credentialed delegates. Such votes shall be cast without amendment or debate.