Nevada Legislature: Panel revives, OKs proposal to dump caucus system

A Nevada panel has revived and passed a measure that would change the state’s presidential caucus to a primary election.

The Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections voted to approve Senate Bill 421 on a 6-4 vote on Thursday, a day after the proposal failed a vote in the same committee.

The measure would allow national political party heads to change Nevada’s current caucus system for selecting a presidential candidate to a primary election. Supporters say the change would increase voter turnout and avoid a confusing caucus process.

Democrats on the committee said they were concerned that a primary election would be costly.

Another bill, AB302, would also change the caucus to a primary and is alive in another Assembly committee. It’s been granted an exemption from legislative deadlines.