Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Steady stream turns out to cast ballots on first day of early voting

Voting

Justin M. Bowen

Early voters fill the Galleria Mall voting station Saturday, October 16, 2010.

Early Voting

Early voters fill the Galleria at Sunset mall voting station Saturday. Launch slideshow »

Early voting started today in Nevada, and residents showed up in droves to cast their ballots.

A steady line of voters snaked through the bottom floor of Henderson Galleria, one of 21 sites in Southern Nevada where Clark County elections officials set up voting booths. Cars honked as they passed polling places in Las Vegas supermarkets.

Many of the people who voted today said they did it for convenience. They wanted to beat the crowds and expect lines to grow as Election Day nears.

Some woke up early and headed to the polls to make a point.

“One of the candidates said rather cruel things about autistic kids, and I’ve got one,” said McKinzie Weiss, who brought her 5-year-old son Joey with her to vote at the Henderson Galleria. “I wanted to be one of the first in line to vote against her.”

Weiss was referring to Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle, who at a 2009 tea party rally, appeared to mock a Nevada mandate for insurance carriers to cover treatment for autism. Angle received a significant amount of push back for the comment and has since said she believes that autism is a real medical condition.

“I’m an independent, but a lot of the Republican candidates this year are really extreme,” said Weiss, who noted that she voted for Democrats across the ticket.

Married couple Athena and Richard Bowler, registered Republicans, stood in line near Weiss. They said they voted to make a statement against health care reform and the way the Social Security system is being managed.

“Our country is going downhill because of the tyranny of Obama,” Richard Bowler said.

The opinions of voters casting early ballots Saturday appeared to reflect what polls have shown: the nation, and Nevada, is divided on how best to pull out of the recession, create jobs, grow the economy and secure the country for future generations.

“I think the reason you are seeing all these people voting is the deficit,” Henderson resident Tommy Gross said. “People are upset. They want this country to move forward.”

In 2008, about 60 percent of the electorate voted early. Overall, about 80 percent of Nevadans voted. Secretary of State Ross Miller is predicting a lower turnout this year -- about 60 percent total -- because there is no presidential race.

The races Nevadans will decide, particularly on the federal level, are among the most contentious and important in the nation. They could help decide which party controls Congress. As such, both political parties are working hard to get friendly voters to the polls.

Republicans brought in California Rep. Buck McKeon and 110 of his constituents to go door to door for Angle and Republican 3rd Congressional District candidate Joe Heck. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid invited New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez and James Roosevelt, grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, to campaign for him and Democratic Rep. Dina Titus. Both parties are also holding phone banks and rallies.

Polls show that most voters already have made up their minds. Very few residents remain undecided in the state’s major races.

Henderson voter Germaine Rocco said she voted with Nevada’s finances in mind.

“I know people are upset with the economy, but I think it’s common sense to vote for Harry Reid,” Rocco said. “He filters a lot of money to the state. For me, if you don’t vote for him, you are cutting off your nose to spite your face.”

Others disagreed and blamed Reid for the state’s stagnant economy.

Recardo Espinosa had a simple message for the Senate majority leader, one he echoed in the voting booth: “Tell Harry Reid he’s wrong.”

Acknowledging the tightness of the race, Reid himself rallied voters at a Saturday afternoon gathering in the parking lot of Roy Martin Middle School in Las Vegas.

"I won that election in 1998 by 428 votes. I don't know if I can stand another one like that."

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