By Doug Goodman -Founder & Executive Director Nevadans for Election Reform – September 2, 2021
As of the end of August 2021, and for most likely the first time since partisan voting data has been maintained, the combined number of voters registered to vote in Nevada as either Non-Partisan or “other” hold the top voter share spot, overtaking both the Democratic and Republican Party.
In addition to the state-wide numbers:
- In Clark County, the combined total is 9% ahead of the GOP and less than 2% from overtaking the Democratic count.
- In Washoe County, the combined total now is the top group exceeding both the Democratic and Republican count.
- In all 15 rural counties, the combined total dwarfs Democratic registration with NP exceeding in 13. The Republican party holds less than a majority in Carson City, and in Lyon, Mineral (combined total is less than 5% behind the GOP), Nye, and Storey counties.
- Among voters 18-34 years of age, Non-Partisan registration holds the top spot with the combined total nearly 12% higher than Democratic registration.
- Voters 55 years of age and older are the one strong spot for the major parties with both the Democratic and Republican Party holding slightly under 40% voter share.
- Combined Non-Partisan and “other” voter share exceeds both the Democratic and Republican Party in:
- 1 Congressional district
- 4 state senate districts
- 8 state assembly districts
State-Wide
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 459 | 0.07% | 34.78% | -0.25% |
| R | 483 | 0.09% | 30.40% | -0.22% |
| NP | 10,313 | 2.13% | 26.44% | 0.35% |
| IAP | 444 | 0.53% | 4.51% | -0.01% |
| LIB | 137 | 0.76% | 0.97% | 0.00% |
| Other | 2,903 | 5.64% | 2.91% | 0.13% |
| Total not D or R | 34.83% | 0.47% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
Clark County
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 602 | 0.12% | 37.68% | -0.28% |
| R | 264 | 0.07% | 26.61% | -0.21% |
| NP | 7,773 | 2.19% | 27.32% | 0.36% |
| IAP | 337 | 0.59% | 4.35% | -0.01% |
| LIB | 77 | 0.68% | 0.86% | 0.00% |
| Other | 2,309 | 5.81% | 3.17% | 0.15% |
| Total not D or R | 35.71% | 0.50% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
Washoe County
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | -195 | -0.18% | 33.12% | -0.20% |
| R | -89 | -0.08% | 33.24% | -0.17% |
| NP | 1,138 | 1.42% | 25.12% | 0.25% |
| IAP | 53 | 0.36% | 4.61% | 0.00% |
| LIB | 30 | 0.72% | 1.29% | 0.00% |
| Other | 418 | 5.18% | 2.62% | 0.12% |
| Total not D or R | 33.64% | 0.37% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
Rural Counties
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 52 | 0.12% | 19.71% | -0.16% |
| R | 308 | 0.29% | 49.05% | -0.31% |
| NP | 1,402 | 2.84% | 23.09% | 0.43% |
| IAP | 54 | 0.47% | 5.28% | -0.02% |
| LIB | 30 | 1.22% | 1.13% | 0.00% |
| Other | 176 | 4.85% | 1.73% | 0.06% |
| Total not D or R | 31.24% | 0.47% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
18 – 34 Year Old
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | -237 | -0.13% | 34.56% | -0.40% |
| R | -344 | -0.33% | 19.29% | -0.27% |
| NP | 4,682 | 2.50% | 36.15% | 0.52% |
| IAP | 108 | 0.45% | 4.55% | -0.03% |
| LIB | 48 | 0.59% | 1.55% | -0.01% |
| Other | 1,178 | 6.04% | 3.90% | 0.18% |
| Total not D or R | 46.15% | 0.66% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
55+
| Party | Change in # Voters | % Change | % Voter Share | Difference in Voter Share % |
| D | 559 | 0.21% | 36.09% | -0.15% |
| R | 600 | 0.20% | 39.23% | -0.16% |
| NP | 2,529 | 1.90% | 18.11% | 0.23% |
| IAP | 225 | 0.70% | 4.31% | 0.00% |
| LIB | 24 | 0.74% | 0.44% | 0.00% |
| Other | 675 | 5.20% | 1.83% | 0.08% |
| Total not D or R | 24.68% | 0.31% |
Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.
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 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 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.
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 | 15 | 0 | 6 |
| LIB | 2 | 3 | 16 |
| 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.
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 | 4 | 9 |
| LIB | 10 | 10 | 22 |
| 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.
The numbers speak for themselves. How will the Democratic and Republican Party react? How will the voters react come for the 2022 primary and general elections? Could there be interest in exploring alternative voting methods so the largest voting bloc in the state is not disenfranchised?
The Non-partisans should really be called “no-party”; perhaps the two major parties would wake up and smell the coffee.
While there are reasons to have political parties, they have buried themselves by dictating to candidates how to vote, holding or withholding monetary and campaign support, and by choosing one candidate over another from the same party. Instead of candidates being beholden to the Party, the Party should be beholden to the Candidate.
Other states use “no party preference” or “unaffiliated”
Could not agree more with your last sentence.