County strives to keep voter rolls clean

It almost makes sense that the recession and Nevada's notorious mortgage crisis would cause chaos with the state's voter registration rolls.

But thanks to the upgraded technology and a thorough screening and updating process in use in Clark County, Registrar of Voters Joe Gloria says he's confident the battling presidential campaigns receive the most accurate voter information possible in the days leading up to Saturday's Democratic caucus and Tuesday's Republican caucus.

The political rumor mill has buzzed recently with a narrative that goes something like this: Nevada's economic woes forced so many people to move from their residences that large percentages of the campaign mailers are being returned or not hitting their intended targets.

That could happen, of course — especially if the candidates' troops have been working from old voter lists. But that raises a question of competence on the part of the campaign, not the Clark County Election Department.

Voter rolls in Clark County are updated hourly. (As of noon Thursday, there were 829,135 registered voters in Clark County: 357,047 Democrats, 261,312 Republicans, 163,959 nonpartisans and 46,817 others.)

While it's still possible many voters have moved and not updated their registration with a new address, he says the department goes to great lengths to ensure the accuracy of its rolls.

It cross-references with the multi-state Electronic Registration Information Center, follows up with the U.S. Postal Service's National Change of Address Program and then sends yet another registration reminder card from, as Gloria puts it, "the cleanest list possible."

"Most people who are experienced campaigners in Nevada work with active voter lists," Gloria says.

"It's not perfect, but we do everything that's within our power to be as accurate as possible in keeping the list as clean as we can."

MAYOR CHAVEZ: When East Las Vegas residents received a knock at their doors from a three-term mayor this week, it wasn't Oscar Goodman. It was former Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, a longtime Hillary Clinton supporter.

Chavez stepped away from a group of approximately 80 volunteers Thursday at the campaign's East Bonanza Road office to tout the candidate's strengths and remind skeptics that she is remains focused on the family.

He is a senior adviser to Ready for Hillary and the co-chair of Latinos for Hillary. The Latino vote, once thought to be solidly in Clinton's favor, has been challenged in recent months by an energetic Bernie Sanders campaign.

Within the Latino community, Chavez said, "It's about how we can keep families strong. I think she's the only candidate for president on either side who can do that. ... She's passionate. She has an incredible understanding of how to make things happen. It's one of the principle differences between her and Sen. Sanders."

Chavez scoffed at the notion there's any lack of energy coming from the Clinton camp.

"It's just a buzz of activity here," he said. "If there wasn't I would be nervous. But it's nice to see."

STUPAK AVENUE: The Polish Maverick would be proud. On Wednesday, the Las Vegas City Council voted to name a feisty side street adjacent to the Stratosphere in honor of the late Bob Stupak. The decision came at the request of Stupak's son, Nevada Stupak, and with a big assist from Ward 3 Councilman Bob Coffin.

The street will be dedicated later this year.

DAM GOOD: Generally speaking, movie reviews are best left to the experts. Still, I can't help weighing in on the creative work I watched recently at the Boulder Theatre during the Nevada authors' portion of the 12th annual Dam Short Film Festival.

I wouldn't know the next Scorsese if I caught him looking at me, but I found every entry interesting. Festival co-founder Lee Lanier and director John LaBonney surely must have been pleased by the large turnout at Boulder City's historic movie house.

A personal favorite? It had to be Nevada director Hunter Hopewell's "Exchange," a film about a friendship that grows following the arrival of a goofy but soulful exchange student. And the Michael Evans-directed "Trivia Night" was creepy good.

With 129 films screened in four days, there was something for every taste.

ON THE BOULEVARD: While Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are busy crisscrossing the state, former President Bill Clinton was scheduled to be a popular late addition to the Clark County Democratic Party's "1st in the West Kick-off to Caucus" dinner Thursday night at the Tropicana. ... Five-time world champion boxer Zab Judah highlights a March 12 fight card sponsored by the D Las Vegas at the new Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, another Derek Stevens production. With all that downtown promotion, the guy could be mayor some day.

— Have an item for Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to jsmith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. On Twitter: @jlnevadasmith