NEW NEVADA LAW ALLOWS 17-YEAR-OLDS TO PRE-REGISTER

at Mandalay Bay just 15 minutes before the shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival began.

“It just really (spurred) me to get involved when it comes to protecting students and when it comes to making sure that there isn’t a mass shooting at UNLV, there isn’t a mass shooting at CSN, there isn’t a mass shooting at Nevada State College,” he said. “It’s a really hot-button topic and issue among young voters right now.”

Catarata said he’s seen gun violence inspire first-time activists who may not have otherwise become involved in politics. In Nevada especially, he said, residents have not seen real reform on gun laws after Oct. 1.

A group convened by Gov. Brian Sandoval has made recommendations about school safety, such as a call for more school resource officers. While many changes will take time and money to act on, the state has also been unable to enforce its narrowly approved gun background check law from 2016. Catarata said Oct. 1 spurred local activism that was further buoyed by frustrations over the mothballed background check law, and that after Parkland, local activists looked to respond further, organizing walkouts and marching for gun law reform.

“We are a battleground state,” he said. “As we are a battle born state, we are also responsible gun owners, and we should be leading the nation.”

The uptick in Nevada’s young voter registration numbers has been helped by Senate Bill 144, passed by the 2017 Legislature, Megown said. The bill opened up pre-registration for 17-year-olds who would be 18 by Election Day. Megown said NextGen has met teens who were excited to take advantage of the new law, noting that the group has always tried to engage this age group as well as new voters who are a bit older.

The group focuses on education as well, Megown said, especially on early voting, to help ensure these newly registered voters actually turn in ballots.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity that all Nevadans have,” he said. “We’re very much encouraging young people, especially those who have never done this before, just about how easy that process is so that they’re more encouraged to follow through at the end.”

MIRANDA ALAM / SPECIAL TO THE SUN Tyson Megown, Nevada state director of NextGen America, speaks May 22 during a panel hosted by NextGen America at Three Square in Las Vegas. The organization says the number of young people registering to vote in Nevada is up 6.6 percent in the five...