By Erin Weber, Senior Manager for Strategy and Policy
Most of the time, Nevada is known for the Las Vegas strip, Area 51, the Burning Man festival, and Lake Tahoe. But every four years, we learn about a different side of Nevada. We hear about its hospitality industry, which employs almost a quarter of all Nevadans, as well as the 12 percent union membership in the state. We hear about ballot initiatives and major endorsements. In particular, most voters know by election day that Nevada has six electoral votes up for grabs in the presidential election.
Nevada’s diverse, young population takes center stage during presidential elections for a good reason: no one can be entirely certain what will happen there on election day.
Nonpartisan voters outnumber both registered Republicans and Democrats in the Silver State, seemingly leaving over 600,000 votes up for grabs. Given the recent high rate of voter turnout (75% in Nevada in 2020 compared to the 2020 national average of 66%) and the narrow 34,000-vote margin Biden won with last election, it’s no wonder the Harris and Trump camps are ramping up their spending and outreach in the state.
It seems that their efforts are beginning to pay off. Early voting began on October 19, and voters are already turning out in droves. The first weekend of early voting saw more than 47,000 people in Clark County cast their ballots, a number even higher than 2020 and part of the over 479,000 Nevadans who have voted through mail or early voting as of October 25. That means that 10 days out from election day, almost a quarter of active voters in Nevada cast their ballots, and .
With so much at stake, it’s not just campaign offices that are scaling up their efforts to reach potential voters. NWLC Action Fund’s partners in Nevada—Make It Work Nevada and One APIA Nevada—have been knocking on doors, driving across the state, and amplifying the policies important to women and families this election.
Both organizations work around the clock every year to hold elected officials accountable to the needs of their communities. This year, Make It Work Nevada is reaching voters through online platforms and conversations, including during their bus tour. One APIA Nevada is engaging the AAPI community in Nevada, whose population has grown by 45% in recent years, making AAPI voters now over 11% of Nevada’s electorate—including an 8% increase in first-time voters since 2022.
One APIA Nevada recognizes the importance in engaging their community, including knocking on doors and calling voters to ensure they know who is on the ballot and how to vote. We have a big opportunity to engage the 37% of unaffiliated Asian American voters in meaningful outreach, particularly in their native language – assistance that 42% of AAPI voters said they would utilize. That’s also why the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund translated our Nevada voter guide into Tagalog, a language spoken by over 85,000 households in Nevada.
Our partners’ work is invaluable to educating voters on candidates and issues on the ballot. While races up and down the ticket will have an indelible impact on our democracy and policies, Nevada voters also have the opportunity to directly vote for a state constitutional right to abortion (Question 6) and to remove slavery as punishment for crime from the state constitution (Question 4).
If you live in Nevada, there’s so much you can do, too.
- First, check your voter registration, polling location, and make your plan to vote here: https://www.voteamerica.org/how-to-vote/nevada
- Vote Early in person: October 19th- November 1st
- Talk to your friends about how to vote in Nevada, and read and share our Nevada voter guide to amplify the issues at stake this election and which candidates are fighting for freedom, equity, and opportunity.
- Talking to voters is always the most effective way to increase turnout and build power. Canvass for a candidate you believe in, phonebank or host a fundraiser party.
