ELECTION 2008 :

Democrats continue to stream into early voting polls

Early voting ends Friday

Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | 11:28 a.m.

With a week to go before the Nov. 4 election, Democrats continue to lead Republicans in casting their early ballots at voting machines scattered throughout the Las Vegas area. And Republicans continue to rule at the mailbox, using the postal service to cast their absentee ballots.

However, it's hard to tell exactly what that means in terms of which candidates are benefiting from the early voting, according to Harvard L. Lomax, the county's registrar of voters.

"I don't try to tell who's going to win and who's going to lose," Lomax said this morning. "I don't even try to read anything into this except for turnout.... It is a good turnout, that's for sure."

The latest numbers from the county's election department as of Monday night show that 241,861 people had cast ballots at early voting polls. The breakdown is 131,622 Democrats (54.4 percent), 70,425 Republicans (29.1 percent) and 39,814 (16.5 percent) voters with no affiliation.

The election department reported 32,457 people have mailed in their votes: 15,048 Republicans (46.4 percent), 13,318 Democrats (41 percent) and 4,091 with no party affiliation (12.6 percent).

Lomax said he was hoping about half the expected 640,000 vote turnout, or 320,000 to 330,000 voters, would cast their ballots early. There are 815,077 voters registered in the county and he's expecting about 80 percent of them to vote in the Nov. 4 election.

"We're right on track," he said.

One reason Democrats may be turning out early is because there are more of them in the county. County registration figures show Democrats outnumber Republicans 396,910 to 261,2662, he said.

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, 70,583 Democrats, 43,627 Republicans and 23,162 voters with no party have cast ballots. For the mail-in votes from that district, 9,183 were Republicans, 7,166 were Democrats and 2,387 were from non-affiliated voters.

• The 2nd Congressional District has a race between incumbent Republican Dean Heller and Democrat Jill Derby. So far, 4,772 Democrats, 2,939 Republican and 1,678 voters with no party have cast ballots. The mailed votes came from 1,040 Republicans, 596 Democrats and 310 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, 26,453 Democrats, 19,673

Republicans and 9,595 voters with no party have cast ballots. The mailed votes came from 3,964 Republicans, 2,475 Democrats and 936 voters declaring no party.

• In the state Senate 6th District race, which features a battle between incumbent Republican Bob Beers and Democrat Allison Copening, 9,428 Democrats, 6,555 Republicans and 2,910 voters with no party affiliation have voted so far. The mailed votes in that district came from 1,554 Republicans, 1,260 Democrats and 355 non-affiliated voters

• The state Senate 5th District race is between Democrat Shirley Breeden and incumbent Republican Joe Heck. In that district, 20,910 Democrats, 14,382 Republicans and 7,188 voters with no party affiliation have voted. Mailed vote: 2,293 Republicans, 1,714 Democrats and 567 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 4,534 Democrats, 3,220 Republicans and 1,673 voters with no party. Mailed vote: 597 Republicans, 455 Democrats and 133 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 3,634 Democrats, 2,170 Republicans and 1,139 voters with no party who have cast ballots. Mailed vote: 479 Democrats, 416 Republicans and 132 voters with no party affiliation.

• State Assembly District 29 features newcomers Sean Fellows, a Republican and Democrat April Mastroluca. As of Tuesday, there were 4,799 Democrats, 3,024 Republicans and 1,615 voters with no party who have voted. Mailed vote: 437 Republicans, 346 Democrats and 122 voters declaring no party.

Discussion: 16 comments so far…

By cruisemates

10/28/08 at 1:55 p.m.

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Nevada...

Barack Obama wants to give full entitlements to illegal aliens: health care, driver's licenses (easy access to your jobs), etc.

He says he is for tax cuts, but in truth he will be terrible for ANY small businesses. He is raising social security pay-ins for everyone (4%/couple), and he is raising capital gains and corporate taxes which will kill new jobs and drive them overseas.

He wants OPEN, NON-SECRET UNION VOTING by law. This is horrible for Nevada!

Do NOT believe the mainstream media - you have been DUPED. This article written just today by ABCnews admits it: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Story?id=...

Please do your research first - do NOT just blindly vote for Obama, the most liberal senator EVER. It is NOT worth giving this country over to a democratic monopoly who will kill our American way of life as we know it.

Obama will cut the military and be tested, Biden admitted it.
By redferret

10/28/08 at 2:11 p.m.

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blah blah blah. You repugs have nothing in the tank. All you have is smears and vote for me, because I'm not as horrible as the other person. McSame has been plugging away with a negative campaign from the get-go and has reaped the fruits of that labor. We don't need 4 more years of republican partisan politics. We don't need another 4 years of bullying the world and expecting them to still cooperate with us. We don't need another 4 years of tax the middle and working classes for the wealthiest 2%.
If we had completely listened to Bush, what would have happened to millions of people's retirement benefits? Game over for those folks. As for the mainstream media, who is being honest? What Faux News? At least they could come out and say, We're conservative, and not just pump America full of that fair and balanced bs.
By revtomperl

10/28/08 at 3:05 p.m.

