General election guide coming this Sunday

There are many reasons why local residents are often seen carrying marked-up copies of the Las Vegas Review-Journal's special election section to the polls each Election Day.

It's because the information about the candidates it contains is information they need to know to cast intelligent votes that represent their political points of view. And it doesn't hurt that it's a nice place to jot down voting picks to get through the voting process more quickly.

The election section that will be part of the newspaper this Sunday is no exception. It includes the candidates' stands on the issues of the day, their political experience and other background such as age, occupation and party affiliation. It also tells readers what the public office entails and what it pays.

The Nov. 6 general election ballot is a big one, and not just the tight presidential race between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. There's also a close U.S. Senate race between Rep. Shelley Berkley and U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, and several tight races among Nevada's four congressional districts.

On the ballot also is a big tax measure for Clark County schools, a statewide measure that would allow the Legislature to call special sessions, a tax measure for Henderson libraries, four County Commission races, some justice of the peace and District Court races, and Assembly and state Senate races. There also are races for the boards that oversee public schools and the state's college and university system.

If you want to get a head start, go online to lvrj.com/candidates to read candidates' answers to a questionnaire. Each race on the Clark County ballot is listed, with links to information provided by candidates about their education, political stands and qualifications for the office they are seeking.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL