Guide informs voters about primary election

Nevada primary voters go to the polls Aug. 12 to narrow the field in races for Congress, the state Legislature, local offices and judgeships.

Not on the ballot in the primary is the top race of this election season, the presidential election. Nevadans had their chance to have a say in the political parties' nominating contests for president in the Jan. 19 caucuses.

Also not on the primary ballot this year are statewide offices or the U.S. Senate.

This guide, designed to give voters information about the candidates who will appear on their primary ballots, is being published to coincide with the two-week early voting period, which started Saturday.

This year's primary comes amid substantial uncertainty about the ballot thanks to a court battle over term limits that remained unresolved at press time.

Thanks to challenges to candidates filed by Secretary of State Ross Miller after the end of the candidate filing period in May, the Nevada Supreme Court is tasked with deciding whether incumbents who were elected in 1996 or earlier can run again, or whether they have reached the 12-year limit established by a constitutional amendment that voters approved in 1996.

The court heard arguments on the issue July 14. Separate arguments were made for legislators, who took office after the 1996 election before the amendment took effect; local and state officials, whose terms after the 1996 election began after the amendment took effect; and the overall constitutionality of the limits which were approved by voters in two different forms in successive elections in 1994 and 1996.

Twenty local and state officials, including longtime Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, a Republican, might be disqualified by the court, while 13 lawmakers could be affected.

Even if candidates were disqualified before the primary, their names would still appear on the ballot because the ballot was prepared before the court heard the case. The court is expected to clarify in its ruling how certain disqualified candidates could be replaced.

In this election, races for Nevada's three seats in the House of Representatives are focusing on the economy, energy and the war in Iraq, while legislative candidates are being pressed for solutions to the state's budget problems.

The final deadline to register to vote in the primary was July 22. The last day to register for the Nov. 4 general election is Oct. 14.

Early voting is taking place until Aug. 8 at several malls and grocery stores across Clark County. Their hours and dates of operation vary.

On primary day, precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For information about voting sites or any other election information, call the Clark County Election Department at 455-VOTE (8683) or go to its Web site, www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/election.

Nevada's primaries for partisan offices are closed, meaning only registered voters of a certain party can vote to determine that party's nominee.

In partisan races with candidates from more than one party, the top primary vote-getter from each party advances to the general election. In nonpartisan races, including judicial and educational posts, the top two primary vote-getters advance to the general election.

Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.