Early-voting turnout large in Carson City, Douglas

Carson City residents lined up outside the City Clerk's Office were among 30,000 Nevadans who voted early over the weekend.

City Clerk Alan Glover said by the close of business Saturday, 814 residents had voted.

And a good number of those who were put off by Saturday's lines were back Monday morning as elections officials reported a steady stream of voters.

"We're going to be way up from four years ago if it keeps going like this," said Glover, referring to the 2000 election, which drew more voters than any in Nevada history.

Glover said he expects a steady turnout through the next two weeks of early voting. The biggest day, he thinks, will be the final day of early voting because it's also Nevada Day - a state holiday.

A total of 700 Douglas County voters turned out Saturday, and election officials said there was a steady flow of voters - enough to cause at least a short wait - on Monday.

The Las Vegas area accounted for 27,296 of the weekend voters, and Clark County Registrar Larry Lomax said the Saturday and Sunday totals were "just what we needed" to stay on track with his prediction of more than 200,000 early voters.

Washoe County had 744 early voters while Elko County had 319, Lyon County had 124 and Nye County had 46. Election officials in those counties were open only on Saturday.

A record 1.1 million Nevadans have registered to vote this year. That is up more than 200,000 from the 879,000 registered in 2000. While official number hadn't yet been tailed by the Secretary of State's Office, Republicans appeared to have a small lead in total registration over Democrats, about 4,000 voters. But that doesn't count the nearly 163,000 who listed themselves as "nonpartisan," whom many believe vote with the Democrats most of the time.

Secretary of State Dean Heller is estimating 400,000 people will vote early or by absentee ballot, and about that many will show up on Nov. 2 to vote.

Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at nevadaappeal@sbcglobal.net or 687-8750.