Early voting wraps up on Friday

The first eight days of early voting has already outstripped the early turn-out for the 2002 election.

As of Monday, 1,870 voters turned out to cast ballots in the Aug. 15 primary election.

That's a substantial increase over the fewer than 1,400 voters who cast ballots early in the 2002 primary and there are three days left in this session.

Early voting closes on Friday, so election workers can prepare for the Aug. 15 primary election day.

Saturday had the biggest turn-out of voters so far with 299 voting between the Minden Inn, Stateline and Topaz Ranch Estates.

At its present rate early voting may account for more than half of the total of 6,000 voters who cast ballot in the entire 2002 primary,

While it probably won't be close to the record 92 percent turn-out from the 2004 presidential election, the primary is expected to draw more than 2002's 23.73 percent.

In 2002, the local ballot featured a single race for Douglas County assessor and state and federal offices were all held by incumbents.

This year, every state constitutional officer from governor to controller faces turnover and there is a primary in all but one race.

Locally, four Republicans are vying to replace retiring Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick for District 39. John Dicks, Rick Gardner, James Settelmeyer and Barbara Smallwood are running for the seat. In addition, Republicans Nancy McDermid and Janet Murphy are running for Tim Smith's seat on the Douglas County commission and Public Administrator Lynn EnEarl is facing a challenge from fellow Republican Jay Lather.