Early voters: Looking for change

If local voter interviews are any indication of what's ahead, many incumbents could be looking for new jobs June 9.

Early voting opened Saturday at the Carson City Courthouse, and several people adamantly said they were looking for a change this year.

"We need some new young people in office," said Kathryn Arbuckle. "There are too many old stodgies there now, and it's time for them to retire."

Lou Phillips said she also was hoping for some upsets.

"I want to see changes in the U.S. Senate, and I'd like to change all the people. They've been in office too long, and we need a fresh start. Our Constitution is not being adhered to in Congress and our state laws are not being enforced," Phillips said.

Woody Wright said he likes to vote early to get it out of the way, and this year, he was at the polls early because he and his wife won't be here June 8. They are heading to Maryland to meet their first grandchild.

"I'm going to vote pretty much as I usually do, but I haven't been on the winning side for quite awhile," Wright said.

Don Miller, who said he is a full-time RVer, added that he's voting for anyone who is new.

"I'm not voting for any incumbents. We need change. I'm tired of the way things are going," Miller said. "I don't think politicians listen to us anymore."

Clerk-Recorder Alan Glover said more than 50 percent of the ballots are cast during early voting.

"First thing this morning we got a big rush, but then it tapered off for the afternoon," he said.

"A lot of people are the same ones we always see first thing, like Duane Glansman. He always gets here early. He has, ever since we started early voting," Glover said.

Early voting gives his staff time to handle problems - like locating a missing voter registration.

"On election day, we might not be able to do that, so this relieves a lot of stress on that day.

By the end of the day Saturday, about 450 had cast their ballots.

"That's way above what it was two years ago, so that's a good sign," he said.

Precinct worker Cookie Callahan said she has worked at least 25 elections.

"The best thing that ever happened was getting these voting machines," she said. "They just help everything move along faster."

Early voting usually tapers off by mid-afternoon on Saturdays, but during the week, it stays busy right up to 6 p.m., Glover said.

"I've seen them lined up all the way down the hallway and outside the building, especially on the last day," he said.

There are 23,700 active registered voters in Carson City and another couple of thousand others who are inactive, Glover said.

Early voting in Nevada's primary election got under way this weekend across the state.

Republican voters will pick a nominee from a field of 12 candidates to run against Democrat Harry Reid in the U.S. Senate race.

Voters also will decide if Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons will survive to face re-election in November.

There are 26 precincts in Carson City, but all will go to the polls either at the community center on East William Street or in the Fuji Park event center on Old Clear Creek Road on primary election day, June 8. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.