Legislature moves primary to June

Political aspirants trying to toss their hats into the ring next election will find that it has moved.

The Nevada Legislature pushed the 2010 primary filing date to March 1-12 and the election to June 8.

The change was a result of the low primary turnouts that counties have experienced since the primaries were moved to August.

Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, called August the worst time for a primary election from the standpoint of public interest and voter turnout during a hearing to move the date.

"Last election, there was a low voter turnout across the state because mid-August is the height of vacation season," Raggio said in introducing Senate Bill 120, which would have moved the primary date back after Labor Day.

Douglas County Clerk-Treasurer Ted Thran said clerks wanted to stay away from September because of the turnaround time for the general election and because some counties use schools as polling places.

"Holding the primary in September was forcing us to have a three-week overlay between wrapping up the primary, and getting ready for the general," he said. "It was too busy."

Thran said the campaign season will be longer with the March filing date.

"But people are campaigning anyway," he said. "This gives us time to finish one election and get ready for another one. Everyone has to move up their timetables."

The new law was set by Senate Bill 162, which was supported by the county clerks and the secretary of state's office.

Raggio expressed concern that moving the primary to June and the filing period to March would extend the length and cost of elections.

"We are making a second mistake by lengthening the time for general elections," he said.

"The cost of the election will increase because of the length of time between when a candidate files and November."

However, he voted for the bill because he said he could not support a primary in August.