Statement of Principles of The Libertarian Party of Maine
Amended: 06/30/2026 Adopted: 07/11/2026 

The Libertarian Party of Maine holds a single, unalterable truth: Each individual possesses absolute sovereignty over their own life, liberty, and justly acquired property. To secure a free and peaceful society, we affirm the Non-Aggression Principle as our foundational axiom: No individual, group, or government has the right to initiate force, coercion, or fraud against another human being. 

The only legitimate function of governments is the defense of individual rights. When the State exceeds this narrow scope which State officials continue to do, it ceases to be a protector and becomes an aggressor. Today, the administrative State in Augusta utilizes oppressive, coercive force to systematically violate the natural rights of peaceful Mainers through a bloated empire of taxation, central planning, and regulatory overreach. 

We do not seek to reform, manage, or humanize this system of coercion. The Libertarian Party of Maine demands the immediate, unconditional restoration of individual sovereignty. We stand firmly against the apparatus of State violence, and remain dedicated to the total liberation of the human spirit, the free market, and the absolute defense of the individual. 

 

Platform of the Libertarian Party of Maine 

Libertarian Principles: 

1.1 Self Ownership: 

People have exclusive control over their physical body. People own themselves. 

1.2 Property Rights: 

Ownership of external resources is determined in accordance with the principles of homesteading, contractual title transfer, and restitution to compensate victims of property rights violations. People have the right to use their property in any way they wish as long as they do not violate the rights of others. 

1.3 Non-Aggression Principle: 

Aggression is the initiation or threat of force against another person or their property, including theft. All acts of aggression are illegitimate and unjust, whether committed by private actors or the State. Use of force is only legitimate as defense against imminent aggression. 

1.4 Individualism: 

The individual person is the basis for all rights to agency, thought, and action. 

1.5 Voluntary Interaction: 

Humans are social creatures who identify with and organize themselves into groups. People interact with one another, either voluntarily or forcefully. Forceful interaction is either aggression or in response to aggression. Voluntary interaction is a necessary foundation for a peaceful, civilized society. 

1.6 The State: 

The State is an organization which attempts to forcefully maintain a monopoly on violence and decision making in society. The State is the most dangerous aggressor in society. 

Application of Principles 

Defense of Liberty: 

2.1 

The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the individual right to keep and bear arms without being questioned as recognized by Article I, Section 16, of the Maine Constitution and also the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. We demand the immediate repeal of all State-level firearm restrictions, waiting periods, red-flag laws, and background checks. Any infringement on a Mainer’s right to defend themselves, their family, and their property is an illegitimate act of State aggression. 

2.2 

We uphold and defend the rights of every person, regardless of any aspect of their identity, including sex, wealth, race, color, creed, age, national origin, political preference, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or gender identity. 

2.3 

We demand a policy of armed neutrality in all conflicts where the United States of America is not directly attacked, and urge exhausting all diplomatic means to seek justice for such an attack before declaring war as a last resort. We demand the immediate return of all troops and military assets home from abroad, closing all foreign military bases, and ending all government foreign aid and entangling alliances. We oppose the use of the military as a subsidy for foreign investment, trade, and travel. We recognize sanctions as a form of siege, and thus acts of war. We oppose conscription, as it is a form of slavery, and support conscientious objection. We oppose all intelligence activities which violate the Non-Aggression Principle. 

Freedom of Thought and Expression: 

2.4 

We support full freedom of expression and oppose all government censorship. We support the freedom to engage in or abstain from any forms of expression, including peaceable activities and worship that do not violate the rights of others. We oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion. Our support of an individual’s right to make choices in life does not necessarily mean approval of those choices. 

2.5 

Parents and legal guardians have the right to raise their children according to their own standards and beliefs. 

Freedom of Association: 

2.6 

We support freedom of association as integral to individual rights. A free society demands all individuals be able to voluntarily associate with, or dissociate from, anyone for any reason. We oppose all forms of segregation and anti-discrimination laws. 

