Category: Voter Registration Trends

2017 year-end voter registration numbers are in and the Democratic Party lost nearly a full percent in voter share in 2017.  Non-Partisan was the big winner gaining nearly one-half a percent in voter share with voters 18 to 34 years of age registering the highest variances. In December, voter share loses continue to plague the Democratic Party across all demographics and in all legislative districts. Once again the party lost voter share in all four Congressional districts, all state senate districts, and all but two state assembly district while the Republican Party showed mixed results for the month and overall increase in voter share for 2017.

The end of 2017 also showed another milestone; all demographics tracked below have at least 20 percent of registered voters not registered as either Democratic or Republican.

State-Wide

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP 0.30/0.00%; Lib 0.76/0.00%; other 5 parties -0.32/-0.01%

Clark County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP 0.30/0.01%  Lib 0.90/0.00%; other 5 parties -0.09/-0.01%

Washoe County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP 0.00/0.00%; Lib 1.09/0.01%; other 5 parties -0.79 / -0.01%

Rural Counties

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP -0.78/-0.01%; Lib -0.40/0.00%; other 5 parties -1.29/0.00%

18 – 34 Year Old

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP -0.15/-0.01%; Lib 0.34/0.00%; other 5 parties -1.50/-0.03%

55+

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP 0.54/0.01%; Lib 1.13/0.00%; other 5 parties 0.24/0.00%

By district voter share changes.

Congressional Districts

CD 1, CD 2, and CD 4 continue to show 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.

State Senate Districts

In 15 districts (71.43%) 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 number is unchanged from November.

State Assembly Districts

In 31 districts (73.81%) 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 a decrease of one as AD 40 reverted back to being out of this range.

As voters continue to leave the two major political parties, our election system becomes in jeopardy of electing representatives at all levels of government that do not represent the constituency as a whole. This is not healthy for any segment of society. For this not to happen, the system needs to change to meet the needs of the changing political environment. The decision is ours. Nevadans for Election Reform provides the way.

November voter registration data is out and it does not look good for the Democratic Party. Across all demographics; state-wide, Clark County, Washoe County, the rural counties, among voters 18 – 34 years of age and those 55 and over, the party lost voter share while Non-Partisan gained in all but Washoe County where it was unchanged. Minor party registration did almost as well losing share only in Washoe County, gaining in the rural counties and remaining even in the other areas. The Democratic Party also lost voter share in all 21 state senate districts and 41 of the 42 state assembly districts. In assembly district 40 (37,231 active registered voters) the party lost 990 voters while Non-Partisan gained 1,000.

The growth in voter share of the Republican Party is worth noting. Until August, the GOP was suffering similar loss of voter share as the Democratic Party. The party seems to have, at least temporarily, reversed that trend gaining voter share each of the past four months. We will see if this new trend continues.

State-Wide

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.Change is # voters / voter share: IAP 0.49/0.00%; Lib 1.08/0.01%; other 5 parties -0.28/-0.01%

Clark County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.Change is # voters / voter share: IAP 0.62/0.00%  Lib 1.44/0.01%; other 5 parties -0.19/-0.01%

Washoe County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.Change is # voters / voter share: IAP 0.10/-0.01%; Lib 0.16/0.00%; other 5 parties -0.58 / -0.01%

Rural Counties

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.Change is # voters / voter share: IAP 0.41/0.01%; Lib 0.90/0.01%; other 5 parties -0.28/0.00%

18 – 34 Year Old

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters / voter share: IAP 0.21/-0.01%; Lib 1.11/0.01%; other 5 parties 0.17/0.00%

55+

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters / voter share: IAP 0.74/0.01%; Lib -0.66/0.00%; other 5 parties 0.16/0.00%

By district voter share changes.

Congressional Districts

CD 1, CD 2, and CD 4 continue to show 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.

State Senate Districts

In 15 districts (71.43%) 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 number is unchanged from October.

State Assembly Districts

In 32 districts (76.19%) 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 (AD 40).

Except for the segment of voters 55 years of age and older, well over a quarter of voters are not affiliated with either major political party. Among those 18 – 34 years of age, the number is rapidly approaching 40 percent. For government to function for all citizens, this voluntary disengagement must be addressed. Nevadans for Election Reform provides the means.

