High turnout expected for Tuesday's state primary election

Political advertising has been at a fever pitch and candidates signs dot the city. Poll workers have been trained and elections employees today will focus on final preparations before polling places open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for Primary Election Day.

If early-voting turnout is any indication of overall voter turnout - at least in Carson City - the number of voters who come to the polls could end up pretty high, said Alan Glover, Carson City's clerk-recorder and head of elections.

"The last two days have been very busy," he said Friday, as early voting was coming to a close.

A surge of early voters Thursday and Friday brought the total to 4,571.

The total number of early voters in the 2004 primary election - with high-profile state and federal races - only reached 3,775.

Glover points to high interest in state races, such as the governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state, as reasons why so many people are voting.

Carson City Board of Supervisors Ward 3, the sheriff, assessor, treasurer, clerk-recorder, justice of the peace District 2, and two school district trustee positions will be on the ballot.

Only a couple of those local contests can truly be described as races because the supervisor and the school board District 6 incumbents are running unopposed.

The two candidates who receive the most votes during the primary election continue on to the general election. Any candidate who receives more than 50 percent of the vote, however, will be declared the winner, making inclusion of that race on the Nov. 7 general election ballot unnecessary.

In neighboring counties, an array of offices also are up for grabs. In Lyon County, the sheriff, District 2 commissioner, district court judge and one school district seat are contested.

In Storey County, there are races for District 1 commissioner, district attorney and sheriff.

And in Douglas County, candidates are vying for public administrator, district commissioner and East Fork justice of the peace.

"It's going to be interesting," Glover said. "You never know what's going to happen Tuesday morning."

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.