Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Your vote is no less important for lack of top-ticket races

Voter turnout

• 2012 — 81.2% county, 80.7% state

• 2010 — 63.4% county, 64.6% state

• 2008 — 80% county, 80.2% state

• 2006 — 55.9% county, 59.1% state

• 2004 — 79.9% county, 77.4% state

• 2002 — 57.2% county, 58.9% state

• 2000 — 69.2% county, 70.1% state

• 1998 — 53.1% county, 49% state

• 1996 — 61.2% county, 60% state

• 1994 — 61.1% county, 61.7% state

It’s October, and beyond all of the typical rituals of the month — Halloween, Oktoberfest, baseball playoffs, Nevada Day — there is another important matter: elections.

By the end of the month, many Nevadans will have gone to the polls for early voting. However, in a year without a presidential election, turnout is expected to be low. In 2012, when President Barack Obama was re-elected, eight of 10 Nevada voters cast ballots, but two years before, just six in 10 voted.

Voting matters for any number of reasons. Here are a few:

CONGRESS

People often complain about Congress and how it does (or doesn’t) do its job. Every two years, the entire House of Representatives is on the ballot.

Nevada has four representatives, and all of them want your vote. They’ll be in the area and at events throughout the month, so go tell them how you feel. Then go cast a ballot.

STATE LEADERSHIP

What about Carson City? If you don’t like the way things are going in the state capital, now’s the time to do something about it.

The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and controller are on the ballot. So is every member of the Assembly. And in Clark County, seven state senators are up for election.

If you want things to change in Nevada, here’s your chance.

LAW AND ORDER

Public safety is at the top of nearly everyone’s list of issues that matter, so this should be an important election. Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie, who is in charge of the nation’s sixth-largest police department, is retiring; two men are vying for his job.

District Attorney Steve Wolfson, who was appointed, also is up for election. And there are 29 contested judicial races.

If you care about law and order, this is a year to vote.

EDUCATION

Studies have shown that an educated population is key to economic success, and Nevada could use better schools and a better economy.

On this ballot are three seats on the University of Nevada Board of Regents, which oversees the higher education system, and three seats on the Clark County school board. If you want better education, here’s where to start.

TAXES

Two measures on the ballot would change tax policy in the state. The first would repeal constitutional tax protections for the mining industry. The second would add a tax on businesses to pay for schools. Both would touch the lives of everyday Nevadans.

BOTTOM LINE

One vote really does matter.

In 1998, Sen. Harry Reid defeated challenger John Ensign by 428 votes, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the votes cast. In 2011, a primary race for the North Las Vegas City Council was decided by a draw of cards after the second-place finishers tied.

So, consider the candidates and issues, and when it comes time, cast your ballot. It matters.

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