"Low Turnout And A Transient Population Make The Nevada Caucuses Unpredictable"

[Donkees]

"People don't move to Nevada to develop community. They move to Nevada to make money." - David Damore, University of Nevada, Las Vegas political scientist


“People don’t move to Nevada to develop community, they move to Nevada to make money,” he says. “You look at the predictors of political engagement – community ties, education, marital status, age, wealth – a lot of those … there’s just not the high levels that would allow you to have voter turnout that would match the population.”

That means Nevada tends to be one of the lowest voting states, and one of the lowest voter registration states, Damore says.

And that’s why so much effort is going into teaching Nevada Democrats how to caucus.




“The turnover of residency in Nevada is pretty high, and the only other real caucus we did was in 2008 – so a lot of people have moved. And moved in and moved out since 2008,” she says. “So I think it’s crucial.”

You can tell by her southern accent, Duffy is an example of a typical Nevadan – someone who came here from somewhere else.

So it begs the question: With low voter turnout, a population that doesn’t stick around and a voting system that’s new and unfamiliar – why is Nevada third in line to pick the Democratic presidential nominee?

The answer: Harry Reid. Former Senate Majority Leader, and arguably the most powerful politician in Nevada.

At a recent press conference, a reporter asked the senator if Nevada will hold the “First in the West” position after he retires.

“Sure hope so, if I have anything to say about it,” he said.

The results of this Saturday’s caucus will be read like tea leaves by the rest of the country, as pundits and voters alike track where the race between Sanders and Clinton is headed.


“What you have to view these caucuses as is a party-building exercise more than anything else. The state party and Harry Reid are using these events to increase their registration numbers,” he says, and laughs. “That’s the main reason it’s organized the way it is.”

http://digital.vpr.net/post/low-turnout-and-transient-population-make-nevada-caucuses-unpredictable#stream/0

[Donkees]

1. Prior to 2008...

Prior to 2008, Nevada usually held primary elections, not caucuses, to choose delegates for the Democratic and Republican national convention. In both cases, these delegates then choose party nominees for the general presidential election. Many parties have held state level caucuses since the 1960s; however, 2008 was the first time both the Democratic and Republican parties held caucuses throughout the local (precinct), county, and state levels.[4]

[appalachiablue]

2. High home forclosure rates also disrupt people's voting participation in NV & other places.

Thanks for the article, I'd come across some of the info. and also the influence of Harry Reid still in Nevada.

[Donkees]

4. You're right about the foreclosures!

[Donkees]

3. "Wellstone Ruled" replied to this thread in the primaries forum:

The so called born and raised here persons are such a small percentage of the total population. It is very transient,and the Education System is last or next to last,depending on the day of the week,in the Nation. We are in the battle to be worst with Mississippi.

At yesterday's Caucus,at our precinct,only two persons from our precinct was at the 2012 Caucus. And both of those Ladies were in their 90's .