City prepares for busy Election Day

Carson City is prepared for a smooth Election Day, except for a few parking headaches and a handful of confused voters with misplaced sample ballots.

City Clerk Alan Glover headed out to the city's polling locations at the Carson City Community Center and the Carson Mall with poll workers Monday morning to set up 70 voting machines - 30 at the mall and 40 in the community center gym.

They bumped into one glitch: A section of the parking lot at the Carson Mall is under construction, and that means voters may have to walk a little further from their vehicles.

"They're paving the northwest corner," Glover noted.

The rest of the parking lot is available, however, and voters can enter any portion of the mall and be directed to their precinct.

Carson City Deputy Clerk Kay Bunch said the Elections Office has been inundated with calls from people who have lost their sample ballots and are confused about where to vote.

Four temporary employees will be at the clerk's office at the Carson City courthouse on Musser Street today to address similar last-minute voter questions and needs.

Polling places will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. - sharp.

"People need to remember that the absentee ballots need to be in by 7 p.m.," Bunch said. "We'll be making a last-minute run to the post office at 6:30."

She said 10,970 people - half of the eligible voters in Carson City - have already voted through early voting and absentee ballots, and those results will be tabulated early in the evening.

The final count for Carson City is expected by 8:30 p.m.

"It goes faster now with the machines," Bunch said.

The results in September's primary election were in an hour earlier than past voting years due to the new touch-screen machines, which print a voter-verified paper audit trail of each vote.

Bunch predicts the same expediency today.

In addition to national and state races, voters registered in Carson City will be eligible to vote for Carson City mayor, Ward 2 supervisor, two openings on the Carson City School Board and two advisory questions.

Carson City Question 1 asks whether the Board of Supervisors should be authorized to ask the Nevada Legislature to amend state law to allow the city to impose up to 1/8 of a percent sales tax to support storm water operations and maintenance.

Question 2 asks whether the Nevada constitution should be amended to include provisions that the Legislature not impose laws without designating state funds to support them, and not enact legislation that would reduce state money previously authorized for county and city services.

Where to Vote

Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Carson City polling places:

• Community Center, 851 E. William St., for precincts 101-213

• Carson Mall, 1313 S. Carson St., for precincts 301-411