Voting begins in Nevada general election

Washoe County Registrar of Voters Laura Dancer said more than 300 people took advantage of the early-voting option at a special polling place at Macy's in Meadowood Mall.

"We've had an outstanding turnout so far," she said. "People like the convenience of it. They can avoid the long lines of election day. And they don't have to request an absentee ballot if they'll be out of town on election day."

The final day of early voting is Oct. 30. In most counties, voters can exercise the option at clerk's offices.

Heading the ballot are the tight U.S. Senate race between Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., and the hotly contested governor's race between Republican Kenny Guinn and Democrat Jan Jones.

Nevadans also will vote on a full slate of statewide officeholders and a variety of ballot questions, including one to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Several rallies were planned by various groups to kick off the first weekend of early voting.

In Reno, a rally designed to get Hispanics to vote early will be held beginning at noon Sunday outside Pioneer Citizens Bank, near the Macy's polling place.

In Las Vegas, Reid will gather Sunday with supporters, including tennis star Andre Agassi of Las Vegas, to cast an early vote himself.

Plans call for Reid and his supporters to march from a 1:30 p.m. rally outside Orr Middle School to nearby Boulevard Mall to cast their ballots.

Dancer predicted a voter turnout of 53 percent for the election, up from the primary's 34 percent.

"We've got some important races and school bond questions, things likely to bring people out," she said.

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