Registration deadline sees crush of prospective voters

Heather Rawlyk

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004 | 9:28 a.m.

Southern Nevada University of Cosmetology student Angie Ramirez was on a mission Tuesday afternoon: Recruit as many friends as possible to register to vote.

Tuesday was the last day to register for the Nov. 2 general election, and potential voters had until 9 p.m. to visit one of two Clark County election departments for their last chance.

Ramirez, 22, stood alongside classmate Autumn Sweet, 23, in a crowded hallway inside the County Government Center at 6 p.m. to keep her friend company during the 30-minute wait.

"I've been telling everyone that today is the last day they can register and they'd better go do something about it," Ramirez said. "I told her (Sweet) I'd come along with her if she'd register, and here we are.

"I basically made her come down here tonight because it's important for her to vote this year. It's important for all of my friends to vote this year. This is a huge election that will really affect us I think."

Sweet said she didn't know Tuesday was the last day to register and appreciated her friend's pushy reminder.

"I'm glad she told me because I would have completely missed out on my chance to vote," she said. "This will be the first year that I'm voting. I figured this is a great year to start and make a difference. I'm so glad I got here in time before it's too late."

The two weren't the only ones waiting until the last minute to register Tuesday. Both Election Department offices were packed with a steady crowd of people from the time they opened at 8 a.m., according to Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax.

At one point the line at the County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, posed a one-hour wait, he said. The North Las Vegas office, 965 Trade Drive near Cheyenne Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard, wasn't quite as crowded but still stayed very busy, he said.

"It seems to be starting to slow down right now," Lomax said about 6:15 p.m. "I have no idea if it will pick up again or stay slow. We've never done this before, so who knows? I'm sure we'll have a steady stream of stragglers at the last minute. Most people know we're open until 9 p.m."

Bill Tromelli, 34, jogged across the parking lot at 6:30 p.m., desperately asking passersby if the registration office was still open.

"I thought it closed at 7 p.m.," he said, catching his breath. "But I've still got time? Thank God."

Tromelli said he had just found out he needed to re-register to vote.

"I'm so glad they're holding this last-minute thing for us procrastinators," he said.