An election worker verifies a voter’s signature during last week’s early voting at the Churchill County commission chambers.
Photo by Steve Ranson.
Only a few days remain before the end of early voting in Churchill County, and the next and final day for casting votes in person is Tuesday at the Fallon Convention Center.
Early voting times at the Churchill County commission chambers is from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. through Friday. The last day for voters who cast their ballots at the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Community Learning Center is Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
In-person voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the convention center.
The county’s official ballot drop locations are at the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office, 155 N. Taylor St., Suite 110; City of Fallon Clerk’s Office, 55 W. Williams Ave.; and the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe Administration Office, 565 Rio Vista West.
Results from early voting and in-person voting on Tuesday should be released later that day. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than Tuesday and received within four days to be counted.
Voting was brisk during the first week of early voting, reports Churchill County Clerk Linda Rothery. She said more than 1,500 residents voted during the first two days of early voting, and although the numbers have tailed off, she said the number of daily residents coming to the commission chambers has been steady.
Early voting on Nevada Day, which was Saturday, produced almost 400 voters. According to the clerk’s office, 35 Democrats, 288 Republicans and 73 identifying as others voted. Statewide, more than 33,000 residents voted on the observed Nevada Day.
In Churchill County, 20,284 people are registered to vote as of Oct. 1. Republicans lead the field with 9,900 voters followed by 6,443 nonpartisan and 2,466 Democrats.
Populous Clark County easily leads the rest of the state with 1,729,814 voters. Nonpartisan leads that Southern Nevada county with 620,711 voters followed by 558,700 Democrats and 424,774 Republicans. Statewide, nonpartisans lead the categories with 825,179 voters followed by 718,625 Democrats and 673,828 Republicans. The Independent American Party tallies 108,189 voters.
Nevada voters will determine their candidates for president, vice president, the U.S. House of Representatives, local and statewide offices and state ballot questions.
For president are Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, Democratic; Chase Oliver and Michael Ter Maat, Libertarian; Joel Skoussen and Rik Combs, Independent American Party; and Donald J. Trump and JD Vance, Republican.
For representative, District 2, voters will have their choice of four candidates including incumbent Mark Amodei, Republican. The other candidates are Lynn Chapman, Independent American Party; Greg Kidd, no political party; and Javi “Trujillo” Tachiquin, Libertarian.
U.S. Senate candidates are Sam Brown, Republican; Chris Cunningham, Libertarian; Janine Hansen, Independent American Party; and incumbent Jacky Rosen, Democratic.
Seven state questions await voters. The sample ballot sent to each voter has a detailed explanation for each question.
The only local political race affecting Churchill County is the Mosquito, Vector and Noxious Weed Abatement Board. The candidates are David Brown and incumbents Marion Jonte and Cynthia McGarrah.
Churchill County’s primary election in June decided the winners for Churchill County School Board, Justice Court judge and commissioners for Districts 1 and 3. City voters also retained Mayor Ken Tedford and Councilwoman Karla Ken, who did not draw a primary challenge.
The mayor received 1,066 votes in the nonpartisan race compared to 247 votes for Jacob Robertson and 78 for Luai Ababneh.
Ben Trotter won a second term as New River Township Justice of the Peace by receiving 3,101 votes. Brenda Ingram had 1,265 votes, and Dr. Stuart Richardson finished third with 648.
Matt Hyde defeated Julie Guerrero-Goetsch for County Commission, District 1, 2,254 votes to 1,137. Eric Blakey defeated three other opponents to win the Churchill County Commission District 3 seat. He defeated Rusty Jardine, 1,412 to 1,164 votes. Todd Moretto received 684 votes, and John Caetano, 113 votes.
Each winner received more than 50% of the total votes.
Three candidates running for three open Churchill County School Board seats were elected. Their names will still appear on the general election ballot. Wendy Bullock led with 3,004 voters, Kathryn Whitaker had 2,793 and Gregg Malkovich totaled 2,717.
Statewide offices for the nonpartisan Justice of the Supreme Court, seats C, F and G, will show only candidate for each race. The candidates are Elissa Cadish, seat C; Patty Lee, seat F; and Lidia Stiglich, seat G.
For the nonpartisan State Board of Education, District 2, the candidates are Paul “Doc” Davis and Angela Orr.
The clerk’s office has also released information on early voting by mail:
• How do you prevent election fraud when people are voting by mail? The voter who was mailed the ballot must sign the return envelope. The signature will be compared to the signature we have on record to verify it matches.
If there is an issue with a signature, the voter will be contacted and they will have the opportunity to cure the discrepancy.
• What if a deceased family member receives a ballot in the mail? Our office works with the State of Nevada’s Office of Vital Statistics to update our voter registration records daily, but there are still opportunities for us to have an active voter registration record for a deceased person.
Therefore, they would be mailed a ballot. If your household receives a ballot for a deceased family member, please contact our office to find out how to cancel the deceased voter’s registration record.
• I received a ballot for someone who no longer lives here. What should I do with it?
Although our office diligently works to ensure our voter registration database is current, we are not always notified when a voter moves. If you receive a ballot for someone who no longer lives at your address, please write “no longer at this address” and return it to the post office.
• I received a ballot but have a condition that limits my ability to sign the envelope. How do I make sure my ballot will count?
Nevada residents with a disability can mark their ballot electronically by going to www.nvEASE.gov. Alternately, you may receive assistance marking and signing your ballot from any person you authorize. In order for your ballot to be counted, the person that assists you in marking or signing your ballot must provide their name, signature, and address on the return envelope. Contact our office to find out more about receiving assistance.
• If I need a replacement ballot, what do I do with the original ballot?
Before processing a replacement ballot, our office voids the original ballot. This is a required security measure within our voter registration system. Only one ballot can be accepted for each voter.
If a voter returns a second voted ballot, our system will notify us that a ballot has already been received for this voter and our office will notify the Churchill County District Attorney’s office of the attempt to vote twice.
For any questions regarding your voter registration or the election process, contact the Churchill County Clerk/Treasurer’s office at 775-423-6028.