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Hey these posts are consistent in their misrepresentation and their boring presentations. Keep up the good work - I think your posts are encouraging a huge turnout by the newly registered voters - thank you cruisemates! Hey Obama doesn't need his multi million dollar support as long as we get these posts - lots of free publicity! Come on - give us some ideas and solid policies - not made up crap!
By otyler

10/28/08 at 4:18 p.m.

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Hey Cruise mates!
You are misinformed, uninformed, or ignorant! I do not mean to offend, but your comments do beg to provide some enligntment.
By now, most credible and serious reporting institutions and their journalist have provided enough facts to invalidate the statements you made. Further, a good college student can understad the necessity of what Regan called the income tax credit which is a form of "redistribution of wealth."
For the record, I am including just two useful links below. Please do read and educate yourself, do not enbarras our country before the world by showing your desperation and fear fueled only by ingnorance. Remember "truth will make you free" Find the facts! Please do read and get a sense of history, specially economic history in this country.
1. Throwing A Cold Dose Of Reality On The Claim That Obama Endorsed Redistribution Of Wealth
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?i...

2. Why is Barack Obama Wining?
http://www.time.com/time/politics/articl...
By johnevegas

10/28/08 at 5:38 p.m.

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"Barack Obama wants to give full entitlements to illegal aliens: health care, driver's licenses (easy access to your jobs), etc."

Down with compassion! Down with fairness! Let's continue to tax illegals and keep it all for ourselves! That way I can still afford my trips to Cabo. Sammy, here I come...
By keo10

10/28/08 at 5:49 p.m.

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People, you are being brainwashed! Advertisements on CBS and NBC, according to network documents.
The Obama campaign spent $891,250 for the half hour on NBC, a price that was discounted to total $775,000 net. The CBS time will cost $961,000 for the half hour on CBS.
The Obama campaign has so far declined to discuss the content it will air from 8 to 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 29.
By That_Anonymous_Guy

10/28/08 at 6:13 p.m.

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I'll go out on a limb here and guess that it'll have something to do with trying to convince people to vote for Obama.

Are political ads only considered "brainwashing" when aired by Democrats?
By leslo1959

10/28/08 at 6:59 p.m.

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I'll go out on the same limb and suggest to keo10 that he/she can always turn off the TV!
By thebs

10/28/08 at 10:52 p.m.

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Oh man, now we're being brainwashed by the teevee?

Is this the Sun, or the Onion?
By johnevegas

10/29/08 at 3:58 a.m.

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keo10 "People, you are being brainwashed!"

I'm curious about this statement. How, keo10, are you so certain that we are being brainwashed and that you are not?
By johnevegas

10/29/08 at 4:19 a.m.

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otyler - "You are misinformed, uninformed, or ignorant! I do not mean to offend, but your comments do beg to provide some enligntment."

No, you are misinformed, uninformed, or ignorant! It's enlightenment not enligntment!

Sorry, don't mean to offend, but you spell like a completely ignorant fool. Hope you're not uh-fended, tard!
By azsk8fan

10/29/08 at 10:18 a.m.

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8 years of STUPID and now we're given the whopping choice of Obama or McCain - we Americans certainly deserve better than this. If these are the 2 best that the parties could come up with all I can say is Heaven Help America!
By redferret

10/29/08 at 10:19 a.m.

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First, I don't think Obama can just give illegals all those things by presidential fiat. Maybe by a signing statement, but probably not.
Second, OMG we're being brainwashed!!! Is this different from the saturation of fear I've had since 2001? I'm not sure, because for a while I was glued to CNN's news crawler just watching how the world was ending, and it resurfaced again in 2004. Wait, is it me or do we only get SUPER anxious about terrorism and its eminent threatening doom when there's an election?
By lisa_furr

10/29/08 at 11:26 a.m.

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It is interesting to note that conservatives believe they are the only people who think and make rational decisions according to fact. It is also interesting how conservatives seem to become excessively selfish and self-centered when others believe in a different best course, especially given the stakes of this election.

Why do they resort to name calling and belittlement? All are entitled to their opinions and all are entitled to receive (as fact) that which they believe to be just that--fact.

After George Bush, there is no valid conservative argument in the minds of many, except those in the conservative base. Unfortunately, the conservative base is discredited by a laundry list of "nots". Fortunately, however, there is an individual in the race who acts presidential, who is educated appropriately, and who actually has an action plan to articulate to the American public.

Go vote, whether for Obama or McCain--- just vote!
By phil721

10/30/08 at 7:20 a.m.

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Azsk8fan Hey hater! If you don't like the choices for president why don't you run and quit complaining
By Carolo

10/30/08 at 7:48 a.m.

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Anyone noticing McCain's crowds? Camera's no longer are scanning his crowds while they still show Obama's crowds of 10,000, 20,000 and his recent 100,000! McCain always has a bunch of school kids sitting behind him like he got them out of school for the day to fill up his background.

Gez, the old guy has finally lost it. He introduced Joe the Plumber at his rally today and Joe was not even there. LOL