Democrats continue early voting surge

By Dave Toplikar (contact)

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008 | 9:41 a.m.

After five days of early voting, Democrats are continuing to take a large lead in turnout throughout Clark County.

Meanwhile Republicans have a slight edge in mail-in votes for the Nov. 4 election.

The latest numbers from the county's election department show that as of Wednesday, 113,201 people had cast ballots at early voting polls. The breakdown is 64,851 Democrats (57 percent), 30,192 Republicans (27 percent) and 18,158 (16 percent) voters with no affiliation

The election department reported 22,730 people have mailed in their votes: 10,447 Republicans (46 percent), 9,514 Democrats (42 percent) and 2,769 with no party affiliation (12 percent).

Harvard Lomax, the county's registrar of voters, has said he was hoping that about half the expected 640,000 vote turnout, or 320,000 to 330,000 voters would cast their ballots early. There are 815,000 voters registered in the county and he's expecting about 80 percent of them to vote in the Nov. 4 election.

Early voting continues through Oct. 31 at 87 locations.

Here's a look at early voting trends in eight contested partisan races:

• In the 3rd Congressional District, which features a tight contest between incumbent Republican Jon Porter and Democrat Dina Titus, 35,528 Democrats, 19,211 Republicans and 10,768 voters with no party have cast ballots. For the mail-in votes from that district, 6,281 were Republicans, 5,122 were Democrats and 1,575 were from non-affiliated voters.

• The 2nd Congressional District has a race between incumbent Republican Dean Heller and Democrat Jill Derby. So far, 2,501 Democrats, 1,329 Republican and 833 voters with no party have cast ballots. The mailed votes came from 735 Republicans, 430 Democrats and 219 non-affiliated voters.

• The County Commission District District A race has a heated race between Republican Brian Scroggins and Democrat Steve Sisolak to take over the seat being vacated by Bruce Woodbury. Independent candidate Scott David Narter is also running. In that district, 13,123 Democrats, 8,074 Republicans and 4,284 voters with no party have cast ballots. The mailed votes came from 1,751 Republicans, 2,616 Democrats and 608 voters declaring no party.

• In the state Senate 6th District race, which features a battle between incumbent Republican Bob Beers and Democrat Allison Copening, 4,010 Democrats, 2,296 Republicans and 1,140 voters with no party affiliation have voted so far. The mailed votes in that district came from 1,047 Republicans, 882 Democrats and 239 non-affiliated voters

• The state Senate 5th District race is between Democrat Shirley Breeden and incumbent Republican Joe Heck. In that district, 10,508 Democrats, 6,394 Republicans and 3,339 voters with no party affiliation have voted. Mailed vote: 1,543 Republicans, 1,229 Democrats and 362 non-affiliated.

• State Assembly District 21 features a contest between Republican Jon Ozark and Democrat Ellen Spiegel to represent the Green Valley area district. So far, the early voting turnout has been 2,157 Democrats, 1,328 Republicans and 734 voters with no party. Mailed vote: 397 Republicans, 322 Democrats and 82 voters declaring no party.

• The State Assembly District 23 contest is between Democrat Allison Herr and Republican Melissa Woodbury. Early voting shows there have been 1,858 Democrats, 1,016 Republicans and 557 voters with no party who have cast ballots. Mailed vote: 368 Democrats, 273 Republicans and 101 voters with no party affiliation.

• State Assembly District 29 features newcomers Sean Fellows, a Republican and Democrat April Mastroluca. As of Tuesday, there were 2,666 Democrats, 1,500 Republicans and 790 voters with no party who have voted. Mailed vote: 301 Republicans, 233 Democrats and 75 voters declaring no party.