Long Lines Mark Early Nevada Voting

Some Voters Waited For Nearly An Hour To Cast Ballots

(AP)  Some voters waited for nearly an hour to cast ballots Saturday as the two-week, early voting period began for the general election in the swing state of Nevada.

Election officials said there were long lines at some polling places early on, but shorter waiting times in the afternoon. No major problems were reported.

Secretary of State Ross Miller has said he expects a record turnout in the Nov. 4 election because of high interest in the presidential election.

He urged the state's nearly 1.5 million registered voters to take advantage of early voting at grocery stores, libraries, government buildings and shopping malls through Oct. 31.

"We had over 8,000 votes cast as of noon," said Larry Lomax, voter registrar in Clark County around Las Vegas. "It's always busy when it first opens. The lines are nothing unreasonable."

That was not the case at the downtown Reno library, where it took nearly an hour for some voters to cast a ballot Saturday morning, Washoe County Voter Registrar Dan Burk said.

"That's what happens when you have several hundred people waiting in line," he said. "Apparently, some organizations had dropped off people there."

Burk said waits of 35 or 45 minutes were reported at most locations early on, but they were down to about 15 minutes in the afternoon. More than 3,000 ballots had been cast in Washoe as of 1 p.m.

Early voting is expected to account for about half of the total vote in Clark County and 30 percent of it in Washoe County.

Lomax and Burk said they expect a voter turnout of 75 percent to 80 percent because the state is a critical battleground in the presidential election.

"That's what's bringing people out," Burk said. "If people ever thought about wanting their vote to make a difference, this is their opportunity."

One recent poll found Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican presidential contender John McCain in a statistical tie in Nevada, while another found Obama with a slight lead.

Figures released by the secretary of state's office on Friday show Nevada Democrats have increased their voter registration edge over Republicans to more than 110,000 - far above their slight edge of about 4,100 voters only a year ago.

The big gain for Democrats reversed about a 4,400-voter edge that Republicans had in the 2004 elections.

President Bush narrowly carried Nevada in 2004 and 2000.

[liberal4sure]

mr22585 - Obama has been viciously vetted for over two years, what planet have you been on? It is obvious the rethuglicans tell you what to think but do they also tell you what to eat too?

[liberal4sure]

There are already reports of machines in west virginia switching democratic votes to rethuglican votes. Huffington Post has the story so far however CNN will be picking it up soon. Hopefully the rethuglicans won''t steal this election too.

[marintx]

"Repeat after me "I voted for Bush and I was a tool of the right, and I should not be allowed to vote agin until I read 2 whole books ...on any subject "

Really, really enjoyed this one!

[michaelh2001]

LOL google "Todd Palin criminal record"

[sandy19731]

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.
Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.
Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.

[Mccarthyaw]

I just googled Obama''s record. The first thing that came up showed his accomplishments in the Senate. I thought you were anti-Obama, that website shows he has a good record.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/21/164117/783/290/461422

lol, anything else I need to google?

[Mccarthyaw]

Wonder how much the media has been paid to tilt the election to Obama. This will be the end of the USA.

Posted by mr22585 at 09:32 AM : Oct 19, 2008

How much are you paid to blog nonsense about Obama?

[faxbot882]

The other poster is correct Registration and actualy going in and CASTING ones ballot are TWO seperate things. Things like this happen EVERY election cycle and guess what after the election our legislators forget all about making it better safer and more secure to cast your ONE vote. Have you thought of reminding them after the election? or does everybody just go to a neutral corner when this is over.

[faxbot882]

I''m still voting for Obama I''am just one more American that does not belive the hype or the robo calls McCain has thrown any bit of honor he has ever gained with the American people away to seek power for the hyjacked RNC/GOP this campaign of his is beyond disgusting can''t wait for it to be over.

[irmcvet97]

Kinda like "pregnant" - you either ARE or you ARE NOT - Fraud is Fraud is Fraud - 26 times THAT we know about, so far!

Why is it ALWAYS LIBTARDS that get this "fear" deal going? What is it that you people fear?

Posted by pelosilover at 03:20 AM : Oct 19, 2008

This thing is going to be SO massive an Avalanche you people will be left with NO room to talk... NONE!

[irmcvet97]

I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE VOTER FRAUD RATE IN THE GREAT STATE OF NEVADA.ACORN /CAMPOBAMA HAS BEEN THERE TO INFESTING IT WITH FRAUD.

Posted by NEEDERBAUR at 02:21 AM : Oct 19, 2008

Oh PLEASE! There''s a BIG difference between Voter REGISTRATION fraud and VOTER FRAUD you poor simple minded LOSER! No wonder you freaks elected Bush TWICE!!

[irmcvet97]

Welcome Back Carter!

Posted by pelosilover at 03:23 AM : Oct 19, 2008

Shouldn''t that be WELCOME BACK CLINTON?? ROFLMAO

[longtree-2009]

Avoid the rush, the lines. If Absentee Ballots are available in your area, you should sign up for it. It is an easy way to vote, no distractions, you can take your time and analyze issues. You can even vote in your pajamas while having a cup of coffee.

[dburfears]

ONLY 26 DOCUMENTED CASES OF "VOTER FRAUD"

TO STOP 26 cases of VOTER FRAUD, Republicans are trying to DENY MILLIONS of good AMERICANS their RIGHT TO VOTE

There were 26- yes TWENTY SIX - documented instances of VOTER FRAUD in the ENTIRE COUNTRY last OVER THREE YEARS around the 2004 Presidential Election (2002 - 2005). 20 were people ineligible to vote who actually voted, and 6 were people who voted twice.

ONLY TWENTY SIX

TWENTY SIX

26

This was after a SIMILAR disingenuous "voter fraud" effort by the Republicans in 2004.

The Republican HYSTERIA about "voter fraud" is NOT based on any PRINCIPLE other that to DISENFRANCHISE AMERICAN VOTERS who might not vote Repuiblican.



"REGISTRATION FRAUD" is not "VOTER FRAUD"

ALL OF THESE new QUESTIONED REGISTRATIONS will be REJECTED by the county registrars. So NO VOTER FRAID will occur.

This was NOT an effort to CREATE VOTES IN THE ELECTION. NONE of these false REGISTRATIONS were going to result in actual VOTES.

"Mickey Mouse" will NOT show up at the polls to VOTE.

These false registrations were done by PAID EMPLOYEES TRYING TO UP THEIR REGISTRATION NUMBERS to make themselves look good. These "phantoms" were NEVER going to SHOW UP at the polls! So NO VOTER FRAUD would have occurred.

So this "Voter Fraud" is really just another FRAUD by McCain, and the GOP in an attempt to throw doubt into the campaign by a candidate who is losing badly.

[buffalonyusa]

Obama/Biden 08

Nuff said.