2.7 

Any arrangement between consenting adults, which does not involve force or fraud, must be free from government interference. Criminalizing voluntary, non-violent behavior often harms those it was intended to aid. 

2.8 

The State ought not define or “license” social institutions, such as marriage, or impose any restrictions thereon. Marriage should be treated exclusively as a private, voluntary contract, independent of government interference. 

Voluntary Exchange 

2.9 

We demand the complete and total separation of economy and State. Governments must not regulate, restrict, or prohibit voluntary exchange. 

2.10 

Public-private collusions are inherently corrupt and incompatible with a free market. We oppose all corporate subsidies, bailouts, and regulatory protections that insulate businesses from consumer accountability. We declare that when corporations weaponize state-granted monopolies or privileges to violate individual rights, they lose any claim to private immunity. Coercion laundered through a corporate proxy remains an act of state aggression. 

2.11 

We demand the dismantling of the Maine State income tax and the immediate repeal of all taxes. Government must be funded strictly through voluntary user fees for requested services, not through systemic, coercive extraction. 

2.12 

Labor markets must be open and free. Terms of employment, including any agreed-upon wage, must always be voluntarily negotiable between employees and employers. 

2.13 

We demand the immediate and unconditional abolition of all State-enforced occupational licensing, certification mandates, and commercial gatekeeping boards in Maine. Certification and quality assurance are the exclusive domain of the free market and consumer choice, not bureaucratic networks in Augusta. 

2.14 

We call for the repeal of laws regulating the physical requirements of buildings and equipment. Product and building safety concerns are better addressed by private methods, such as insurance providers’ requirements and independent standards bodies (Underwriters Laboratories, for example). 

Criminal Justice 

2.15 

Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We call for the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims. If there is no victim, there is no crime. Criminal laws must be limited to dealing with violations of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. We support restitution of the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. The rights of due process, habeas corpus, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty must not be denied. 

Judges must provide a mandatory instruction at every criminal trial to inform juries of their common-law right to judge not only the facts, but also the justice of the law, and thus their ability to nullify the prosecution. It must not be illegal for anyone to so inform jurors. 

2.16 

The so-called “war on drugs” has utterly failed. In addition to its huge cost, it has incarcerated tens of thousands of people for victimless “crimes.” The easy availability of potentially harmful substances is still widespread in spite of criminalization, making recovery from addiction more difficult by turning a medical issue into a legal one. Individuals have the absolute right to decide 

what substances they will use or consume, or not consume. We call for ending the war on drugs, commuting the sentences of non-violent offenders, and expunging their records. 

2.17 

The injustices of civil asset forfeiture and eminent domain, where property is confiscated by the state without compensation or due process, must be ended immediately. 

Privacy 

2.18 

We support the right to be secure in our persons, homes, property, and our online data. Fourth Amendment protections from unreasonable search and seizure or warrantless spying must include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, bank records, and personal movements, such as those being tracked by Flock or LPR cameras, for example. 

We reject the idea that law enforcement should be omniscient, as individual privacy overrides police convenience. 

Education 

2.19 

We demand the dismantling of the State-monopolized public schooling system and abolition of all State compliance mandates on homeschooling and private alternatives. We demand that 100% of education funding be returned directly to the taxpayers, completely stripping the State of its power to control or direct the education of Maine’s children. 

Education, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice at lower cost. Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. We support the right of parents/legal guardians to educate their children without government involvement or influence. 

Healthcare 

2.20 

We demand the full separation of healthcare and State, restoring free markets, informed consent, and medical privacy. No government or institution may mandate vaccines, nor may they restrict or mandate any medical treatment. We oppose vaccine passports, medical discrimination, and liability shields for pharmaceutical companies. Medical freedom is a fundamental right. Healthcare decisions belong to individuals, not the State. 

