Election Department launches voting campaign

Thursday, June 20, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

If TV ads can sell soap, they ought to be able to encourage voting.

That theory has prompted the Clark County Election Department to spend $100,000 of taxpayer money to entice Las Vegans to vote.

"We have a lot of voter apathy here," said Registrar of Voters Kathryn Ferguson.

At a press conference Wednesday to announce the "Ready, Set, Vote" campaign, Ferguson noted that Nevada is third worst in voter registration.

In 1994, when the last national elections were held, only 57 percent of Nevada's adults 18 and over registered.

Only Georgia and South Carolina, at 54 percent each, had a lower registration rate.

The first-ever campaign in Clark County to reverse that trend begins Monday with a TV, radio and newspaper advertising blitz.

Punam Mather, director of government affairs for Mirage Resorts, attended the news conference and said the casino company, which is the state's largest private employer, is encouraging its 18,000 workers to register, even if it means leaving work early.

Also in attendance was Gilda Haus, Nevada coordinator for American Association of Retired Persons/VOTE.

"There are critical issues being decided every day, particularly at the national level, that affect people over 50," Haus said.

Ferguson is hoping to boost participation among voters in every age category. As of June 1, 388,715 voters were registered in Clark County. Ferguson said she'd like to see that number increase by 25,000.

Ferguson also said she hopes at least 35,000 people will vote early. The primary election is Sept. 3, and the general is Nov. 5

Any registered voter can cast primary ballots Aug. 17-30, or general ballots Oct. 19-Nov. 1.

Early voting will take place at the election department in the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, and at the Boulevard, Meadows and Galleria malls. At least 20 other locations, including government buildings, have been designated as early-voting sites.

For more information about voter registration and early voting, call 455-8683.