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Published Tuesday, June 8, 2010 | 1:41 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, June 8, 2010 | 7:29 p.m.
Reader poll
Sun Coverage
RELATED STORY: Will voters send a message, or did a campaign fail?
Clark County's election chief said this afternoon he expects about 75,000 voters to cast a ballot in Clark County today, which would translate into a turnout of about 25 percent for the primary election.
Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said 44,731 voters had cast a ballot in Clark County through 3 p.m. That likely will mean about 75,000 votes today, Lomax predicted, on top of about 100,000 early and absentee ballots that were cast.
He said this afternoon that no major problems had been reported at the polls, but he has heard one complaint.
"If there's one common thread in this election, we've had an awful lot of (voters) registered not as a Republican or Democrat, and they want to vote in the Republican primary and they can't," he said. "They get really upset about that."
Nevada is a closed-primary state, meaning voters registered as a Republican or Democrat can only vote for candidates in that party, as well as in nonpartisan races. Voters registered with a minor party or as a nonpartisan can't vote for Republican or Democratic candidates in the primary.
One problem occurred at a polling place in Summerlin, where John Bonner Elementary lost power during afternoon voting. A generator was being brought in.
Other problems included two fire alarms at Elaine Wynn Elementary and a fight at the Dula Recreation Center in a gymnasium away from the polling area. One person was arrested and another was hospitalized.
Russ Ketchum, 48, a vice president of technology for an airline and Republican, cast his ballot at Twitchell Elementary School in Henderson. He said he was motivated to turn out by the U.S. Senate race, which will pit the Republican nominee against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Ketchum said he cast his ballot for Sharron Angle.
"I was focused on the Senate race," he said. "I’m one of those people who calls Reid’s offices to ask questions and express my opinion. I called the candidates months ago when the health care debate was under way. I decided on Angle two or three months ago.
The county's 289 polling places closed at 7 p.m.
Secretary of State Ross Miller said today that turnout was slow but steady in most Nevada counties, with heavier turnout in rural areas. Carson City was expecting a turnout rate near 60 percent, Miller said.
Miller said he expected turnout among Democrats to be between 18 and 23 percent, with Republicans at 35 to 40 percent. He said 137,933 early and absentee ballots were cast statewide in advance of today's election.
In Clark County, Lomax said voter numbers were mostly steady throughout the day, with few people having to wait in line.
"I kind of have a mixed bag," Lomax said shortly after 9 a.m. "I'm currently at Desert Vista in Sun City (in Summerlin) and just left Mountain Shadows in Sun City, and they're really busy, but all of the other polling places I went to, it was very slow."
Lomax said Sun City generally reports an above-average turnout compared to the rest of the county.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian arrives to cast his ballot at Wasden Elementary School Tuesday, June 8, 2010.
"The other places I went to, they all had eight or 10 right off the bat at 7 o'clock," he said. "Other than that they've just kind of been dribbling in."
Some candidates dropped by polling places in Southern Nevada this morning to cast a ballot. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian voted at Wasden Elementary School, while Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid voted at about 10 a.m. Rep. Shelley Berkley also votede this morning.
Tarkanian challenger Sue Lowden had cast an advance ballot; Sharron Angle voted in Reno.
Sun editor Patrick McDonnell contributed to this report.
A lot of us voted during the early voting phase. I hope that EVERYONE who is registered to vote not only in Clark County but the entire state get off their duffs and VOTE. Shame on those who do not exercise their right to VOTE. If you don't vote you will have NOTHING to complain about. Usually the ones who do not vote are the ones who complain the LOUDEST. There is just NO EXCUSE for NOT Voting!!!....
Why has chicken soup been banned today? Oh, chicken SUITS, nevermind . . .
KUDOS to Larry Lomax and his wonderful staff and all the volunteers who are always so professional and polite - voting at Opportunity Village is always a peaceful process! We had a steady dribble of people coming through, and only about half the machines were occupied, so it went quickly and smoothly!
Now, it's all about making sure the every vote gets counted - and Larry Lomax has my total confidence that the integrity of the vote count will not be compromised - it, truly, is easy to vote in Nevada and the vote count is always fair!
No teabags at polling places, just coffee
I ate a chicken sandwich before going to vote today.
But I chewed on a couple of breath mints before going in to vote.
I got away with it. Good thing they don't make you take a chickenalyzer before voting.....
Most locations are slow but the ones at Sun City are totally busy. A sign of the times and expect a HARD right turn in the results. It will be the same in November.
Please vote. I'm watching the news and they said the turnout is very low.
Our country is depending on you.
Um, hard right turn in, what, the primary elections? Who cares. The conservative movement is in shambles. The only thing fueling it is anger and bitterness. It's only the primary and already that momentum has subsided. It's hard to run on a platform of no, where the political philosophy (I use the term loosely) is simply countering action. Look at all the issues confronting our nation - where do the Republicans stand? On a soapbox deriding ideas without offering anything. For all the bluster from ultra conservatives and the Tea Party, turnout has been bad. The right has done nothing to galvanize the apathetic. Business as usual.
