We're talking to Nevada voters. Here's what role the state could play in the election

How Nevada swings on Election Day could tip the 2024 presidential election.

The southwest state — with two Democratic senators, a Republican governor and a quickly growing population that looks to be politically purplish — has just six Electoral College votes.

But in the race to reach 270 — and given how close the race is in other battleground states — Nevada’s handful of votes could deliver The White House to either Vice President Harris or former President Donald Trump.

In the last two presidential elections, 15 of Nevada's 17 counties voted Republican. But the two counties that didn’t — Clark and Washoe — make up almost 90% of Nevada’s population, according to Census data.

The state voted Democrat in recent presidential elections, but not by much. Voter registration for the two main parties are pretty equally split and even more are technically registered as “Non-Partisan.”

NPR’s Morning Edition is reporting from Nevada all week telling stories about the state and its voters.

Nevada’s significance

Of the six states that NPR is visiting that could determine who wins the White House in November — Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Pennsylvania — Nevada has the fewest Electoral College votes.

But that doesn’t mean it’s the least important state to the candidates.

Jon Ralston, founder and editor-in-chief of the nonprofit news site The Nevada Independent, said there’s a surrogate from Harris’ team in Nevada “almost every day.”

For Republicans to win the state, they’ll need to focus efforts on the two largest counties, as the 15 smaller counties voted overwhelmingly Republican in recent elections and are expected to do so again.

“While we may not be the deciding state, it's also not impossible,” Ralston said.