Nevada GOP caucuses preregistration tops 2012 participation

by Ben Kamisar - 02/23/16 4:33 PM ET

More Nevada Republicans have preregistered for Tuesday evening’s GOP caucuses than turned out in the state’s 2012 contest.

A Nevada Republican Party official confirmed to The Hill that 37,000 people have preregistered for the caucuses. That’s 3,000 more than the number of participants in Nevada’s last GOP presidential nominating contest.

Veteran Nevada journalist John Ralston first reported the figures Tuesday afternoon, hours before caucus doors opened. He noted that some state sources estimate turnout could be as high as 75,000.

BREAKING: Huge news for NV caucus. GOP official confirms that 37,000 have pre-registered. That’s bigger than overall turnout in 2012!

— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) February 23, 2016

Overall turnout could now be as high as 75K, one GOP insider believes. That’s the good news. Bad news: Even longer to count?

— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) February 23, 2016

While not all those who preregister will show up at a caucus, the news bolsters predictions for a high turnout. That would likely boost the fortunes of Donald Trump, who is relying on a coalition that largely includes first-time caucusgoers.

While Trump currently leads the polls in Nevada, the state is notoriously difficult to survey due, in part, to its unreliable turnout.

Tags Donald Trump Donald Trump Nevada caucus