Local NewsCoronavirus

Actions

Primary election continues despite coronavirus pandemic

Posted at 3:49 PM, Jun 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-08 18:49:44-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — In near unprecedented times of nationwide protests against systemic racism amid a global pandemic the Nevada primary election will continue.

Joe Gloria, Clark County registrar of voters, said the transition to all mail ballots for the 2020 primary was a hard shift to make at the election department, but it went smoothly.

He said more than 200,000 people have voted in advance of the June 9 primary.

"We had to make sure that we were providing an opportunity for voters that gave them all an opportunity to be enfranchised in this process, but not expose themselves to large numbers of people," Gloria said.

Clark County officials said Tuesday's election will allow 30 ballot drop off locations around the county and three locations where voters can register to vote on election day.

Officials said they prefer people mail in their ballot after filling it out, signing it, and sealing it in the prepaid envelope provided to every voter.

"Please come out and vote," Gloria said.

Voting advocates like Will Pregman, communications director for Battle Born Progress, said the public is socially charged and ready to vote.

He said local races are arguably more important than national races as city, county, and state officials pass rules and regulations that more often affect daily life.

"In addition to holding elected officials accountable by marching in the street," he said, "it's also an opportunity to choose those officials you're holding accountable."

Battle Born Progress created a non-partisan voter guide for people to research the candidates at votesmartnv.org and established an election protection hotline at 1-866-687-8683.

Results will not be final Tuesday evening.

Gloria said any ballot postmarked on June 9 and received by June 16 will be counted so final results will not be announced until every vote has been tabulated.