How Serious Are The Democratic and Republican Party About Regaining Membership

It’s no secret; I point this out every month. The two major political parties have been, and continue to, lose share of registered voters. These voters are not switching parties. They are registering to vote as Non-Partisan. They are choosing not to affiliate with any political party knowing full well they will no longer be able to vote in primary elections or participate in party caucuses. This is happening even as we approach the February, 2016 presidential caucuses and the June, 2016 primary election.

As voters leave the parties, they take their money with them. Neither party can afford this as members are donating to national PAC’s and Super-PAC’s instead of the local party.

Both major political parties know why this is happening. In spite of this, they appear to be unable, or unwilling to stop it. They say they have to make their current positions on issues more appealing to one demographic or another. But I doubt that will reverse the trend of lost support.

Why:

•  Are voters fleeing the Democratic and Republican Parties?
•   Did only 8% of active Republican and 3% of active Democratic voters participate in the 2012 presidential caucuses?
•  Did only 19% of active registered voters participate in both the 2012 and 2014 primary elections?
•  Did only 45% of voters cast ballots in the 2014 general election?
•  Do 57% of State Assembly districts have a difference of less than 5% between the number of voters not registered as either Democratic or Republican and those that are? (In 38% the number not Democratic or Republican is greater)
•  Do 64% of State Senate districts have a difference of less than 5% between the number of voters not registered as either Democratic or Republican and those that are? (In 43% the number not Democratic or Republican is greater)
•  Is the percent of voter share for the Democratic and Republican Parties falling month after month while the percent of Non-Partisan voters is increasing?

 The answer to these questions is simple. The parties have, for one reason or another, staked out positions on the issues that are on the far left or far right of the ideological scale with no room for differences of opinion.  Campaigns and legislative action tend to be based on what is best for the party brand rather than what is best for all constituents. This has left a small minority of vocal, ideologically pure party members in control. Voters have been alienated.  They believe they have been abandoned by the parties. Accordingly they have given up party registration. As it is human nature to want to belong, this decision has most likely been very difficult. But even more disturbing, they have given up on participating in elections.

Lower voter turnout, mostly the so-called party base, requires many candidates to take positions outside their normal comfort zone to get the party nomination then struggle to find a way to not lose that base while convincing the broader spectrum of voters to support them in the general election. If they are successful in being elected, they must often choose between doing what is best for their entire constituency or cast votes that please a vocal yet small percentage of the party. The decision could decide if they are challenged by another party member in the next election.

How then do the Democratic and Republican Party stop the “bleeding”, make it easier on their candidates and elected officials, and get the voters who have left to return? The answer again is simple.

Lawmakers of both parties need to pass legislation that enacts an election system making it easier and less risky for candidates to take positions allowing them to remain in their comfort zone. That allows them to appeal to the broader electorate without jeopardizing their chance for election and subsequent success as an elected representative. That allows them and the party to adopt positions that attracted those who left to join in the first place.  The Nevada Election Modernization and Reform Act (NEMRA) provides such a system.

By changing the way Nevada conducts its elections, requiring candidates to address all voters, both parties will benefit.  By returning to positions that represent the voters who also “lean” or who are truly in the middle rather than just those who are ideologically pure, those who left will once again feel they belong and possibly rejoin the party. With them will come their donations of time and money.

The decision is up to the legislators who will be the 2017 Nevada Legislature. They can decide to retain the current path of voter registration, intra-party dissention, and low voter turnout or return the electoral and legislative process to a place where collaboration, consensus building, and problem solving take priority.  The later will allow the Democratic and Republican Party to regain membership.

Pre-filing a bill draft request (BDR) will show legislators are serious about solving this problem. How serious are the Democratic and Republican Party about regaining membership? Legislators will have to answer that question.