The secretary of state’s office performed routine voter list maintenance* in October. While the overall number of active registered voters declined by over 36,000, the Republican Party came out the winner increasing voter share in all categories. The maintenance had mixed results for Non-Partisan and minor parties, however, the bad news continues for the Democratic Party; they lost voter share across all demographics.
(* Routine voter list maintenance is done quarterly and involves the moving of voters found to be inactive from the active to inactive lists, the removal of voters reported to be deceased, and removal of voters who have unregistered)

State-Wide

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP -2.60 / -0.01%; Lib -2.20% / 0.00%; other 5 parties -5.71% /-0.04

Clark County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP -4.04% /-0.02%; Lib -4.01% / 0.00%; other 5 parties –7.70% / -0.05%

Washoe County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP +0.33% / 0.00%; Lib +0.88% / 0.01%; other 5 parties -0.15 /   -0.01%

Rural Counties

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP +0.18% / 0.00%; Lib +1.43% / 0.01%; other 5 parties -0.46% / 0.00%

18 – 34 Year Old

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP -4.47% / -0.01%; Lib -3.47% / +0.01%; other 5 parties -7.82% / -0.07%

55+

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.
Change is # voters / voter share: IAP -1.38% / -0.01%; Lib -0.47% / 0.00%; other 5 parties -3.05% / -0.01%

Major party loses also continue in congressional and legislative districts.

Congressional Districts

CD 1, CD 2, and CD 4 continue to show 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.

State Senate Districts

In 15 districts (71.43%) 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. SD 5, which was added last month reverted back.

State Assembly Districts

In 31 districts (73.81%) 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. As was the case in the senate, the changes in AD 9 and 42 reverted back, however, the overall number did not change.

When routine voter list maintenance is performed, decreases in all data elements are the norm. Whether the increase in GOP voter share is strictly a result of this or if other factors also are influencing growth will not be known for a few months.

With candidates for state and federal offices entering the races just seven months before the closed primaries, voter share will become increasingly important. If trends remain intact, fewer voters will be determining who all voters chose between next November in the general election. Voters voluntarily putting themselves in that position send a clear message that the system is broken.  Nevadans for Election Reform has the fix.

September voter registration data is out and the Democratic Party continues to suffer a steady loss of voter share across all demographics.

While Non-Partisan continues to show steady growth, the Republican Party also showed an increase in voter share in Clark County and among those 18 to 34 years of age. GOP voter share also remained unchanged across the state and in Washoe County.  Of the minor political parties, the Independent American Party had mixed raw number changes while holding a steady voter share, the Libertarian Party showed overall increases in raw numbers with no change in voter share, and the “other” category which includes the Green Party lost raw number and voter share.

It is important to note that Non-Partisan voter share in Washoe County topped 20 percent for the first time and the percentage of voters not affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican Party is closing in on 40 percent.

State-Wide

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.Change is # voters / voter share: IAP +0.25% / 0.00%; Lib +0.59% / 0.59%; other 5 parties -1.23% / -0.02%

Clark County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters / voter share: IAP +0.55% /0.00%; Lib +0.98% / 0.00%; other 5 parties -1.35% / -0.02%

Washoe County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters / voter share: IAP -0.33% / 0.01%; Lib -0.32% / 0.00%; other 5 parties -1.18 / -0.01%

Rural Counties

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters / voter share: IAP -0.39% / -0.02%; Lib +0.20% / 0.00%; other 5 parties 0.00% / 0.00%

18 – 34 Year Old

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters / voter share: IAP -0.02% / 0.00%; Lib +0.40% / 0.01%; other 5 parties -2.03% / -0.04%

55+

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters / voter share: IAP +0.41% / 0.00%; Lib +1.26% / 0.00%; other 5 parties 0.03% / 0.00%

Major party loses also continue in congressional and legislative districts.

Congressional Districts

CD 1, CD 2, and CD 4 continue to show 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.

State Senate Districts

In 16 districts (76.19%); an increase of one over August, 2017, 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. Note the Democratic Party continues a major loss of voter share.

State Assembly Districts

In 31 districts (73.81%) 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. While the overall number did not change, in AD 9 the percentage of those not affiliated with either major party now exceeds the percent registered in the Republican Party and in AD 42 the percent registered as Non-Partisan exceeds the GOP voter share. As in the senate, the Democratic Party continues to experience a major loss of voter share.

This trend in voter registration is not healthy for our state. Voters no longer feel represented by either major party and their departure means fewer voters; normally the ideological pure of each party, select the winner of an election given Nevada’s close primary system and the way legislative districts are created. Without major change, we could end up with a government of the few rather than the many.

Nevadans for Election Reform has begun preparation of the Greater Choice – Greater Voice initiative which will allow all voters to have a clear choice and loud voice in all elections. Click here for details.

