Voters have last chance to register for primary elections

Today is the last day for Nevadans to register to vote in the June 12 primary election, but Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax said he expects no lines or waiting.

In fact, Lomax said there's so little interest in the upcoming primary that only two people registered to vote over the weekend when the Election Department kept an office open to handle requests.

With such little enthusiasm, Lomax predicted voter turnout could match the 2008 primary when 14.76 percent of registered voters cast ballots, the lowest turnout on record, he said. Early voting begins Saturday and continues for two weeks through June 8.

"There's just not a lot of competition or a lot of excitement," Lomax said Monday.

The general election is expected to generate more interest with President Barack Obama seeking re-election, going up against the presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney. Nevada also has one of the most competitive U.S. Senate races between U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., and U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., who are both expected to easily win their separate party primaries.

The most competitive primary race is the Republican contest among nine candidates seeking Nevada's newest House seat, the 4th Congressional District in Southern Nevada. The top candidates are engaging in a series of debates this week, which could attract more voter attention.

Danny Tarkanian is the leading GOP contender based mostly on the former University of Nevada, Las Vegas, basketball's star's strong name recognition. State Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, is the conservative choice of several Republican Party leaders in the state.

International businessman Dan Schwartz, a recent Las Vegas transplant, is raising his profile with TV ads and aggressive campaigning, leaving other less-known GOP contenders behind.

The top GOP contenders will debate today at Aliante Station at a ticketed forum sponsored by the conservative tea party group, Tea Party & Republicans Uniting Nevada Conservatives (TRUNC). Wednesday evening, the Republicans will debate again in Pahrump at a free forum hosted by the Nye County Republican Party.

The district includes GOP-leaning Nye County as well as four other rural counties, part of Lyon County and the northern part of Clark County, which has a heavy minority and Democratic population.

The winner of the GOP primary will face Nevada Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, the only Democrat in the race, who gets a free ride to the Nov. 6 general election.

Voter turnout probably will be highest in Laughlin, where the future of the town is at stake.

Voters will be asked whether to incorporate Laughlin as a city, becoming an autonomous government with its own mayor and four city council members, who will also be elected on June 12.

Now, the border town of 7,300 people 100 miles south of Las Vegas is an unincorporated part of Clark County and is run by the Clark County Commission.

David Floodman, president of the Laughlin Economic Development Corp., said voters have been packing public meetings for weeks, reading mailings, getting phone calls and receiving door-to-door visits as he and other pro-incorporation forces promote autonomy as a tool for healthy growth.

"I would say apathy is dead in Laughlin," Floodman said, adding he expects voter turnout to be far over 50 percent. "We're optimistic people will vote yes."

Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak, whose district includes Laughlin, opposes incorporation. He believes Tax Department studies that say the city can't pay for its services on its own.

"It's just not viable," Sisolak said. "But if the population wants to do it anyway, they're going to have to reduce services or increase taxes or both."

Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Follow @lmyerslvrj on Twitter.