Nine things Clark County voters need to know about Election Day

By Ryan Frank

Monday, Nov. 3, 2014 | 2 p.m.

If you're tired of political ads on your TV, take a deep breath. You've got just 29 hours left.

If you're planning to vote and haven't, get ready. You've got 12 hours left.

The polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m., and at 7 p.m. the election will be over, the ads won't be aired, the mailers won't be mailed and the politicians won't be door knocking.

For Clark County voters, here's everything you need to know about Election Day.

Find your polling place: On Election Day, voters must cast a ballot at their assigned polling place. To find your polling place, visit the Clark County election website

You can get time off to vote: Nevada law requires that employers give their workers paid time off to vote.

The bottom line nationally: The big theme of the 2014 general election, in Nevada and nationally, is the rise of the GOP. Nationally, Democrats face strong headwinds with an unpopular president, a fairly typically cycle in the midterm of a second-term president. The big question for Nevada is whether Republicans will win enough Senate seats to take control from Democrats and Sen. Harry Reid. Most predictions favor a Republican takeover. If Reid loses the majority, here's a guide from the Sun's Amber Phillips about what it would mean to Nevada.

The bottom line in Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has the Republicans on a comeback, and apathy among Democratic voters is helping his cause. The big question in state politics is whether Republicans will take control of the Senate.

Races to watch: Nevada lacks a marquee race at the top of the ballot this fall. Gov. Brian Sandoval faces no serious opposition. Sens. Reid and Dean Heller aren't up for re-election. But the Democrats' low turnout (see below) has made several predictable races, well, more unpredictable. Among them: Attorney general, secretary of state the 4th Congressional District and Senate District 9. Republicans are favored in other competitive races, including the lieutenant governor and the 3rd Congressional District. The nonpartisan Clark County sheriff race is another one to keep an eye on.

Three state questions to watch: All Nevada voters will see three questions on their ballot: A new business tax to support education, a change to mining taxes and a new appeals court.

Republicans rising in Nevada: Republican turnout outpaced Democrats by 23,000 votes statewide during the two-week early voting period that ended Friday. For Democrats, that's a 75,000-vote swing from two years ago when the party beat Republicans by 52,000 statewide.

Republicans top Democrats in Clark County: Clark County is the Democrats' base in Nevada. The party holds a 107,000-voter advantage over Republicans in registration. But in early and absentee voting, Republicans ran even with Democrats at 79,000 ballots cast.

Where to follow election news: Follow the Sun's election coverage here and on Twitter: State politics reporter Kyle Roerink, Washington correspondent Amber Phillips, local politics reporter Conor Shine, criminal justice reporter Ana Ley and politics editor Ryan Frank.