As I’ve mentioned in other posts on this blog, the move to the extreme by the two major political parties is causing them to lose membership. I’ve highlighted how the current political divide along strict ideological lines negatively impacts our daily lives. I’ve posted links showing how the use of open, non-partisan blanket primaries such as the top-three proposed in the Nevada Election Modernization and Reform Act (NEMRA) allow parties to return to addressing the concerns of the median voter and win elections.
Just how many voters have become so disillusioned and frustrated by the move to the fringe by the Democrat and Republican parties that they have voluntarily given up part of their right to vote? Since May, 2010; the close of registration for the primary election, the number of voters registered as Non-Partisan has grown by nearly three percent; an 18 percent difference. Those registered as Independent American, Libertarian, or other party has grown by just under one percent; a 12 percent difference. At the same time, Democrat and Republican registration have both dropped just under two percent each; a four and five percent negative change respectively. The trend continued following the primary election just completed six weeks ago.
|
Election
|
Non-Partisan
|
Other
|
Total
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
|
Primary 2010
|
15.8%
|
5.7%
|
21.6%
|
43.2%
|
35.2%
|
|
General 2010
|
16.2%
|
6.1%
|
22.1%
|
42.7%
|
35.2%
|
|
Primary 2012
|
16.9%
|
6.0%
|
22.9%
|
42.1%
|
35.0%
|
|
General 2012
|
17.8%
|
6.2%
|
24.0%
|
42.3%
|
33.7%
|
|
Primary 2014
|
18.4%
|
6.4%
|
24.8%
|
41.5%
|
33.7%
|
|
June 2014
|
18.6%
|
6.4%
|
25.0%
|
41.4%
|
33.6%
|
The major political parties in Nevada can reverse this self-destruction. They can act to increase voter participation at all levels of the election process and return to representing the views of the majority of their members and the electorate as a whole. They can regain some of this lost membership and possibly add new members, especially the younger voters. All it takes is enacting the Nevada Election Modernization and Reform Act during the 2015 Nevada legislative session.