Voting is crucial, especially this year

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | midnight

Your issue may be the nation's shaky economy and how Nevada's economy has been particularly hard hit by the mortgage meltdown.

You may be concerned about how the Legislature may cut state spending for crucial programs such as health care, public schools, colleges and universities.

You might be most worried about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how the presidential candidates and candidates for Congress propose to proceed on those fronts.

A social issue such as abortion, same-sex marriage or gun control may be your main reason to vote. How candidates stand on one or more of these social issues determine if they'll get your vote.

Or, you might not be an issue-oriented voter. For you, a candidate's personality and character are more important. You cast your ballot for candidates you trust to make good decisions and with a track record of doing so.

Whatever your reason for voting — and there are plenty this year — it's crucial that you actually get out and vote. This must be pointed out because, every election, a significant number of registered voters fail to show up at the polls.

Don't make that mistake this year. The stakes are too high and, as we saw in Florida in 2000, every vote does count.

Nevada is a key battleground state and, being in the Pacific Time Zone, could decide the presidential election should the national race tighten up between Barack Obama and John McCain.

But there are plenty of other reasons to get out and vote. Key local races, to name a few, involve challenges to incumbents in Congress and four seats on the Clark County Commission. At stake is who will best represent Southern Nevadans on issues ranging from Yucca Mountain to local planning and zoning controversies.

Contests for seats in the state Legislature are crucial, too. The winners will face tough choices on budget cuts and taxes.

If your mind is already made up about who to vote for, you don't have to wait until Election Day on Nov. 4.

In Nevada, it's extraordinarily easy to vote early at either polling places or by mailing in your ballot.

Early voting begins Oct. 18 and lasts until Oct. 31 at 88 sites in Clark County, 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. And for those who want to vote by mail, a request for a ballot must be received by the Clark County Election Department by Oct. 28.

For those who have educated themselves on the issues and are ready to vote, early voting makes sense.

"That's when the lines will be the shortest and will be the easiest to get in and get out," said Clark County Registrar Larry Lomax.

He expects 300,000 people to cast a ballot during this year's early voting period, up from 271,000 in 2004.

We hope he's right and that turnout on Nov. 4 also jumps considerably from 2004.