Nevadans Said "No" to Outsiders—And It’s Time for Real Election Reform

Nevadans Said “No” to Outsiders—And It’s Time for Real Election Reform

Good Governance

| November 8, 2024

Nevadans, we did it! Together with Nevada Policy and our fierce community allies, we stood up to millions of out-of-state dollars and big-money campaigns pushing for open primaries and ranked-choice voting. And guess what?

Despite being out-funded 10 to 1, we won. This wasn’t just any victory; it was a triumph of Nevadans saying “NO” to sweeping changes that don’t reflect who we are or what we need.

At Nevada Policy, we believe real reform doesn’t mean changing the rules to be more complicated or confusing. Real reform means keeping things simple, secure, and Nevadans-first.

We joined forces with strategic supporters across the state—community leaders, advocates, and everyday Nevadans who saw through the hype of Question 3. And we showed the country that Nevada doesn’t need outside influence to decide what’s best for our elections.

But our work isn’t done yet.

Now is the time to take the win and double down on true election reform that strengthens our process, speeds things up, and restores faith in our system. Here’s how we can make it happen:

1. Shift to Request-Only Mail Ballots

Nevada needs a more tailored approach to mail-in ballots. By moving to a request-only system, we ensure that ballots go directly to voters who want them, cutting down on waste, costs, and possible mishandling. Plus, we’re putting choice back in the hands of voters. Originally universal mail-in ballots were a policy during the pandemic, which made sense at the time. Now 4 years later, we need to leave this practice in the past and find modern ways to move elections forward.

2. Set a Hard Deadline for Returned Ballots

This one’s a no-brainer! Here’s the deal: while most states have finished counting their votes, Nevada is still at it. Imagine the ease if we adopted a firm deadline, like Florida, where mail-in ballots must arrive on or before election day. This would mean quicker, more efficient results that Nevadans can rely on—no more waiting around while 48 other states have already wrapped up. Nevadans should expect election outcomes that are timely, accurate, and don’t leave us lagging behind the rest of the country.

3. Stop Taxpayer Funding for the Political Parties Primary Elections

Here’s the thing: our tax dollars should go toward running fair and secure general elections—not into saving political parties the expense of choosing their nominees. Imagine a neighborhood potluck where everyone pitches in, but one family shows up empty-handed, expecting everyone else to cover their share. That’s what it feels like when political parties use taxpayer money to fund their candidate selection process. Political parties should, like any third party, take responsibility for their own processes without leaning on taxpayers to foot the bill.

Let’s take this momentum forward to build an electoral system that’s as strong, clear, and resilient as the people of Nevada. Real reform is here, and it’s coming straight from the heart of Nevada. Let’s keep going, together.

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John Tsarpalas

John Tsarpalas is the President of the Nevada Policy, and is deeply committed to spreading limited government ideas and policy to create a better, more prosperous Nevada for all. For over three decades, John has educated others in the ideals and benefits of limited government. In the 1980s, John joined the Illinois Libertarian Party and served on its State Central Committee. Later in the 90s, he transitioned to the Republican Party, and became active in the Steve Forbes for President Campaign and flat taxes. In 2005, he was recruited to become the Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party where he graduated from the Republican National Committee’s Campaign College, the RNC’s Field Management School, and the Leadership Institute’s activist training. Additionally, John has served as President of the Sam Adams Alliance and Team Sam where he did issue education and advocacy work in over 10 states, with a focus on the web. John also founded or helped start the following educational not-for-profits: Think Freely Media, the Haym Salomon Center – where he served as Chairman, the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity and Midwest Speaking Professionals. A native of Chicago, John now lives in Las Vegas with his wife of more than 40 years.