Early voting for June 12 primary low, as predicted

CARSON CITY - Just 57,382 of the state's million-plus voters, 5.4 percent, took advantage last week of the option to vote before the June 12 primary election.

That turnout is lower than in the first week of early voting for the previous statewide primary election in 2010, when 60,386 Nevada voters cast ballots. But it is in line with the predictions by both Secretary of State Ross Miller and Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax, who guessed that less than 20 percent of voters would cast ballots in this primary.

Miller said last week that 17 percent to 20 percent of voters would cast ballots in what was expected to be one of the lowest turnouts in state history. He said the turnout would be so low because there were few competitive primary elections. Lomax guessed 19 percent.

Early voting continues through Friday . Through last Friday, 43,026 voters cast ballots early. Another 14,356 sent in absentee ballots for a total of 57,382. Of the state's 433,096 Democrats, 5.4 percent, or 23,472, cast early ballots or mailed in absentee ballots. Of 394,304 Republicans, 7.3 percent, or 28,736, voted early or sent in absentee ballots.

Turnout among nonpartisans and those with minor parties was 5,174. That is just 2.2 percent of the 231,408 voters in these categories. They could vote only in contested nonpartisan races.

In Clark County in the first week,
5.2 percent, or 35,980, of 691,575 voters, voted early or sent in absentee ballots. That included 5.5 percent, or 16,789, of 307,673 Democrats and 6.9 percent, or 16,060, of 231,784, Republicans. Just 2.1 percent, or 3,131, of 152,118 nonpartisans or minor-party members had voted.