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Primary Turnout No Indication For November

Posted: 6:56 PM Jun 13, 2012
Reporter: Ed Pearce

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Blame the distractions of late spring weather or the lack of compelling match ups, it's likely both played a role in what was, one of the lowest voter turnouts in recent memory.

Just under 19 percent of Nevada's voters bothered to cast ballots. That's no record. In fact in 2008 fewer than 18 percent showed up. Yet two years later with Senator Harry Reid facing reelection, a three way Republican primary drove the turnout to more than 30 percent.

The lesson is primary elections without drama draw little interest.

That won't be a problem in this year's main event..

"We're not only a battle ground state for the presidential race which appears at this time to be very close, but also a U-S Senate seat that's maybe one of the top 5 in the country that's also very close," says Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller. "So between those two factors I think we could be headed for a record turnout in November."

There will be hard fought races up and down the ballot in the general election.

Overshadowing all, and perhaps affecting most, the presidential race and, here's a heads up.

If you've been paying attention at all, you know Nevada figures to once again be a battle ground state in what's shaping up to be a close election. But political insiders have long since identified key counties in each battle ground state and in Nevada that's Washoe.

So, expect a lot of attention from the national campaigns in the months ahead and for candidates here looking for opportunities to catch some momentum in their wake.

The parties' ground game could be a major factor in the U-S Senate race where Democrat Shelly Berkley needs to run close to incumbent Dean Heller.

It could figure also in the closely watched State Senate match up between Democrat Sheila Leslie and Republican Greg Brower.

An impact on local races is less likely with the possible exception of the District 5 City Council race where the local GOP organization has apparently picked sides in this non-partisan contest, backing Neoma Jardon over Kitty Jung.

It all adds up to a very active election season ahead of us.

Tuesday's primary came and went without requiring many of us to give it much notice.

With Washoe County poised to play a role in deciding who controls the White House, the U-S and Nevada State Senate, we won't be able to avoid these political showdowns in the months ahead.