Trend Returns; Non-Partisan Gain Share While Major Parties Lose

By Doug Goodman -Founder & Executive Director Nevadans for Election Reform

Voter registration statistics for July show the trend returning; Non-Partisan gaining voter share while the major parties lose, substantiating my belief last month that major party increases, especially in the Democratic Party, were the result of voter shock of not being able to vote in some major races in the primary because of minor party or Non-Partisan voter registration. Exceptions to the trend: Democratic gain in Washoe County and GOP gain among in the rural counties and with  voters 55 years of age and older.

State-Wide

Party Change in # Voters % Change % Voter Share Difference in Voter Share %
D 2,057 0.37 38.45 0.00
R 1,610 0.32 33.95 -0.02
NP 1,678 0.54 21.22 0.04
IAP 101 0.06 4.41 -0.01
LIB 69 0.48 0.99 0.00
Other -4 -0.03 0.97 0.00
Total not D or R 27.59 0.03

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, and others

Clark County

Party Change in # Voters % Change % Voter Share Difference in Voter Share %
D 2,958 0.61 42.11 -0.03
R 1,958 0.65 29.75 -0.01
NP 1,961 0.88 22.11 0.04
IAP 425 0.48 4.15 -0.01
LIB 120 1.32 0.91 0.01
Other 102 1.04 0.97 0.00
Total not D or R 28.14 0.04

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, and others

Washoe County

Party Change in # Voters % Change % Voter Share Difference in Voter Share %
D -710 -0.78 35.27 0.09
R -1,087 -1.12 37.39 -0.03
NP -505 -0.96 20.32 0.01
IAP -365 -1.58 4.49 -0.03
LIB -68 -2.05 1.27 -0.01
Other -112 -3.36 1.26 -0.03
Total not D or R 27.34 -0.06

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, and others

Rural Counties

Party Change in # Voters % Change % Voter Share Difference in Voter Share %
D 169 0.38 23.18 -0.05
R 739 0.75 51.74 0.07
NP 222 0.66 17.68 0.01
IAP 41 0.16 5.74 -0.03
LIB 17 0.81 1.11 0.00
Other 6 0.56 0.56 0.00
Total not D or R 25.09 -0.02

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 1,067 0.72 38.45 0.01
R 382 0.43 23.53 -0.06
NP 1,066 0.93 30.13 0.07
IAP 138 0.63 4.62 0.00
LIB 21 0.32 1.74 -0.01
Other 6 0.10 1.53 -0.01
Total not D or R 38.02 0.05

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, and others

55+

Party Change in # Voters % Change % Voter Share Difference in Voter Share %
D 518 0.21 38.99 -0.02
R 1,063 0.42 41.23 0.06
NP 133 0.15 14.63 -0.02
IAP -47 -0.19 4.14 -0.02
LIB -1 -0.04 0.45 0.00
Other 2 0.06 0.57 0.00
Total not D or R 19.79 -0.04

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 1 3 0
Non-Partisan 0 4 0
IAP 3 0 1
LIB 1 2 1
Other 1 1 2

CD 1and CD 2 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 15 4 2
Republican 6 13 2
Non-Partisan 3 17 1
IAP 16 3 2
LIB 5 10 6
Other 8 9 4

In 15 districts (71.14%) 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. There was no change from June.

State Assembly Districts

Party # Districts Lose Voter Share # Districts Gain Voter Share # Districts No Change
Democratic 29 10 3
Republican 19 22 1
Non-Partisan 7 33 2
IAP 27 10 5
LIB 10 20 12
Other 19 16 7

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. There was no change from June.

Going into July, the question was would the major party share gains of June continue. Given the intense voter registration efforts currently being conducted by the parties and candidates, it was possible. The fact the growth does not appear to be continuing reinforces the idea that voters may not share the parties’ visions or current paths and are more comfortable not affiliating with any political party. This also highlights the need for change in how we conduct our elections so the growing number of voter not affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican Party are equally represented.