Early voters line up to cast ballots

A line almost stretched outside of the Carson City Courthouse Saturday morning as people waited to cast an early ballot in what some voters called a watershed election while others said they just wanted the political season to end.

Dave Sheeran, 64, would be among the latter.

"Get it over with and get all the commercials off the TV," Sheeran said.

The 2010 election in Nevada has Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid fighting the political fight of his career against tea party favorite, Republican Sharron Angle. Both are in a statistical dead heat according to statewide polling leading up to the Nov. 2 general election.

Saturday marked the first day of early voting in Carson City.

Carson City Clerk-Recorder Alan Glover said he is expecting a 90 percent voter turnout this election, outpacing the usual 70 percent for most midterm elections. In the first hour of voting on Saturday more than 150 people had already cast their ballots. By the end of the day 817 people had cast their ballots.

After Chuck Askey, 85, voted on Saturday, he said he cast his ballot in favor of Reid over Angle, adding he was mostly glad the election season is almost over. He said he used to work in the bill room at the state Legislature and had met Angle while she served as an Assemblywoman.

"I didn't think she was qualified for what's going on," Askey said.

Duane Anderson, 55, said he wasted no time casting his ballot early in favor Angle.

"We want to get our vote in as quick as possible, we want to get Reid out of there," Anderson said.

His wife, Corrie Anderson, 55, also is supporting Angle.

"She believes in the Constitution of the United States and free enterprise," she said. "Big government doesn't work."

James Lukes, of Carson City, said he is voting to expel Reid from the U.S. Senate, adding the four-term senator had lost touch with voters back home. He said he wants term limits for members of Congress.

"We're looking forward to somebody other than Harry Reid getting back in," Lukes said. "It seems like the more a person is in the political realm the less responsive they are to the people."

Bill Lassaline, 52, said he and his wife Bernadette, 53, came to cast an early ballot because they will be away on vacation during Election Day.

"It's kind of another election," Bill Lassaline said, adding they are supporting Reid for the U.S. Senate.

Bernadette added the race became too heated in recent weeks.

"Typical bad mouthing each other, which is disappointing," she said.

Hope Tingle, 55, also said she was glad the election is almost over after casting her ballot in favor of Reid over Angle.

"I'm tired of the negative campaign ads, I'm tired of all the garbage, nobody said anything about what's really important so I'm glad it's done," Tingle said.

She added, "I firmly believe in Harry Reid and I think he's done a wonderful job. I've been a long time Nevadan, I was born and raised here, and I think he's done some good things for us and I don't want to see us lose that opportunity."

Lindsay Dorio, 24, said the 2010 midterm election was no different than other ballots she's cast.

She said she's voting for Harry Reid because she supports most of the policies he's helped usher through the U.S. Senate as majority leader.

"I support health care ... and in general privatizing Social Security and all that is really scary, especially in my case," Dorio said. "My dad has already died and we need that a lot."

Dorio added she is supporting Karen Abowd over Rob Joiner for the Board of Supervisors because she supports the proposed Carson City Center Project, which includes a new library downtown.

David Elallen, 56, said he too is supporting Reid over Angle.

"I think we'd be making a big mistake if we went with Angle," Elallen said, adding he was still on the fence about who to support for Carson City Sheriff between incumbent Kenny Furlong and challenger Bob Guimont.

"I'm probably going to wait until I'm in front of the machine," Elallen said. "I've got neighbors on either side of me that are for and against. I think we should probably stay with the one we've got, but I also understand the one we've got isn't entirely getting it done."