It's "only" the primary, but don't you feel it's pathetic how people in Iraq came out en masse to vote with the barrel of an AK-47 pointed at them and roadside bombs lining the streets and probably wear their purple thumb, and here we are, on a clear day with blue skies with only the occasional jerk on the road and with nearly 300 convenient voting polls open, and we'd rather be watching Jerry Springer on TV.
Pathetic!
Sorry...meant to write, "and proud to wear their purple thumbs..."
Axiom..
I agree with you but I don't know how to get the folks off their duff.
Go down to the coffee shop..listen to them carp and complain and hate this candidate or that...
Then watch them get in their cars/trucks and drive right past the polling place..
I don't get it..
Comparing Americans to Iraq? Obviously someone didn't notice that the Iraqi had more than AK-47's pointed at them - they had American M-4's and M-16's pointed at them too - sad, Sad, SAD!
Most Americans don't vote because they'll tell you they are not politically astute and don't even know enough about it - and that's because so many of them just don't care, are lazy or just selfish and plain stupid! Now, that may be too candid a statement in today's "P.C." world (but, most know that's the unvarnished truth)!
Most Americans couldn't carry on an intelligent conversation explaining the differences between the Republican and Democratic parties beliefs - and far too many could not explain how and why we have primary elections!
There are some people that are not voting just to avoid doing any harm - and that is a good thing! It's fundamentally important that far more intelligent and well informed people vote than idiots - it's the idiotic voters that have put idiots in office in the first place (and too often re-elected them)!
As an independent, I'll be disappointed if Lowden doesn't make it to the general election. I wouldn't necessarily vote for her, but I see her as a more realistic alternative to Reid. The stunts that the Reid campaign has been pulling are pretty scummy, in my opinion.
<<The stunts that the Reid campaign has been pulling are pretty scummy, in my opinion.>>
What "stunts" would those be?
ShannonK, them getting involved/commenting in the Republican primary at all, with the intention of eliminating the candidate that they feel would be stronger in the general election.
<<The stunts that the Reid campaign has been pulling are pretty scummy, in my opinion.>>
"What "stunts" would those be?"
Everybody knows Reid planted those 'chickens for checkups' ideas into Lowden's brain.
Lowden has been lousy at politics all along - she couldn't even run the Republican Nevada State Party meetings or follow her own agenda - she's just another typical pretty face that married money - sad, Sad, SAD!
And Angle is crazier than looney Lowden - LOL!
Not sure what the big deal about this primary election is. Do people have this election confused with a general election? Unless you are registered democrat or republican, there isn't much of a reason to show up unless you feel strongly about the sheriff or judges.
<<them getting involved/commenting in the Republican primary at all, with the intention of eliminating the candidate that they feel would be stronger in the general election.>>
You mean by using their own words against them? I fail to see how that equates to a "stunt."
@ImproveLV With all due respect I don't know what you mean with Reid's campaign commenting on the Republican primary. I'm not a Reid guy. I'm an independent. But let's be fair - the Reid camp hasn't come out on camera remarking on the Republican primary. I think that's been all the political commentators like Ralston.
But hypothetically, even if Reid's camp did comment on it, they certainly have a right to do so. That wouldn't constitute a political stunt.
I do think that moderates such as myself would view Angle as more of a far right element that would be disasterous in a time when we need everyone working together, not pointing fingers.
Iraq under Saddam allowed firearms ownership, without a background check. Even today a household is allowed one AK for self defense. Most are full-auto as well.
Also Saddam allowed liquor to be sold by Christian stores, unlike Angle who wants to do away with beer and social security, but she wants massages for prisoners provided by scientologists trained by Tom Cruise.
Hey Sue L. - Good looks, being rich, laying off employees, taking a bonus, bartering, wont buy you an election. you blew it and thank goodness. your not of the people, but an eliteist
Axiom/Shannon, I'm not saying they broke any laws/rules, but in my opinion, it's a scummy way to run a campaign. This "win at all costs" mentality isn't something that I respect. Politics is just a dirty game, and I understand that, but it doesn't mean I'm going to accept these actions as just "playing the game".
I'm not happy that I have to choose between a Tea Party representative and a career politician that owes everyone from unions to gaming companies to cable companies. I'd like to see someone new in there, but if the elections were held today, I'd probably abstain from that race. Hoping Angle is more moderate than I think she is.
Just noticed that Sun actually exposed some of the tactics that the Reid campaign is using: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jun....
I'm not saying this to convince anyone else, only to explain my previous comment, but I've had friends involved in the Reid campaign that have confirmed some of the things they're doing.