In 2021, Harry Reid (former senator to NV) passed legislation (AB321) to include primaries in hopes of increasing voter turn-out.
[3] Prior to 1981, Nevada usually held primary elections, not caucuses, to choose delegates for the Democratic and Republican national convention.
Party leaders and state officials believed that switching from a primary election to a caucus would streamline Nevada's move to becoming an early contender in the nomination process.
As a result of switching from a late presidential primary to an early caucus, Nevada has gained electoral prominence.
Historically, New Hampshire's primary and Iowa's caucus have shared the electoral limelight, marking the beginning of the presidential campaign season.
America's increasing ethnic diversity, urbanization, and geographic redistribution made influential political leaders come to the realization that New Hampshire and Iowa were not representative of the United States.
Following the 2004 election, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid began making a case for Nevada as the perfect American microcosm.
Nevadans have gained electoral prominence as a direct result of switching from a late presidential primary to an early caucus.
The caucuses are held every four years to determine whom Nevada's delegates will support in choosing Republican and Democratic presidential candidates.
In addition to the voting and the presidential preference choices, caucus-goers may begin the process of writing their parties’ platforms by introducing resolutions, but most of that is not dealt with until the state convention level.
Voters may register or change party affiliation on Caucus Day or at their in-person early vote location.
The at-large precincts were at the Wynn, Bellagio, The Mirage, Paris Las Vegas, New York-New York, Flamingo, Caesars Palace, and The Rio, all located in Clark County.
[10] In 2012, the general expectation was that, with President Barack Obama having the advantage of incumbency and being the only viable candidate running, the race would be primarily pro forma.
Thus, all delegates are unbound until the state convention in April, but they generally represent the preferences expressed by fellow Republicans in the straw poll.
[12] The 2012 Republican Party caucus combined Nevada's 1,835 precincts into 125 sites in order to ease the voting process.
Also as a result, the Nevada Republican Party, along with Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, then sought to move their caucuses back into early January.