Carson City supervisors approved the canvass of the Nov. 7 general election during a special meeting Tuesday.
The election drew 71.95 percent of the city's registered voters: 18,257 of 25,374 people.
While elections operations went smoothly, "I was a little disappointed with the turnout," said Alan Glover, the city's clerk-recorder and head of elections.
The 2004 general election drew nearly 88 percent of the city's registered voters, and 2002, also a midyear general election, drew 77.3 percent, according to the elections department.
Nearly 50 percent - 8,528 - of the city's registered voters, cast their ballots early this time as compared to the number who went to the polls on Election Day - 8,536, another 1,193 absentee voters cast their vote ahead of time.
The race that drew the most participation by Carson City voters was for governor - 18,173 total votes. Next was U.S. Senator - 18,165 votes.
The local race receiving highest number of votes was Carson City Question 1, the school bond initiative, with 17,746 votes total. It was approved. Next was justice of the peace with 16,745.
The Carson City School District Board of Trustees race between James Hukari and Joe Enge received the smallest number of total votes: 15,468.
Ward 1 Supervisor Robin Williamson and Ward 3 Supervisor Pete Livermore barely held on for elections to third terms.
Williamson and challenger Tom Keeton were slightly more than two percentage points apart - 51.07 percent versus 48.93 percent; Livermore and Neil Weaver less than 4 percent difference - 51.89 versus 48.11.
Local political leaders say issues shaped the voting results in these races.
"I wasn't surprised by the closeness," said Mayor Marv Teixeira last week about the results of the supervisors races. "The longer you stay, the more enemies you make. And good candidates will bring close races."
Cited as controversial recent topics the supervisors have had to deal with included the master plan and the Clearview Ridge housing proposal, a relatively high-density concept in an area that now contains very little housing and lots of empty land.
"It was close in a couple of cases, especially Tom Keeton's race," said Ron Knecht, chairman of the Carson City Republican Central Committee.
"Latent discontent brings a move for change," he said. "It was the school board this time, but it may be mayor and supervisor next time."
"You get backlash," said Steve Platt, chairman of the Carson City Democratic Central Committee. "These are the tough decisions that need to be made."
While Keeton and Weaver were formidable candidates, the incumbents "both stood up and said 'I made this decision and I'm going to stick with it.'" Platt said. "That's to their credit."
• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.