By Doug Goodman -Founder & Executive Director Nevadans for Election Reform
With the start of the new year, automatic voter registration (AVR) in Nevada became effective. In what was probably a surprise to no one, the change brought with it a dramatic increase in new voter registrations as well as a surge in voters registered as Non-Partisan.
During January 2020, over 27,000 new voters were added to the active rolls. The percent of growth, usually not exceeding one or two percent across demographics and party saw Non-Partisan exceed four percent in most areas. The even more important number, voter share saw changes which are normally in the hundredths of a percent range exceed one-half of one percent. The increase in Non-Partisan voter share was staggering. The statewide increase of 0.5% was more than double the total increase for 2019. The increase among voters 18 to 34 years of age, 0.66% exceeded the yearly increase for 2018. The district-level changes were equally high with both major parties losing voter share in all Congressional, state senate, and state assembly districts except two senate and assembly districts where the Democratic Party gained slightly while Non-Partisan gained roughly one-half a percent in all districts.
State-Wide
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 7,912 | 1.31% | 38.14% | -0.16% |
| R | 3,972 | 0.76% | 32.94% | -0.32% |
| NP | 13,996 | 4.01% | 22.65% | 0.50% |
| IAP | 1,020 | 1.45% | 4.45% | -0.01% |
| LIB | 203 | 1.27% | 1.01% | 0.00% |
| Other | 46 | 0.36% | 0.81% | -0.01% |
| Total not D or R | 28.92% | 0.48 |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, and others
Clark County
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 6,516 | 1.42% | 41.75% | -0.20% |
| R | 2,869 | 0.90% | 28.79% | -0.29% |
| NP | 10,554 | 4.19% | 23.54% | 0.51% |
| IAP | 803 | 1.73% | 4.23% | -0.01% |
| LIB | 129 | 1.27% | 0.92% | -0.01% |
| Other | 34 | 0.39% | 0.78% | -0.01% |
| Total not D or R | 29.47% | 0.48 |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, and others
Washoe County
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 1,015 | 1.03% | 35.13% | -0.04% |
| R | 370 | 0.36% | 36.13% | -0.28% |
| NP | 1,700 | 2.82% | 21.84% | 0.36% |
| IAP | 123 | 0.97% | 4.50% | -0.02% |
| LIB | 26 | 0.72% | 1.28% | -0.01% |
| Other | 3 | 0.10% | 1.11% | -0.01% |
| Total not D or R | 28.74% | 0.32 |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, and others
Rural Counties
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 381 | 0.85% | 22.41% | -0.15% |
| R | 733 | 0.71% | 51.39% | -0.42% |
| NP | 1,742 | 4.79% | 18.88% | 0.59% |
| IAP | 123 | 1.09% | 5.64% | -0.02% |
| LIB | 48 | 2.12% | 1.15% | 0.01% |
| Other | 9 | 0.86% | 0.52% | 0.00% |
| Total not D or R | 26.19% | 0.58 |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, and others
18 – 34 Year Old
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 3,239 | 1.98% | 38.94% | -0.22% |
| R | 795 | 0.86% | 21.78% | -0.37% |
| NP | 6,184 | 4.76% | 31.77% | 0.66% |
| IAP | 412 | 2.12% | 4.64% | -0.02% |
| LIB | 94 | 1.29% | 1.72% | -0.02% |
| Other | -3 | -0.06% | 1.16% | -0.03% |
| Total not D or R | 39.28% | 0.59 |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, and other
55+
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 2,383 | 0.93% | 38.26% | -0.11% |
| R | 2,063 | 0.75% | 41.13% | -0.20% |
| NP | 3,348 | 3.31% | 15.46% | 0.31% |
| IAP | 324 | 1.16% | 4.19% | 0.00% |
| LIB | 43 | 1.40% | 0.46% | 0.00% |
| Other | 29 | 0.86% | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| Total not D or R | 20.61% | 0.31 |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, and others
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 |
| Non-Partisan | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| IAP | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| LIB | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 |
In all Congressional districts (100 percent of the districts) the number of voters not affiliated with either major party is greater than or within 5% of the number of voters registered to one of the major parties. This is a major change.
State Senate Districts
| Party | # Districts Lose Voter Share | # Districts Gain Voter Share | # Districts No Change |
| Democratic | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| Republican | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-Partisan | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| IAP | 14 | 4 | 3 |
| LIB | 10 | 3 | 8 |
| Other | 15 | 1 | 5 |
In 17 districts (80.95%) 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. This is an increase of one.
State Assembly Districts
| Party | # Districts Lose Voter Share | # Districts Gain Voter Share | # Districts No Change |
| Democratic | 40 | 2 | 0 |
| Republican | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-Partisan | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| IAP | 29 | 8 | 5 |
| LIB | 20 | 9 | 13 |
| Other | 26 | 2 | 14 |
In 36 districts (85.71%) 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. This is an increase of one.
There can be no question of the impact of AVR. The question of how many voters registered as Non-Partisan intentionally and how many were the result of the default still remains. That question may be partially answered, depending on turnout, by the number of same-day registrations at the Democratic Party presidential caucus this month and the statewide primary election in June. February numbers will give us another indication.
My husband and I signed a year or so ago, in the hopes of an AB to allow independants to vote in “primaries”/caucus of one’s choice. Where are we at with that?
Thank you
Lisa,
The Greater Choice Greater Voice initiative failed to gather enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. However, when the 2019 legislative session passed AB 345, it included same-day voter registration. As of Jan 1, 2020 voters can register or update their registration at the polls. This effectively opened NV primaries if the voter registers in the party whose primary they wish to vote in. The sponsors of the bill did not realize they did this (unintended consequence). For the caucus this month, the state Democratic Party allows same-day registration either at an early voting site, Feb 15 – 18 or at a caucus precinct on the 22nd. Senator Ben Kieckhefer also recently filed a ballot initiative to have NV switch to a top-two primary. You can read the details here https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/home/showdocument?id=8308 I’ll be putting more out about this following the 15-day challenge period that ends Feb 15th.
Thank you for your continued support.
Doug