RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Truckee Meadows Community College Political Science Professor Fred Lokken says Nevada is known to have voters who participate only marginally when they arrive at the ballot box.
“We have always been one of the states that is high in just coming in to vote for one or two issues,” says Professor Lokken. “But we have a number of issues there. I think that means the average voter will vote for either eight or ten items.”
Lokken believes that motivation will cascade down to Nevada from national events or politics.
He says the economy and immigration policies are having, and will continue to have, an impact on Nevadans.
He expects that will determine who voters cast their ballot for, particularly when it comes to constitutional offices like Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State.
“We’ll have a second year with more issues and controversies that just gives more substance to the fall campaign,” says Lokken.
He says both parties will get their constituents to the polls or to mail in their ballots.
But it’s the non-partisan voter who will ultimately determine which candidate claims victory. Non-partisan voters have the highest number of people registered in the state. Lokken says the party with the second and third highest numbers of registrants could change more than once throughout 2026.
The entire Nevada Assembly and half of the Senate will be determined in November. Again, national events may determine if the Democrats continue their majority, increase it or if their margins decrease.
Lokken adds that the November 2025 special legislative session may have an impact if the average voter benefited or received no benefit at all.
Question 6 will be on the ballot once again this November. It would place reproductive rights into Nevada’s Constitution. It passed in 2024 with 64% of the vote and needs to be approved again in 2026 for the state constitution to be amended.
Lokken points again to national events surrounding abortion and their impact on the Nevada voter. It means this ballot question, and candidates who oppose it or support it, will likely bring Nevadans to the polls or mail-in ballot locations.
Nevada’s Primary Elections are June 9, 2026, but early voting beings May 23, 2026.
The General Election is November 3, 2026. Early voting begins October 17, 2026.
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