Increase in early voting seen with presidential election

Jace Radke

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2000 | 10:27 a.m.

Early voting is expected to become even more popular during this fall's primary and general elections, partly because of an expected push in total voters for the presidential election.

Registrar Larry Lomax says about one-third of Clark County votes cast in the last few elections have been early, and he expects that number to grow.

"Once someone sees how easy it is and doesn't have to wait in line on Election Day, they'll always use it," Lomax said. "Ninety-eight percent of the people who have used early voting before use it again."

Early voting participation usually doubles about every two years, but because of the presidential election, Lomax said that number may jump higher this year.

In 1998's primary election, 43,312 of the 142,107 total votes were cast early, and in the general election 85,646 of the 257,601 total votes were early.

Those numbers combine with an increase in voter registration through June. Clark County had 603,634 registered voters through the end of June: 268,254 Democrats and 230,515 Republicans. Last year there were 560,189 registered voters: 250,568 Democrats and 215,396 Republicans.

Statewide there are 931,884 registered voters, compared to 893,061 at this time in 1999.

Early voting for the Sept. 5 primary election begins in Clark County Saturday and runs through Sept. 1, while early voting for the Nov. 7 general election will be Oct. 21 through Nov. 5.

A total of 53 sites throughout the Las Vegas Valley will be open before both the primary and general elections. The seven permanent sites will be at the Las Vegas Athletic Club on West Sahara Avenue, the County Government Center, the Galleria, Meadows, Boulevard and Fashion Show malls and Belz Factory Outlet World.

The other 46 locations will be manned by six mobile teams that will spend a day or two at each site. Some of those sites include Albertson's, Smith's and Vons grocery stores, Lowe's Home Improvement stores, the China Town Plaza and several area community centers and libraries.

For a complete listing in English of the mobile voting site's days, times and locations, call 455-8683. For a listing in Spanish call 455-3666. Residents can also get a complete list on the Internet (www.co.clark.nv.us/election).

Election department officials say that voting should be more convenient this year with the addition of hundreds of new voting machines and dozens of new early voting sites.

Besides taking advantage of early voting, Lomax said, there are some tips voters can use to make voting fast and convenient.

Mark a sample ballot beforehand, know your polling place and precinct and remember that Election Day polling sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Lomax said.