2020 Primary Election – Record-Breaking Turnout

By Doug Goodman -Founder & Executive Director Nevadans for Election Reform

What impact did voters automatically receiving their ballot in the mail have on their decision to vote? Only a statewide poll of voters will give us that answer.

What we do know is that over 98 percent of ballots were returned by mail or drop-off. More importantly is the fact that voter participation (turnout) was unprecedented.

State-Wide Turnout

Year% Turnoutincrease vs 2016% increase vs 2016increase vs 2018% increase vs 2018
202030.16%11.62%62.68%7.29%31.82%
201618.54% 
201822.91% 

2020 Turnout by County

 TotalDemocraticRepublicanOther
Average38.76%41.00%45.82%21.97%
High50.25% Humboldt49.25% Douglas59.09% Humboldt30.47% Humboldt
Low27.76 Clark32.01% Clark33.32% Clark15.25% Clark

NOTE: Republican Party exceeded 50% turnout in Douglas, Humboldt, Lander, Storey, and White Pine Counties

Percent of Ballots Cast

YearDemocraticRepublicanOther
202043.40%40.16%15.81%
201642.81%48.13%9.05%
201844.47%43.55%11.99%

In 2020 races where we could track turnout:

Congressional

Race# ContestsAvgHighLow
Congressional835.56%40.81% CD2 – R24.39% CD1 – R
State Senate329.11%32.52% SD18 – D24.45% SD11 – R
State Assembly2631.24%43.37% AD40 – D19.35% AD14 – D
Judicial2424.51%30.35% Dist 2  Dept 1123.06% Dist 8 Fam Div Y

These percentages show similar increases to the statewide totals.

Will the general election show a similar increase in turnout or a return to normal; 75 – 80 percent? How will the voting method; continue all mail ballots or return to normal in-person voting impact turnout? We’ll know in four months.