Early voting begins Saturday

By Jeff Pope

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008 | 7 a.m.

Early voting for the Nov. 4 general election begins Saturday and lasts until Oct. 31.

Clark County has set up 88 early voting sites with 22 open every day during the 14-day early voting period. Nine are permanent and 13 will be mobile sites that spend two or three days in one location.

As many or more people have voted at early voting sites than regular polling places on Election Day in the past two presidential election years, according to the Clark County Election Department.

County Registrar Larry Lomax expects 300,000 to cast a ballot during the early voting period, up from 271,000 in 2004.

"If they know who they are going to vote for the first week of early voting is the best time to vote. That's when the lines will be the shortest and will be the easiest to get in and get out," he said.

Traditionally, half of all votes are cast early. Ten percent of voters use mail ballots, and the remaining 40 percent vote on Election Day, Lomax said.

For early voting sites and expanded coverage, visit the election guide.

Jeff Pope can be reached at 990-2688 or jeff.pope@hbcpub.com. Reporter Jeff O’Brien contributed to this story.