Democrats rally to polls

Democrats outnumbered Republicans at the polls in Clark County by a margin of nearly three to one on the first day of early voting, according to the county Election Department.

Of the 25,110 first-day voters Saturday, 15,644, or 62 percent, were registered Democrats, while just 5,721, 23 percent, were Republicans. The rest were nonpartisans or third-party members.

Clark County is the state's Democratic stronghold, but the turnout represented a disproportionately Democratic rush to the polls. Democrats represent 47 percent of registered voters in the county, Republicans 32 percent.

Regardless of registration, people can vote for whomever they like in the privacy of the voting booth, and these totals reflect only one day out of 14 days of early voting plus Election Day. However, they do seem to indicate so far that Democrats are voting far more than Republicans.

The story was similar in the hotly contested 3rd Congressional District, where state Sen. Dina Titus, a Democrat, hopes to unseat incumbent Rep. Jon Porter, a Republican.

On the first day, out of 14,925 who voted in the district, 59 percent were Democrats. Just 25 percent were Republicans. Republicans were outpacing Democrats slightly in absentee ballots, however. As of Saturday, out of 11,902 mail ballots received countywide, 45 percent were from registered Republicans, while 42 percent were from Democrats.

Statewide voting statistics were not available Sunday.

Early voting continues today through Oct. 31 at stores, government buildings, malls and other locations throughout the Las Vegas Valley. For hours and locations, check the sample ballot you received in the mail, go online to www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/election, or call 455-VOTE (8683).

Contact political reporter Molly Ball at 387-2919 or MBall@reviewjournal.com.