ELECTORAL VOTES 6

2012 ELECTION Swing State New! 2012 Nevada Polls >>

ABOUT
NEVADA

2010 Census Reapportionment: Nevada saw the largest percentage growth in population over the past decade (about 35%). The state will gain one electoral vote, giving it 6 for the 2012, 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.



Nevada gained statehood in October 1864, one of two states to join the Union during the Civil War. In the 1864 election, Nevada ended up with an anomalous two electoral votes, when the third elector was snowbound. Since the new state’s legislature had not yet convened, there was no mechanism to select a replacement. The state had three electoral votes through 1980. The population of the Silver State has more than tripled since 1980, bringing its number of electoral votes to six. Although Republicans were dominant from the late 60s to late 80s, this influx of population has put Nevada squarely into the swing state category. In 2008, Nevadans voted for Barack Obama over John McCain by a margin of 55% to 43%.