Early-voting progressing

As it has every election cycle, the number of Carson City voters participating in early voting is higher this year than during the last presidential cycle four years ago.

Clerk-Recorder Alan Glover said that the turnout isn't spectacular because, "there's not a lot on that (primary) ballot."

As of mid-afternoon Friday, halfway through early voting, a bit more than 1,900 Carson voters had turned out. That is 25 to 30 more than the 1,876 who voted early in the first six days of the 2008 cycle despite the fact that this cycle had one less day of early voting because the clerk's office was closed Memorial Day.

The turnout, however, is significantly less than the 3,163 who turned out in the first half of early voting two years ago. That cycle, there were hotly contested primaries that drew numerous voters to the polls - including the Republican primary in the governor's race. Glover said that also had all the other constitutional officers on the ballot as well as contested legislative primaries.

He said the primary is generally light in the presidential election years but the general brings a huge turnout. In the non-presidential years, he said, the pattern is just the opposite with a huge primary turnout and smaller general election vote.

So far, the turnout is about 8.5 percent of the active voter role.

Glover said he expects total turnout for Carson City to be about 35 percent.

Early voting across the state was fairly light through the first week with 50,265 ballots cast. There are just over 1 million active voters on the roles in the state, so the turnout is just about 5 percent thus far.

Republicans, however, are outpacing Democrats at the polls statewide with a turnout of 6.3 percent compared with 4.7.

Early voting started May 26 and continues through Friday. Early voting is today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the County Courthouse, 885 E. Musser St.

The primary election is June 12.

• The Associated Press contributed to this report.