Legislature will consider presidential primary date

CARSON CITY -- A recommendation will be presented to the Legislature in February for Nevada to join seven other states in a Western states presidential primary election.

A state committee recommended Thursday that Nevada go along with the March 10, 2000, date. The election would be squeezed in between the California primary, which will be held the previous Tuesday, and Super Tuesday, the primary for the Southern states, which is the following Tuesday.

The committee, headed by Secretary of State Dean Heller, last month delayed a decision on setting the election on the first Friday after the first Monday in March because of concerns it may be a Muslim holy day.

The Council of American-Islamic Relations notified Heller that that Friday is a holy day but also a working day. The congregational prayer is generally held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Outside of that time, Muslims are told they can return to their daily routine. The council said there "is no religious objection to staging the primary elections on a Friday."

The states had originally scheduled the election on Saturday but moved it to Friday because Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath.

A presidential primary in Nevada is estimated to cost $1.5 million, but supporters say it would draw presidential candidates who would talk about Western issues.

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