Early Voting Begins In Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- In the shadow of a statue honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., members of the majority African-American West Las Vegas community staged a march to the polls and rally Saturday morning, the first day of early voting in the state.

"I think that Clark County is truly going to put Obama over the top and Nevada will be blue," said John Hunt, chairman of the Clark County Democratic Party in an interview after the march.

In 2004, George W. Bush beat John Kerry by 21,500 votes in Nevada. At the time, Republicans held a less than 4,500 advantage over Democrats in voter registrations, but this year Democratic registration has more than closed that gap, stretching to a 100,000 voter advantage. Kerry beat Bush in Clark County -- Nevada's largest -- by more than 26,000 votes, but the rest of the state went for Bush. In some rural communities, Bush beat Kerry by more than a 3-to-1 margin. Had Kerry won Nevada, he would have won the White House.

Obama supporters rally on the first day of early voting in Nevada

Both campaigns are pushing their supporters to lock in their votes early, but the push seems especially strong on the Democratic side.

"[Democrats] show up to all the rallies, but now we need to make sure they show up to the polls," said Hunt, who expects 50 percent or more voters to vote early.

People like Eddie Watson are making sure everyone who is eligible makes it to the polls. "This is my district and my job as a captain for Obama is to get people out to vote and to pick them up," Watson tells me as he serves as my de facto tour guide of the community.

Watson spent the morning driving people to and from the polls, a job he says he'll continue doing until early voting closes October 31, then again on Election Day. A former president of the Las Vegas chapter of the NAACP, Watson has called the city home for more than 30 years and the retiree says he's probably busier now than when he was working.

Eddie Watson in his voter taxi

"I've been up since 5, I've been going since then, and I got like another 7 or 8 people to pick up. Then we'll have lunch and then we'll get on the phone, we'll call another group of people, and then we'll start the cycle all over again," he says.

Talking to Watson, it's clear to me that he's busy even when an election isn't on. In the car with us is a young boy Watson is driving home who spent the morning at a shooting range at nearby Nellis Air Force Base as part of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program. As we drive past a crowded football field, Watson tells me how the community all pitched in time and money to build it several years ago.

"A young person in Las Vegas should never say they are bored," he tells me."There's simply too much in this town for young people to do and too many people that care enough about young people to keep them out of trouble."

We drop off one woman who didn't have time to wait in the unexpected line, but she isn't discouraged and will be back. "They're laughing and talking and having a good time [at the polls], and I wish I could stay, but I am pressed for time," she says. Before she leaves the car, she schedules a ride with Watson for Monday.

Back at the polling place, I talk to one woman who hasn't voted in 30 years.

"I used to vote every year, to tell you the truth. When we was back in Mississippi, we didn't get to vote, you see," Ethel May Fletcher, who moved to Nevada in 1945, tells me.

Ethel May Fletcher, casting her first ballot in decades, is interviewed by a local TV station

Like most Obama supporters, Fletcher thinks the country is on the wrong track. But considering the 91-year-old has lived through both world wars, the great depression, and the civil rights era, I give her assessment a little more weight than some of the 18-year-old first-time voters I meet.

Before we part ways, I ask her if she plans on waiting another 30 years before voting again or if she plans on voting to reelect Barack Obama in 2012. "If I be living, that's right. I wouldn't miss it," she says.

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UPDATE: The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported today that of the 25,110 people who cast ballots on the first day of early voting, 62 percent were registered Democrats, 23 percent Republicans, and the rest were nonpartisans or members of third parties. Granted not all people will vote in line with their registration, it looks like quite a day for Clark County Democrats,

Comments

[SUNIISMOM]

I live in Las Vegas and took my 6 year old daughter with me to vote last Saturday. The poll workers thanked me for bringing her. She loves Obama. I let her press the button to vote for him and Biden. I have never been more proud of my country!

[Cinnamonape]

More from the Las-Vegas Review-Journal: Two-day results: Clark County, Democrats 27,526 (71.3%) Republicans 11,090. (28.7%)

The Democratic edge in contested districts was roughly 2-to-1.

3rd Congressional District 15,967 (68.4%) Democrats vs. 7,392 (31.6%) Republicans.

"Republicans have a slight edge (45 to 42 percent) in the 12,000 absentee ballots received over the weekend. But the Democratic turnout edge is widespread. "

I'm not sure if the absentee ballots returned are tabulated with the above or are held separate. If the latter and then added to the totals it would still be a 62% lead in the 3rd Congressional district.

State politics: "The margins were similar in Assembly Districts 5 and 29, and in state Senate Districts 5 and 6. If Democrats pick up Assembly 5 and hold District 29, they would have a veto-proof majority. Democrats take control of the State Senate with wins in either 5 or 6."

This is a phenomenal start, but keep up the turnout levels.

[Cinnamonape]

Here is an interesting "exit survey" done by a right-wing blogger called NeoConExpress.

http://www.neoconexpress.blogspot.com/

Ignore most of the insane drivel...but he apparently did an exit poll of 150 voters at a fairly Middle-Upper Class precinct in Las Vegas. He said he tried to be as "fair" and unbiased as possible in his presentation. He was stunned with the results of early voting.

In fact the numbers sound pretty close to the above (62% Democrats, 23% Republican, 15% nonpartisans or members of third parties).

Obama 53%
McCain 20%
Other 3%
Decline to State 24%

If the DNS actually are proportionately distributed (he believes they are not...and thinks they are all McCain supporters [and thus cowards for fearing to admit their votes to this decisively white tabulator])

he found: Obama 70%
McCain 26%
Other 4%

Unless a massive number of Democrats and Independents voted for McCain AND were in the Decline to State segment in the bloggers poll...it seems that the more likely proposition is that Obama voters are likely coming out in the early voting at 2:1 to 3:1 rates).