The state must not mandate or restrict medical treatments to minors against their parent or legal guardians’ permission. 

We demand the repeal of Certificate of Need laws, as they create a cartel for health care. Transparent and Limited Government 

3.1 

The legislative process, and the administration of government, must be open and transparent. Accordingly, all proposed legislation must be available in its final form for public review and comment at least five days before being voted on by the legislature. Before voting for or against any bill, it is the duty of each legislator to have personally read and understood the bill in its entirety. All State government budgets and expenditures must be available for review by the public on the Internet. 

3.2 

Article II, Section 1 of the Maine Constitution specifies that all elections shall be free and equal. Maine’s restrictive ballot access laws clearly violate that requirement and some provisions have even been declared unconstitutional in federal court. They must be repealed immediately. Any political party that can demonstrate a modicum of public support must be qualified to nominate candidates to appear on general election ballots. No taxpayer dollars should ever be spent for the benefit of any private political organization (such as funding primary elections or subsidizing conventions). Parties may establish their own rules for nominating procedures, primaries and conventions, but must bear all costs of their operations. 

3.3 

Plurality voting is an outdated system that artificially drives political polarization to dangerous levels. To restore true representation, all public elections must implement a robust voting method that empowers citizens to express a complete range of preferences, including both approval and disapproval of candidates. 

Examples of such systems include Instant Runoff Voting (e.g. Ranked Choice), and the inclusion of NOTA (None of the Above) as an option. 

3.4 

The practice of gerrymandering must end. Those in power must not have the ability to draw electoral districts to suit their own purposes. Instead, a completely impartial, geometric procedure should be used to draw districts. 

3.5 

The State should not incur debt, which burdens present and future generations without their consent. It is the equivalent of taxation without representation. Balanced budgets must be required for all governments at all levels. Budgets must be balanced by greatly reducing spending, not by increasing taxes. Whatever taxes there are must be few in number, simple, applied to all, pay-as-you-go, and must not require that citizens file tax returns. 

Taxation is theft. 

Maine Issues 

4.1 

The primary mission of the Maine National Guard is to aid Mainers in the most desperate times. National Guard members have been unavailable to fulfill that mission in recent decades, because of undeclared wars. We must prohibit the deployment of the Maine National Guard into active duty combat zones unless the United States Congress has passed an official, explicit Declaration of War as strictly required by Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution. We will not allow Maine lives to be bartered for undeclared, foreign interventions. 

4.2 

Individuals have the inherent right to make decisions regarding the food they grow, purchase, sell, and consume. Small scale and local food producers play a vital role in providing diverse, high-quality food options to individuals. Government regulations on food production violate consumer choice, stifle innovation, and hurt smaller producers. We will aggressively defend and expand Maine’s Food Sovereignty laws (such as Article 1, Section 25 of the Maine Constitution). We affirm the inherent right to farm, fish, hunt, forage, and butcher livestock without state-mandated oversight, quotas, or corporate-backed restrictions. We demand the total elimination of all state regulations, licensing, and inspection mandates that interfere with direct-to-consumer commerce between local farmers, fishermen, hunters, and willing buyers. This includes the absolute right of farmers, fishermen, and hunters to freely trade unpasteurized dairy, cottage goods, wild-caught catch, and custom-slaughtered meats without government interference. We demand the immediate abolition of the Maine Department of Agriculture. 

4.3 

Plentiful, reliable, and cost-effective energy is essential for human flourishing. We reject any State-imposed pauses, subsidies, vetoes, or moratoriums on utility infrastructure and technological advancement, provided they are funded by the private sector. We demand the immediate abolition of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. 

4.4 

We demand the replacement of central-planning environmental bureaucracies with a framework rooted strictly in private property rights and civil liability. We will aggressively enforce common-law property protections, allowing landowners and communities to hold corporate and government polluters directly liable for any damage, trespass, or degradation inflicted upon their land, air, or water.