Democratic Party Continues to Take a Beating in Voter Registration

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

Party	Change in # Voters	% Change	% Voter Share	Difference in Voter Share %
D	695	0.12	39.08	-0.06
R	1,296	0.26	33.10	0.00
NP	1,856	0.59	21.28	0.07
Other	33	0.03	6.53	-0.02
Total not D or R			27.81	0.05

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

Party	Change in # Voters	% Change	% Voter Share	Difference in Voter Share %
D	1,376	0.31	42.66	-0.09
R	1,779	0.59	28.87	0.02
NP	2,060	0.89	22.25	0.08
Other	159	0.24	6.22	-0.02
Total not D or R			28.47	0.06

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

Party	Change in # Voters	% Change	% Voter Share	Difference in Voter Share %
D	-530	-0.60	35.30	-0.03
R	-486	-0.52	37.53	0.00
NP	-181	-0.36	20.01	0.03
Other	-88	-0.47	7.17	0.00
Total not D or R			27.18	0.03

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

Party	Change in # Voters	% Change	% Voter Share	Difference in Voter Share %
D	-151	-0.34	23.88	-0.05
R	3	0.00	51.19	0.06
NP	-23	-0.07	17.47	0.01
Other	-38	-0.27	7.46	-0.01
Total not D or R			24.93	0.00

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

Party	Change in # Voters	% Change	% Voter Share	Difference in Voter Share %
D	-164	-0.11	39.15	-0.07
R	258	0.29	22.60	0.05
NP	330	0.28	30.12	0.06
Other	-134	-0.41	8.12	-0.04
Total not D or R			38.24	0.02

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+

Party	Change in # Voters	% Change	% Voter Share	Difference in Voter Share %
D	626	0.26	39.59	-0.06
R	916	0.37	40.49	-0.01
NP	776	0.87	14.66	0.07
Other	141	0.44	5.26	0.00
Total not D or R			19.92	0.07

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

Party	# Districts Lose Voter Share	# Districts Gain Voter Share	# Districts No Change
Democratic	4	0	0
Republican	1	2	1
Non-Partisan	0	4	0
Other	4	0	0

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

Party	# Districts Lose Voter Share	# Districts Gain Voter Share	# Districts No Change
Democratic	20	1	0
Republican	7	13	1
Non-Partisan	2	19	0
Other	13	4	4

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

Party	# Districts Lose Voter Share	# Districts Gain Voter Share	# Districts No Change
Democratic	37	4	1
Republican	13	24	5
Non-Partisan	4	37	1
Other	26	7	9

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.