As the trend in voter share favoring Non-Partisan and minor parties continues, (click here for August, 2017 data) it now appears that come the 2018 general election, more voters could be registered to vote in those categories than will be registered as either Democratic or Republican. If the change in voter share between August 2016 and August 2017 is applied, those registered as Non-Partisan or as a member of a minor party will be over 30 percent. Among voters 18 to 34 years old, that number will be over 40 percent. And while not quite reaching parity, this number will be over 25 percent in the rural counties and over 20 percent among those 55 years of age and older. These numbers are an estimate based on the past year’s change in voter share. My personal opinion is they will be higher. I doubt they’ll be lower.

Back to last month. On the outward appearance, minor parties appear to have fallen in August, 2017. However, the decrease is due to a glitch where the system assigned new voters who did not specify a party to “other” rather than “Non-Partisan.” Bottom line, the two major parties lost voter share.

Again, the GOP did not lose as badly as the Democratic Party. While the Democratic Party lost voter share across all demographics and almost all state senate and assembly districts, the GOP remained unchanged state-wide and had slight increases in voter share in Clark County, the rural counties, and among those 18 to 34 years of age. The GOP also gained voter share in more state senate and assembly district than they lost share.

State-Wide

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters: IAP +0.40%; Lib +0.80%; other 5 parties -7.30%

Clark County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters: IAP +0.68%; Lib +0.93%; other 5 parties -9.47%

Washoe County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters: IAP +0.33%; Lib +0.68%; other 5 parties -0.69

Rural Counties

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters: IAP -0.68%; Lib +0.36%; other 5 parties -0.73%

18 – 34 Year Old

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters: IAP +0.31%; Lib +0.58%; other 5 parties -7.47%

55+

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access. Change is # voters: IAP +0.41%; Lib +1.01%; other 5 parties -6.15%

Major party loses also continue in congressional and legislative districts.

Congressional Districts

Both CD 1, CD 2, and CD 4 continue to show 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.

State Senate Districts

In 15 districts (71.4%) 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. Note the Democratic Party continues a major loss of voter share. parties gained voter share in all districts.

State Assembly Districts

In 31 districts (73.81%) 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 unchanged from last month. As in the senate, the Democratic Party continues to experience a major loss of voter share.

As Nevadans continue to lose confidence in the both the Democratic and Republican Party, look for exciting news in the near future from Nevadans for Election Reform.

Can the Democratic and Republican Party in Nevada stop the downward slide in voter share? Looking at the just released voter registration statistics for July, 2017, it does not look like it. The only bright spot for the Republican Party was in the rural counties where they had a slight gain in voter share. Except for that, both the major parties lost voter share across all tracked demographics. As has been the trend, both Non-Partisan and the minor parties gained share.

The bad news does not stop there. For the second consecutive month, the Democratic Party lost voter share in all 21 state senate districts and all but one state assembly district. In the state’s congressional districts, for the first time, both Non-Partisan and minor parties gained voter share in all four districts.

State-Wide

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.

Change is # voters: IAP +0.63%; Lib +0.96%; other 5 parties +4.46%

Clark County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.

Change is # voters: IAP +0.71%; Lib +1.11%; other 5 parties +5.97%

Washoe County

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.

Change is # voters: IAP +0.95%; Lib +0.89%; other 5 parties -0.03

Rural Counties

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.

Change is # voters: IAP +0.01%; Lib +0.36%; other 5 parties +0.64%

18 – 34 Year Old

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.

Change is # voters: IAP +0.40%; Lib +1.10%; other 5 parties +3.86%

55+

Other includes IAP, Lib, and 5 parties without ballot access.

Change is # voters: IAP +0.76%; Lib +0.94%; other 5 parties +4.82%

Major party loses also continue in congressional and legislative districts.

Congressional Districts

Both CD 1, CD 2, and CD 4 continue to show 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. Note that Non-Partisan and minor parties gained voter share in all districts.

State Senate Districts

In 15 districts (71.4%) and an increase of one over June, 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. Note the Democratic Party lost voter share in all districts for the second consecutive month. At the same time, minor parties gained voter share in all districts.

State Assembly Districts

Unchanged. In 31 districts (73.81%) 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 unchanged from last month. For the second consecutive month, the Democratic Party lost voter share in all but one district.

Senate bill 103 this last session attempted to address this trend. Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford (D – Las Vegas) refused to give the bill a hearing. Not addressing the problem will not make it go away.