By Doug Goodman -Founder & Executive Director Nevadans for Election Reform – August 3, 2021
At the end of July 2021, voters registered as Non-Partisan are now the second largest voting group in Clark County with the combined share of those not registered to either the Democratic or Republican Party less than three (3) percentage points from overtaking the Democratic Party.
With more proof of parity, in Washoe County, the percent of voters not registered in either major party is less than two-tenths of one percent (0.20%) of becoming the largest voting bloc.
In the not-too-distant past, the Republican Party could count on voters in the 15 rural counties to reside strongly in the GOP camp. However, while just under a majority; 49.37 percent are registered to vote as members of the Republican Party at the end of July 2021, like the rest of the state, over 30 percent are registered as either Non-Partisan or in a minor party.
As little as one year ago, monthly changes in voter share, both up and down, were below one-tenth of one percent. Anything over that was considered notable. Over the past five months changes below one-tenth of one percent are notable but for a different reason with shifts over one-quarter of one percent becoming common.
State-Wide
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 691 | 0.11% | 35.03% | -0.28% |
| R | 880 | 0.16% | 30.61% | -0.23% |
| NP | 11,056 | 2.34% | 26.09% | 0.36% |
| IAP | 505 | 0.61% | 4.52% | -0.01% |
| LIB | 132 | 0.74% | 0.97% | 0.00% |
| Other | 3,587 | 7.49% | 2.77% | 0.17% |
| Total not D or R | 34.35% | 0.52% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
The combined voter share of those not registered to vote in either the Democratic or Republican Party is #2 in the state, almost four (4) percent greater share than the GOP and less than one percent (0.68%) shy of the Democratic Party.
Clark County
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 720 | 0.14% | 37.96% | -0.31% |
| R | 450 | 0.13% | 26.82% | -0.23% |
| NP | 8,229 | 2.38% | 26.96% | 0.37% |
| IAP | 360 | 0.63% | 4.37% | -0.01% |
| LIB | 67 | 0.59% | 0.87% | 0.00% |
| Other | 2,777 | 7.51% | 3.02% | 0.18% |
| Total not D or R | 35.22% | 0.54% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
The voter share percent of Non-Partisan is now in second place, overtaking the GOP. The combined voter share of those not registered to vote in either the Democratic or Republican Party exceeds Republican Party voter share by nearly nine (9) percent and less than three (2.74%) percent from voter share of Democratic Party.
Washoe County
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | -41 | -0.04% | 33.32% | -0.23% |
| R | 71 | 0.07% | 33.41% | -0.19% |
| NP | 1,385 | 1.76% | 24.87% | 0.27% |
| IAP | 80 | 0.54% | 4.62% | 0.00% |
| LIB | 30 | 0.73% | 1.29% | 0.00% |
| Other | 530 | 7.04% | 2.50% | 0.15% |
| Total not D or R | 33.27% | 0.42% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
While the two major parties are still #1 and #2, the combined total of those not registered to vote in either the Democratic or Republican Party is less than two-tenths of one (0.20) percent away from over-taking either or both major parties.
Rural Counties
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 12 | 0.03% | 19.87% | -0.20% |
| R | 359 | 0.34% | 49.37% | -0.34% |
| NP | 1,442 | 3.01% | 22.66% | 0.44% |
| IAP | 65 | 0.57% | 5.30% | -0.02% |
| LIB | 35 | 1.44% | 1.13% | 0.00% |
| Other | 280 | 8.35% | 1.67% | 0.11% |
| Total not D or R | 30.76% | 0.53% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
Non-Partisan voter share is in the #2 spot exceeding Democratic Party voter share by over two (2) percent. The combined voter share of those not registered to vote in either the Democratic or Republican Party exceeds Democratic Party voter share by over 10 percent. Both major parties lost voter share in 14 of the 15 rural counties while Non-Partisan gained share in all 15 rural counties.
18 – 34 Year Old
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | -169 | -0.09% | 34.96% | -0.45% |
| R | -171 | -0.17% | 19.56% | -0.27% |
| NP | 5,073 | 2.79% | 35.64% | 0.55% |
| IAP | 92 | 0.38% | 4.57% | -0.04% |
| LIB | 42 | 0.51% | 1.56% | -0.01% |
| Other | 1,391 | 7.68% | 3.71% | 0.22% |
| Total not D or R | 45.49% | 0.72% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
The combined voter share of those not registered to vote in either the Democratic or Republican Party continues to approach 50 percent of active voters in this age group, nearly 10 percent over the Democratic Party and 25 percent over the Republican Party. Non-Partisan voter share on its own exceeds GOP voter share by 15 percent and only one-third (0.33) percent away from taking the lead from the Democratic Party.
55+
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 631 | 0.23% | 36.24% | -0.18% |
| R | 1,042 | 0.36% | 39.39% | -0.15% |
| NP | 2,669 | 2.05% | 17.88% | 0.23% |
| IAP | 241 | 0.76% | 4.31% | 0.00% |
| LIB | 23 | 0.71% | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Other | 836 | 6.88% | 1.75% | 0.10% |
| Total not D or R | 24.37% | 0.33% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
This is the one demographic where the Democratic and Republican Party are in no jeopardy of losing their dominance. That said, this age group has followed the trend with the major parties losing voter share with corresponding gain by Non-Partisan and minor parties.
By district voter share changes.
Congressional Districts
| Party | # Districts Lose Voter Share | # Districts Gain Voter Share | # Districts No Change |
| Democratic | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| NP | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| IAP | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| LIB | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Other | 0 | 4 | 0 |
In all Congressional districts (100 percent of the districts) the number of voters not affiliated with either major party exceeds the number of voters registered to one of the major parties. Non-Partisan exceeds the Republican Party in one (1) district; the combined total exceeds both major parties in one (1) district, the Republican Party in one (1) district and the Democratic Party in one (1) district.
State Senate Districts
| Party | # Districts Lose Voter Share | # Districts Gain Voter Share | # Districts No Change |
| Democratic | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| NP | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| IAP | 17 | 0 | 4 |
| LIB | 7 | 3 | 11 |
| Other | 0 | 21 | 0 |
In all 21 districts (100%) the number of voters registered as Non-Partisan or the total number not affiliated with either major party is greater than or within 5% of the number of voters registered to one of the major parties. Non-Partisan exceeds the Republican Party in 10 districts and the Democratic Party in two (2) districts. The combined total exceeds the Republican Party in three (3) districts and the Democratic Party in four (4) districts.
State Assembly Districts
| Party | # Districts Lose Voter Share | # Districts Gain Voter Share | # Districts No Change |
| Democratic | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| NP | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| IAP | 29 | 6 | 7 |
| LIB | 16 | 8 | 18 |
| Other | 0 | 42 | 0 |
In all 42 districts (100%) the number of voters registered as Non-Partisan or the total number not affiliated with either major party is greater than or within 5% of the number of voters registered to one of the major parties. Non-Partisan exceeds the Republican Party in 19 districts and the Democratic Party in three (3) districts. The combined total exceeds the Republican Party in eight (8) districts and the Democratic Party in 11 districts.
The total number of active registered voters in Nevada is closing in on 1.9 million. As these monthly reports show, a growing number of these voters are choosing not to affiliate with either major political party. Just how this will impact the 2022 election season remains an unanswered question.