Forming a political club is the easiest way to begin local Libertarian organizing without the paperwork of a county party or PAC. Ohio law allows small, social political clubs to meet, advocate, and make limited contributions without registration or campaign finance reporting.
A political club must stay primarily social, have no more than one hundred members, hold regular meetings, and elect officers. The treasury must stay below $2,500, and yearly contributions to candidates, parties, or committees must not exceed $1,000. Staying within these limits keeps the club exempt from PAC status and financial filings.
Each club should elect a Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. Optional positions such as Vice Chair or Membership Coordinator can be added later. Elections should be announced ten to fourteen days in advance, with one third of members present and a majority vote deciding each office.
This structure lets Libertarians host events, recruit members, and promote candidates while keeping control local and costs low.
Pros vs. County Party
Club Advantages:
- No registration or campaign finance reports
- Simple to create and dissolve
- Full local control over activities
- Low cost and minimal compliance burden
Club Disadvantages:
- Cannot nominate candidates or access party ballot lines
- Limited fundraising and spending authority
- Not officially recognized by the Secretary of State
Basic Steps
- Define a social purpose and name the club.
- Keep membership under 100 people.
- Elect Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.
- Hold regular meetings and keep minutes.
- Keep treasury under $2,500 and total contributions under $1,000 each year.
If you want to start a local Libertarian political club you don’t need anyone’s permission, the most Libertarian part of the process. You are invited to join the LPO Discord and promote your club. LPO can include club events in the LPO Calendar, Newsletter, share on social media, and send out postcards to advertise meet ups.
Reference: Ohio Campaign Finance Handbook
