Primary election smooth

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Among those who got up at the crack of dawn today to vote in the primary election were people on their way to work, cops, political junkies -- just ordinary folks who want to fulfill their patriotic duty.

"If they held a vote to elect someone to cut the grass, I'd be here," Gene Knott said as he waited in a short line to vote at the Dula Center polls shortly before they opened at 7 a.m.

Knott was one of about 120,000 voters -- out of a Clark County population of more than 1 million -- expected to vote in the Democratic and Republican primaries. There are 445,415 registered voters in the county.

Clark County Registrar of Voters Kathryn Ferguson projected about a 30 percent turnout of registered voters today, compared with a projected 70 percent for the Nov. 5 general election, when the nation elects a president.

"I believe if people don't come out and vote, they have no right to complain about what candidates are chosen," said Erin Loftis, 34, who has been voting regularly since she was 18.

"I find it is easier to vote when the polls open because it is on my way to work."

The polls close at 7 p.m.

Among the early ballot-casters was Sheriff Jerry Keller, who stood in a short line at Hyde Park Middle School.

"I just like to vote early -- I always do," Keller said, noting that he still would have been there at 7 a.m. had Question 1, the public safety bond issue, not been on the ballot.

"Of course, it is high on my list of priorities -- it offers a plan for courts and juvenile services at a time when the county is growing tremendously."

Keller said he did not know how a low voter turnout would affect passage of the $120 million bond that would double the size of the county juvenile detention center, add 1,500 beds to the county jail and help construct a regional justice center.

"That's a question for the political analysts to examine," he said. "I'm just a cop."

Some polling officials said they would like to see the voters prove the prognosticators wrong and respond with a sizable turnout.

"We're looking for 30 to 33 percent, and that's no good for a primary," said Donald Fondriasopolous, a polling clerk. "I'd like to see at least a 50 percent turnout.

"A lot of people don't understand the importance of a primary. This is the process to select the candidates who will run in November. A low turnout means that a small number of people will be making that decision for a lot of general election voters."

One issue in today's primary is the balloting process itself -- new automated voting machines are being used for the first time in all polling places for a primary. Many voters found them easy to use.

"It was as simple as using the ATM machine," said Knott, 56. "It was easier than the old (punch card) system -- just hit a few buttons instead of turning page after page."

A 70-year-old voter at Hyde Park, who declined to give his name, said he had used similar automated systems in New York before moving here and liked them.

Nevada's two congressional districts, three County Commission seats, five state Senate districts and 16 Assembly districts were among the races to be decided today.