Early-voting turnout tops first campaign in 1996

More than seven times as many Clark County residents participated in the initial weekend of early voting for the Sept. 1 primary election than in 1996.

Turnout was 4,966 voters at area shopping malls and the Clark County Government Center Saturday and Sunday, far exceeding the 689 people who cast ballots in the first two days of early voting for the 1996 primary.

Kathryn Ferguson, the county's registrar of voters, said early voting should easily surpass the 11,103 ballots that were cast during the same two-week period for the previous election. Early voting will run through Aug. 28.

"Our voter education program has been successful in getting the word out," Ferguson said Monday. "It was impressive that almost every voter over the weekend had their sample ballot with them so they came prepared to vote."

The county operated its first full-scale early voting effort for the 1996 primary. Turnout was somewhat hampered then because many voters didn't receive their sample ballots in the mail until after early voting began.

That problem was corrected for this election, however.

"We've also improved the sample ballot, printed it in color and made it easier to read," Ferguson said.

She said almost all people who vote early do so for the convenience and to avoid long lines on Election Day. The first two days of early voting attracted 2,404 Democrats, 2,276 Republicans and 286 nonpartisan voters.

Turnout is typically low for Nevada primaries. Clark County's primary turnout was 42.5 percent in 1994 and 26.9 percent in 1996. Ferguson guessed Southern Nevada turnout would be about 30 percent for this primary, but she declined to term that a prediction.

Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which typically runs a strong get-out-the-vote campaign, is sponsoring a "Culinary Workers Early Voting Day" on Tuesday, Aug. 25, for members and their families. The union will bus voters from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day from its union hall to the county building.

"The sad reality of this election is that overall voter turnout will be extremely low," said Glen Arnodo, Culinary's political director. "Therefore, we intend to do everything we possibly can to encourage Culinary members and their families to vote."

For early voting locations, dates and times, call the county's election department at 455-8683.

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