[WowJones]

Check out the comparrision, one candidate draws a large group of determined, committed voters, the other candidate draws groups of frustrated, bitter voters, clinging to ignorance and old hatreds.

[nowalnuts]

I want that one guy's Obama shoes!!! Those are some sweet shoes!

[dare2tryobama]

It is wonderful to see people coming together to get to the poles and be heard. If I wasnt working full-time I would find a way to help out as well and get people to the polls. I am taking off election day to be available to assist those who need to get to the poles. Early voting just started here in Texas so I will be voting early so I will have free time on election day.

[Petey131]

I just voted Saturday in Las Vegas. Let's keep the momentum going for Obama. Volunteer! I will!

LATINOS FOR OBAMA-BIDEN 2008!

[RAWhite]

Nationalizing the voting machine industry won’t solve all problems, but it sure would be a good start.
A federal government monopoly would manufacture voting machines with the same degree of security enforced by the Treasury to print currency.
To further guard against tampering, the voting machines would be shipped under security to election commissions around the country. In between elections, their integrity would be safeguarded by storage in a secure federal facility.
The 2002 Help America Vote Act funds states to purchase or lease voting machines from private companies. The government would offer honest voting machines at little, or no cost. By furnishing all polling places with sufficient machines, people no longer will be forced to wait hours in line to vote. To minimize the inevitable delay causing glitches, the contract could provide for a standby technician on election day.

1- Because of the very reasonable doubt that voting machines will truthfully count their votes, in this election many people will not bother to go to the polls.
2- In a show of disrespect that does not go unfelt by those already alienated by the campaign, neither candidate has even mentioned, never mind offered a solution for, this widespread legitimate concern.
Ergo- A credible promise by Obama to nationalize voting machines - assuring the disillusioned that they will never cast in doubt another election - might well be the election issue to win over more than a few of those still undecided voters.

[Oregon Ivy]

Nope, every state needs to vote by mail like we do in Oregon. There is almost no ability to tamper with the votes that way. Or at least not enough to affect the outcome of the election.

[mommadona]

Knowing Las Vegas - this is both exciting and a real breakthrough.

It's about time 'normal folk' had a say in Nevada.

[hopefulinUK]

Hello all!

I am writing from a little scottish village. I have been following your election season since January. This blog has been a constant source of information, inspiration, humour at lots more. Thank you all.

Though I am not American, I share your joy, excitement and hope in electing Obama as president.

I cannot wait for November 4/5. I am a contractor and don't get paid if I don't work but I will take time off work to stay home and soak up all the election news and witness history in the making.

America!!! you are restoring our hope in the human race!!

Go Obama!

[mommadona]

Nice to meet you!

Believe me, this is pretty heady stuff on this side of the pond too!

Yep. Watching history in motion. What a time to be alive,eh?

[justoverit333]

WOOHOO!! OBAMA/BIDEN 08

[Oregon Ivy]

Slainte mhath! I attended the University of St. Andrews and the Scottish people are some of the friendliest, smartest, funniest, most welcoming people on the face of this earth. And Scotland itself is breathtakingly beautiful.

[ninagoneobama]

Thank you hopefulin UK for your support!

[onecorgilover]

Hello Hopeful,

I'm thinking about taking the day off myself......I don't want to miss a minute of it!! Keep your fingers crossed for us.......we'll need it!

Praying, wishing, hoping for change on November 4th!

Obama/Biden '08!!!!!!!

[Agentprovokatur]

Hello to Scottland!

Governor Palin says to say Hello to King Bono of Ireland. He's just nextdoor isn't he?

[Jules1]

This makes me tear up, God! I am so glad to see this day in America, this is what all Americans need.

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

I'm with you, man... I'm totally with you.

OBAMA/BIDEN '08!

[fishgirl26]

I voted early in Montana and even in our state, the turnout is amazing. We are hoping to turn our state blue also. I lived in Vegas for a year and know how into politics you guys are. Go turn Nevada blue and let's win this thing!!!

[zurichmom]

I'm with you, Jules. I'm afraid I'm going to need a big box of tissues on election night, I will be so happy to see Obama/Biden win. Until this election I was losing hope that Americans would wake up to what has been done to our beautiful country.

[wvicens]

Ms. Ethel May Fletcher reminds me of my late grandma. I wish she was alive to see such change in the air. OBAMA is my inspiration!

[missedith]

9,000 people (including me) voted in Washoe Cty (Reno) this Saturday alone. I too have seen a couple of the enormous McCain/Palin signs but never along with other local candidate signs and ZERO bumper stickers.

UNLV's color may be red and UNR's color blue - though in past years the two towns have voted opposite their team colors - but this year the folks in Vegas and us here in Reno will join together to turn help turn our entire state BLUE!!!

[chelliza]

I'm another Washoe County person from Sparks, NV. I too voted for Obama on Saturday. I also have noticed that there are so few McCain signs. This in a county that was full of Bush signs four years ago. If they are for McCain, they are not very proud of it. I am really hoping to finally live in a blue state again (originally from California).

[rosal]

I voted in Reno on Saturday. We went on a caravan of several cars honking all the way to the voting location, many people honked back!
I had voted on several elections, but this time when I saw Obama's name in the voting machine I almost cried. He must really love this country to allowed himself to be subjected to so much negativity. Voting for him I knew I was thanking him for believing in us, and also I was voting for him because of the love I have for my country, knowing this was our time.

[njborne]

I have family living in Clarks County in Las Vegas! It's so wonderful to see the steady turn out. Please turn NV Blue. America needs you!