Early voting starts Saturday for primary election

To learn about the candidates, click here. 

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Early voting for the 2024 Primary Election starts Saturday morning, and the Carson City Clerk-Recorder’s Office is expecting a big turnout for voters tasked with whittling down Republican, Democrat and nonpartisan candidates.

“About 65 percent of active registered voters cast their ballots in the last primary election, and I expect we will receive over 16,000 mail-in ballots out of the nearly 40,000 ballots that are being mailed,” said Clerk-Recorder Scott Hoen.

Sample ballots were mailed the second week of May, and mail ballots should be arriving in mailboxes this week.

The Primary Election should not be confused with the Presidential Preference Primary held in February or the presidential caucuses. The June 11 primary includes several offices: federal, state and local.

“We have trained 120 election workers and observers for this upcoming election,” said Hoen. “An election worker plays a crucial role in the democratic process by assisting during elections. They help ensure that elections run smoothly and that voters have a positive experience. I can’t thank them enough with everything that they do for Carson City.”

Dates, times, locations

In-person voting on election day will take place at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St., from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 11.

In-person early voting at the community center will run Saturday through June 7. Polls will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. They will be closed May 27 for Memorial Day. They will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 28-31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 1, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 3-7.

“The busiest days of in-person voting are the first and last day of early voting and Election Day. Take advantage of shorter lines during the week,” said Hoen.

Mail ballots need to be postmarked by June 11. Those wanting to vote in-person can surrender their mail ballots at the polls. Mail ballots can be dropped off at a drop box at the community center during early voting or election-day times but will not be accepted on Memorial Day.

There will be a drop box at the Clerk-Recorder’s Office in the Carson City Courthouse, 885 E. Musser St., and mail ballots will be accepted at the counter during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding federal holidays) and until 7 p.m. on election day.

There will be no drop box at the Carson City Senior Center this election.

Until May 28, voters can update their voter registration online at www.RegisterToVote.NV.gov,

Hoen also addressed same-day registration as allowed under state law.

“The state of Nevada allows a voter to change registration information but only at the polling location as we get closer to Election Day,” he said. “Voters can change their name, address, party affiliation and even register to vote on the same day with the proper identification. We want everyone to vote that is entitled to vote.”

For information on same-day registration, visit https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/election-information/same-day-registration.

Races

Registered Democrats will have three candidates and “none of these candidates” to choose from for the U.S. Senate race including incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen. Registered Republicans will have 12 U.S. Senate candidates and “none of these candidates” to choose from to determine who goes against the Democrat nominee in the general election in November.

Additionally, Republicans will have two candidates to choose from including incumbent U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei for the District 2 federal congressional race. They will also get to decide in the Nevada Assembly District 40 race between incumbent P.K. O’Neill and challenger Drew Ribar on who will proceed to the general.

Despite one’s party affiliation, all active voters in Carson City will get the opportunity to weigh in on several races for nonpartisan offices. For nonpartisan races, the top two vote-earners in the primary go to the general election unless one candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote and clinches the position.

For District 9 of the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents, the nonpartisan candidates are incumbent Carol Del Carlo and Bret Delaire and Gary Johnson. For the State Board of Education District 2, the candidates are Matthew Buehler, Paul “Doc” Davis, Dorzell King Jr. and incumbent Angela Orr.

The local offices in Carson City have several nonpartisan races. For District 7 of the Carson City School Board, John Henley, Michelle Pedersen and Joy Trushenski will face off.

For the position of mayor, incumbent Mayor Lori Bagwell will compete for votes against Devan Doan, Jason Hastings, William Maher and Jim Shirk.

For Carson City Justice and Municipal Court Department 2, Melanie Bruketta, Tyson League and Daniel Spence will vie for votes, and the Carson City Board of Supervisors is expected to make a temporary appointment to the vacant seat after the primary. The position was vacated by recently appointed District Court Judge Kristin Luis, who is facing Mark Krueger in the general election.

Not in the primary is incumbent Carson City Ward 2 Supervisor Maurice White, who faces no opponent but will appear on the general election ballot, according to Hoen. Incumbent Ward 4 Supervisor Lisa Schuette also will face challenger Lucia Maloney in the general.

The Board of Supervisors is expected to canvass the primary results June 21.