Early voting: slow but steady

Early voting in Churchill County has been slow but steady since the first ballots were cast on Saturday.

Churchill County Deputy Clerk Erin Montalvo said voting isn’t as brisk as when residents went to the polls in 2010 and 2012.

“It’s been comparable to most primary elections in the past,” Montalvo said.

She said early voting in 2010 set the benchmark because of six candidates running for sheriff, four Republican candidates seeking their party’s nomination for U.S. Senate and a highly competitive school board race.

In 2012, voters turned out to vote for president and U.S. Senate, a seat retained by Dean Heller.

Since early voting began almost one week ago, 468 people have voted including 100 who sent in absentee ballots. Republicans lead in-person voting over the Democrats, 322-116.

Early voting runs through June 10 and is held at the Churchill County Commissioner chambers.

The commission chamber will be open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. The office is open today and Monday-Friday of next week from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. It ends just four days shy of the June 14 primary election.

One Churchill County race will decide a county commissioner, and voters will vote for a Republican candidate for U.S Senate to face Democrat Catherine Masto Cortez in the fall.

Bill Slentz, a Fallon businessman and former trustee on the Churchill County School Board. is challenging incumbent Carl Erquiaga, who is seeking his third term.

Nine candidates are vying for the Republican senate candidate, which, according to statewide polls, is led by Joe Heck, a congressman from southern Nevada.

Churchill County has two nonpartisan races which will be decided this month.

Phil Pinder, Tricia Strasdin and Kathryn Whitaker are candidates for three open seats on the school board.

Sheldon Chipp and Marion Jonte are the only candidates for two openings on the Mosquito, Vector and Noxious Weed Abatement Board.