GOP holds slight edge in voter registration

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 | 11:35 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Republicans hold a slight lead over Democrats in final voter registration numbers both statewide and in the hotly contested 3rd Congressional District in Las Vegas.

Secretary of State Dean Heller reported today that final registration numbers for the general election show 869,801 voters were signed up for the general election, which starts with early voting Saturday.

Republicans statewide outnumber Democrats 363,295 to 355,303, a difference of only 2 percent. Non-partisans total 125,463.

In the new congressional district, with a close race between Democrat Dario Herrera and Republican Jon Porter, Republicans lead Democrats by just 502 voters -- 127,858 to 127,356. Non-partisans number 45,514.

The figures came two days after the Clark County Election Department released numbers that show Democrats hold a 16 percent lead over Republicans in Clark County.

Clark is one of only three counties in the state in which Democrats hold a lead. The others are Mineral and White Pine.

Only a few races -- district attorney and sheriff among them -- will be decided in countywide voting.

"With the registration totals of the major parties so close, many races may be decided by very slim margins," Heller said.

"I would encourage every registered Nevada voter to make sure their voice is heard by voting either through early voting, absentee ballot or by getting to their designated polling place on Nov. 5.

In the primary election, 33 percent of those who voted cast their ballots early at the designated polling places.

A breakdown of the statewide voter totals show 15,776 Independent American; 4,891 Libertarian; 2,332 Green; 744 Natural Law; 614 Reform and 1,383 other.

Clark County has 547,854 registered voters or 63 percent of the total statewide. But Clark County's population totals more than 66 percent of the state.

Heller reported that in the 1st Congressional District, where incumbent Democrat Shelley Berkley is challenged by Republican Lynette Boggs McDonald, Democrats outnumber Republicans 109,825 to 76,852, with 32,267 non-partisans.

Republicans hold a large edge (158,530 to 118,101) in the 2nd Congressional District, where Republican incumbent Jim Gibbons faces only token opposition.