Nevada bill could bring ‘Twilight Zone’ of perpetual politics

The Clark County Election Department warehouse, 965 Trade Drive, in North Las Vegas is seen during a tour Monday, April 27, 2015. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Erik Verduzco on Twitter @Erik_Verduzco

CARSON CITY — Brace yourself, Nevada. If nasty commercials and mailboxes stuffed with campaign fliers incite annoyance, it will get a whole lot worse if a bill making its way through the Legislature becomes law.

Under Senate Bill 421, approved by the Senate and now in the Assembly, Nevada’s primary election held in even-numbered years would come nearly four months earlier — on the last Tuesday in February instead of the second Tuesday in June.

Following the midwinter primary, the campaign for the general election would stretch out nine months.

“It’s a political consultant’s dream,” said David Damore, political scientist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The bill would scrap Nevada’s presidential caucus system, replacing it with secret-ballot primary voting. A provision would allow the Democratic Party to opt out of the presidential primary and stick to a caucus with advance notice, but both parties would still have to participate in the primary election for state and local offices.

Republican supporters argue the change would protect the Silver State’s influence in the presidential selection process and invite more voter participation.

But it also would upend the in-state political landscape — big-time. Candidates for everything from Congress, governor and the Legislature to county commissioners, sheriffs and judgeships would have to declare their intent a year in advance.

County election officials are wringing their hands over the logistics to meet a tight deadline that would have candidates filing before Thanksgiving for a general election a year away. Judicial candidates would file even sooner — around Labor Day.

And voters turned off by biennial bombardments of political sniping would get no yuletide respite. Those holiday moments, snuggling with the kids watching the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” would be shattered by obnoxious robocalls.

Welcome to the “Twilight Zone” of perpetual politics.

SOLUTION TO GOP RIFT

SB421 is the Republican Party’s proposed salve for a rift within its ranks. The move is seen as a way to appeal to more GOP voters and lessen the influence of grass-roots party activists who are more motivated to turn out for precinct caucuses — and commandeer the party’s direction.

In 2012, Mitt Romney won Nevada’s GOP caucus, getting 50 percent of the caucus vote. But some members of the Nevada delegation broke ranks at the national convention, voting to nominate former Texas Rep. Ron Paul. That accentuated a long-simmering divide within the Nevada Republican Party between conservatives and moderates.

This election cycle, several Republican presidential candidates are threatening to snub Nevada’s first-in-the-West caucus because the state GOP is run by Rand Paul loyalists, giving the U.S. senator from Kentucky a perceived advantage. Should other Republican hopefuls skip Nevada, the state would lose its relevance in shaping the national presidential debate.

The bill would require delegates to a national convention not be selected until after the primary results are certified and that delegate voting at a national convention “reasonably” reflect the outcome of the primary.

A key backer of the bill, state Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, said Nevadans are uncomfortable meeting in small groups and airing their candidate preferences openly, as is done in a caucus. Instead, Settelmeyer said, they’d rather make their selections privately at the ballot box.

“I think anything we can do to increase voter participation is a good idea,” he said.

The bill passed in the Senate 11-9, with all Democrats opposed.

“If they want to have a presidential primary for Sheldon Adelson, let Sheldon Adelson pay for it,” state Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, said on the Senate floor, referencing the billionaire casino owner and mega GOP donor.

State Sen. Kelvin Atkinson, also D-Las Vegas, said the Republican establishment was trying to upset Nevada’s election cycle to overcome “folks who have gone rogue” in their own party.

LOGISTICAL QUANDARY

Pure politics aside, election officials are worried about the logistics of having to schedule and prepare for a major election so close to the holidays.

“You’re asking me to train 3,000 poll workers leading into a big election between November and Christmas,” Joe Gloria, Clark County registrar of voters, said.

But getting the volunteer force trained during the holidays is doubtful.

“What’s going to end up happening, we’re going to have to compact our training in the month of January,” he said, adding getting it done will require staff to work weekends and overtime.

Another big concern is polling places. Clark County has 274. Of those, 192 are at schools.

Gloria said his office works closely with school district officials to coordinate use of school buildings and ensure easy access for voters while maintaining security for students.

In June, most schools are on summer break. Not so in February, when students will be in class.

Luanne Cutler, Washoe County registrar, shared Gloria’s concerns over schools and election workers.

“Our schools in Washoe County are probably about 60 percent of our polling places,” Cutler said.

“It’s very difficult anymore to have an election in a school where there’s children present.”

Cutler said it takes her office about two months to train poll workers. The new primary date, she said, “pushes us into December.”

“Are you really going to get poll workers to come to a class in December?” she asked.

Election officials also worry that February’s often cold, snowy or dreary weather and overall lack of interest by the electorate would further depress voter turnout, especially in non­presidential election years. Only 19 percent of voters cast ballots in the 2014 primary.

“If turnout is low in June, what do you think it’s going to be like in February?” Gloria asked.

INCUMBENT ADVANTAGE

Challengers will have a tough time getting voters’ attention at a time of year when most people could care less about politics and elections.

“It’s an incumbent protection plan,” said state Sen. Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas.

Knocking on doors in the dark around the holiday season is not likely to energize supporters, he said.

Damore agreed.

“People aren’t going to be thinking about an election. It’s going to be harder to target them if you’re an unknown candidate,” he said. “It’s going to be really, really tough for anybody to break through.”

And then there’s the voter turnoff factor.

“I remember the uproar when the primary was moved to June because there were some people who thought it was too early,” Cutler said.

“People get sick of it,” she said. “You’re going to have some serious voter burnout.”

Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Reno, sponsored an unsuccessful bill in 2011 to move the primary to September from its current date in June.

“Filing in March and campaigning through November makes the election season in Nevada longer than the Major League Baseball season,” Hickey said during a committee hearing four years ago.

If SB421 becomes law, Nevada’s political season will become a year-round sport.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb.