Organization files complaints about Nevada voter registation

4:07 p.m.

A North Carolina-based watchdog organization that tracks illegal immigrant issues filed a complaint Tuesday with the Nevada Secretary of State based on a Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial column about voter registration fraud and two noncitizens who were registered to vote.

William Gheen, president of the watchdog group, Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, said he also mailed letters to Clark County election officials, the Federal Election Commission and the FBI urging the agencies to investigate what RJ editorial writer Glenn Cook described as two anonymous "noncitizens" who were urged to vote by a local union operative under threats of deportation.

Gheen said he "will lobby the Nevada Legislature to take immediate action to use the Department of Homeland Security data base to weed out illegal immigrants."

He said his last resort, if he's not satisfied with how his complaints are handled, will be to have his organization "boycott some of the large casinos" that don't verify the immigration status of their workers. - KEITH ROGERS

LAS VEGAS VALLEY MOVES TO CAST BALLOTS WITH THREE HOURS TO GO

3:53 p.m.

By 3 p.m. Tuesday, about 600 voters from five precincts cast their ballots at Hyde Park Middle School, 900 Hinson St., near Charleston Boulevard. One election worker said six voters had received blue reminder cards with the wrong precinct numbers on them but had the correct precincts listed on their sample ballots and voted.

While waiting in line at the polling site, one woman said she was concerned about the voting process after having watched a national news report for another state where voters experienced issues with voting machines. According to the report, voters who were selecting President Obama saw their ballots mark Mitt Romney instead.

Voter Kim Asher, 46, said she voted for a second term for Obama because she "didn't like what Romney had to say." Asher, who is a registered Democrat, said she also chose Shelley Berkley as Nevada's next U.S. senator because "she's the lesser of two evils."

Asher's 86-year-old father, John Sadownik said he also supported Obama but wasn't impressed with the incumbent.

"It's just as bad to vote for the other," Sadownik said. "It was just a hand toss."

Peter Marlowe, a Republican who voted earlier in the day at Arbor View High School, said "the voting system is a joke." Marlowe said he wants to see Nevada's election process move to a photo identification system so a voter can prove his identity rather than relying on a signature.

"I wrote my name as funky as I could just to see what would happen," Marlowe said. "I'm ready next time to just make an X." -- KRISTI JOURDAN

FROM TWITTER

@lmyerslvrj

.@sendeanheller hometown MT @NvDornan: Elections Alan Glover says #ccVotes on track to pass 90% turnout - heading for 4,000 today #lvvotes

@lscvegas

In the past week I've gotten election calls from workers in DC, SF, LA, CHI and LV. #LVvotes

@jlnevadasmith

Multiple reports of poll officials getting tough on observers. Too assertive? #lvvotes

@MjLyle

First polls close in 10 minutes. This day is flying! #LVvotes

VARIETY OF REASONS HELPING HENDERSON RESIDENTS MAKE VOTING DECISIONS

3:28 p.m.

Adriana Santana, 39, voted for Berkley but said her vote was more about choosing between "the two evils."

"I was upset about her cheating and that ethics probe because of her husband, " said the Henderson resident. "But then I thought, 'Well, which politician isn't corrupt or sneaking around?"

Santana, a mother of three children, said she also voted for Obama because she thought he was a good on education wasn't going to try and control reproductive rights of her daughters.

"This is the first election that I voted how the candidates and their elections were going to affect me, and not how they were going to affect the community. And that's sad."

Tammy Cottam, 42, a Henderson housewife and mother of four, voted for Romney because Obama "had his chance."

"He's had four years and we haven't seen a whole lot of change," she said. "The economy has gone downhill and hasn't changed for the better. I believe Romney when he says he's going to bring us more jobs," she said.

Brianna and Stacy Jasso, identical twins, 23, said they both voted for Berkley because she was the Democrat. Even though they were concerned with the ethics probe, they agree she's been in office long enough to overlook it.

"Besides," said Brianna, "people say a lot of things about people every day that aren't true. I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt."

Scott Bowles, a Republican sheet metal worker, said he voted for Romney because he honestly believes Romney will be the agent of change.

"We need change. It may sound hokey but that's exactly what Obama said four years ago, and he didn't deliver," he said. -- Tom Ragan

FIVE THINGS NEVADANS WILL BE TALKING ABOUT ON ELECTION NIGHT

Get ready Nevada. Polls close in about four hours and the Internet, social media and television news will be burning up with chatter. The Associated Press offers five things that Nevadans need to watch for - and will be talking about.

■ Electoral votes up for grabs: Nevada will be one of the biggest battlegrounds that will determine who is the next president. Looking for an important indicator of the results? Watch how Northern Nevada's Washoe County is trending. Both sides believe it is key.

■ Another big Senate race: In 2010, all eyes were on Nevada as Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid narrowly won re-election. A similar scenario is playing out this year as incumbent Republican Sen. Dean Heller runs for a full term against Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley.

■ Legislature important, too: It's not just the big-ticket races that are attracting attention. Republicans are hoping to reclaim a majority in the state Senate. There are five competitive races that will essentially settle the control of power in the upper chamber in Carson City.

■ Congress: Nevada has a couple of hotly contested congressional races. One of the tightest features Democratic state Sen. Steven Horsford and Republican businessman Danny Tarkanian, son of the former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.

■ The ads end: Nevadans have been bombarded with a nonstop barrage of TV campaign ads - among the most in the nation. After Election Day, they will end.- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEVADA ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 9 RACE DRAWS VARIED OPINIONS

1:56 p.m.

Las Vegas High School senior Cheyrill Rodriguez, 17, campaigned for Assembly District 9 Republican candidate C. Kelly Hurst in the southwest valley at Rogers Elementary.

Hurst and his Democrat opponent Andrew Martin are battling in a controversial race in which a judge ruled that Martin's campaign "is not valid." Although too young to vote, Rodriguez said she was holding Hurst campaign signs to earn money for an upcoming school trip to California.

She said some drivers honked or waved in support. One man who was heading inside the school to vote was upset she was there and "said I couldn't be here." Rodriguez was sitting on the sidewalk outside of the 100-foot electioneering radius.

Outside of Water of Life Lutheran Church, voter Toni Pennington said she voted for Martin but "not for any particular reason."

"I should have written my name in there," she joked.

Pennington, 50, said she is a registered nonpartisan voter who supports President Obama.

"He's done a lot of good so far," Pennington said. (Mitt) "Romney doesn't know much about politics. I probably know more. Whoever can do the job gets my vote." -- KRISTI JOURDAN

EARLY-MORNING SURGE OF VOTERS REACHES AFTERNOON LULL

1:34 p.m.

Poll workers at Escobedo Middle School in the northwest valley reported more than 100 people were waiting in line at 5:30 a.m. to vote, even though the polls didn't open until 7 a.m. They said about 430 people had voted by 10:30 a.m.

By 12:30 p.m., the school felt like a ghost town -- no students, several poll workers scattered throughout the gym and about four voters.

One poll worker said the turnout overall had been "pretty good" so far and the school expects an after-work surge before polls close at 7 p.m. -- MARK DAVIS

FROM TWITTER

@KristiJourdan

This reporter has logged more than 6.5 hours of driving time and 200 miles for @reviewjournal Election Day coverage. #LVvotes

@cadecridland

Turns out the tent on LVBlvd and Washington is not my local polling place. #lvvotes

@jeffdlarsen

Political ads will be coming to an end, but the scary thing is I don't know what real commercials are like anymore. #LVvotes #election2012

REGISTRAR EXPECTS HIGHEST OVERALL TURNOUT IN HISTORY

11:21 a.m.

With polling stations poised to report the first round of voter numbers at 10:30 a.m., Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said he projects Tuesday's turnout combined with early voting "will be the highest overall turnout we've ever had. That's my guess."

By 10:30 a.m., Clark County polling places reported 67,478 voters had cast their ballots on election day. That's in addition to 436,568 who had voted early, or 52 percent of the county's registered voters. This marked the highest number of voters to vote early, and the first time more than half of all registered voters voted early in Clark County.

No major problems had been reported from the county's 264 polling locations in the first three hours of voting.

"Everything is going fine," Lomax said. ­­-- KEITH ROGERS

FROM TWITTER

@lmyerslvrj

Elaine Wynn ElemSchool voting site: gay couple voted @BarackObama,1 voted @RepBerkley "because I've seen her with Obama" #lvvotes #coattails

@jlnevadasmith

IMO: There's definitely an increase in poll watchers this year. #Lvvotes

FROM FACEBOOK

Andrew Lunsford: exit polling was a joke.

VOTERS MAKING VOICES HEARD ABOUT ISSUES WITH TOUCHSCREEN BALLOTS

10:33 A.M.

Voters from six precincts cast their ballots at Arbor View High School, one of the valley's larger polling sites.

One woman complained that when she was selecting candidate Mitt Romney, she had to press the screen three times. On the fourth time, her vote was accepted, and a technician examined the machine.

Election workers said that was the only complaint around 10 a.m. Tuesday. There are more than 5,000 registered voters in those precincts near Grand Teton Drive and Tenaya Way.

A cameraman from ABC News roamed around, chatting with voters once they had left the polling site.

Small businessman Peter Marlowe, a registered Republican, said he voted for Mitt Romney and Dean Heller because he "can't stand another four years of what we lived through." He said he believes Romney can improve the economy with his business background.

"I've got hope that Romney can do a better job," Marlowe, 53, said.

"The government is spending but they don't create," he added, saying he was "really frustrated."

Marlowe said of President Obama wins re-election, he will consider relocating to New Zealand or Switzerland.

"We'll all be broke in four years is he gets back in," Marlowe said. "The government will be so far under water at that point." -- KRISTI JOURDAN

NORTH LAS VEGAS POLLING PLACE SEES RUSH OF VOTERS

9:01 a.m.

Early Tuesday morning, about 100 voters flooded Goynes Elementary in North Las Vegas. A line snaked from the school's entrance to the sidewalk, about 100 feet away. Election workers said two machines went down at that location but are back up and running. There are 3,750 registered voters in three precincts who can cast their ballots at the school. About 400 of them voted on Election Day so far.

Steve Alleman, 64, said he voted for Mitt Romney and Dean Heller.

"I believe business is going to create jobs," said Alleman, an independent who voted for President Obama four years ago. (Romney) will help with the economy a lot more than Obama. I don't like what's happened in the past four years. I voted for the hope and change, except nothing changed. Let's hope it gets better."

Kristine Balagtas, 27, a registered nonpartisan voter, said she supports Obama and voted him into office in 2008.

"I don't trust Mitt Romney," Balagtas said. "I don't think he's good for women."

Balagtas said she has been a client of Planned Parenthood "for a long time."

Romney has said he would cut federal funding to Planned Parenthood, which provides sexual and reproductive health services.

Outside of the school stood campaign volunteers for North Las Vegas justice of the peace candidate Kalani Hoo. They wore T-shirts and held signs. They said drivers honked their horns, smiled and gave them the thumbs up as they stood at the parking lot entrance.

"It's just important to vote," said Allan Reyes, 37, a campaign volunteer. "I'm pleased to see the amount of people voting." - KRISTI JOURDAN

VOTERS LINE UP, EAGER TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD

7:57 A.M.

About 20 minutes before the polls opened, about 25 voters waited outside Advent United Methodist Church, near the intersection of Rancho Drive and Gowan Road. Most said they were voting early to beat the crowds and get to work on time. Election workers used two rooms at the church, anticipating a larger voter turnout for four Las Vegas precincts. About 30 minutes after the doors opened, more than 50 people had already voted.

People trickled in throughout the morning. Most did not know their precinct numbers.

"I just thought I was doing good getting here," one woman said, while laughing.

Jaylene Lowe, 38, said she was going to vote for Mitt Romney because "he's the lesser of two evils for me." Lowe, a registered nonpartisan but labels herself a conservative Democrat, said she "just wasn't happy with Obama." She did not vote for President Obama four years ago and said Romney would "bring change, a good change." Her husband, Timothy Lowe, also said he supports Romney because "the Republicans have a better overall plan." He is a registered Republican.

Felicia Villarreal, 68, said she was supporting Obama because "he's done a lot." Villarreal, a registered Democrat, said she voted for the incumbent four years ago.

"He got into a very bad mess and did all he could," she said. "He did pretty good."

Most voters appeared undecided about congressional races. - KRISTI JOURDAN

NO PROBLEMS REPORTED IN FIRST HALF HOUR

7:45 A.M.

Clark County polling places opened without a hitch at 7 a.m. Tuesday in what is expected to be a busy day of balloting in the hotly contested presidential election.

Registrar of Voters officials reported no major problems as a steady stream of voters made their way to polling stations in the first half hour.

More than 40 people were in line when the doors opened at Givens Elementary School in the northwest Las Vegas Valley. Election workers called for voters to line up according to their precincts to obtain their voting cards while the line continued to snake around the playground outside as more people arrived. - KEITH ROGERS

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE, CANDIDATES -- IT'S THE VOTERS' TURN NOW

Polls opened at 7 a.m. as Election Day 2012 arrived in Nevada.

The Review-Journal will bring you news and notes all day, so check back to read up on developments of the day. Later tonight as the ballots are counted, you'll find results in the races that matter most to you, whether it's the presidential election or the county commission district where you live. We'll have reports from the scene as candidates celebrate victory, or face the messages delivered by you, the voters.