2024: Polls open for Election Day in Nevada — LIVE BLOG
8:58 a.m.
DJs at the polls
A line of about 150 people stretched from the door of the voting tent located in the parking lot of the Blue Diamond Crossing shopping center, waiting to cast their vote.
The line started at one end of the parking lot, onto a nearby sidewalk, to near the main driveway for the line of stores located within the complex, located on Blue Diamond Road, just west of Interstate 15.
Those in line were entertained a DJ blaring tunes in the parking lot, as part of the DJs at the Polls initiative. Audible cheers were heard every so often inside the tent, as first time voters carried out their civic duty.
— Mick Akers
8:55 a.m.
An international correspondent’s perspective
Harry Chang, an international correspondent for PTS Taiwan, was one of several journalists from foreign outlets interviewing voters at Allegiant Stadium.
He’s covered US elections since 2000 and said it’s a good opportunity to help his viewers understand the American democratic process and what Americans care about.
“I think that can bring more understanding between different countries,” he said.
Compared to other countries, he said American voters are friendlier and more willing to voice their opinions.
This is the closest election he’s seen since 2000, he said.
— Noble Brigham
8:45 a.m.
Support for Trump, but concerns about fraud
As voting got underway at Allegiant Stadium, a number of voters expressed support for former President Donald Trump. Some were also concerned about voter fraud.
“He knows exactly what he stands for and there’s no evading or word salads,” Gretchen Stadheim said. “And he‘s America first.”
Stadheim — who relies on social media to stay informed and said, “news is all propaganda” — is worried about voter fraud and said she believes Trump won in 2020.
Ronnie Hargrove, who wore a Trump hat, also voted for the former president.
“I made more money under Trump,” he said.
Voter fraud is on his mind, too.
“The only way Trump loses is they gotta take it from him,” he said.
People also expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
“It just comes down to rights for minorities and especially for women’s rights,” he said.
Trump would create animosity and continue to divide the country, he said.
The election site attracted international media attention. Journalists from the Washington Post, Reuters and outlets in Spain and Taiwan were talking to voters and recording video outside the site.
— Noble Brigham
8:18 a.m.
Low hum of instructions
The inside of the polling place at Desert Breeze Community Center is much quieter than the line formed outside. Outside, there’s music, conversation, candidates accosting approaching voters. Inside is the low hum of instructions from poll workers and the occasional cheer for a first-time voter.
— McKenna Ross
7:50 a.m.
Suspicions high
Outside of the polling location in Whitney Recreation Center, voters stood in a long line to vote. A couple of people said they waited about an hour to vote.
As a reporter stood in the parking lot taking notes and waiting to ask voters how long it took to vote, one woman in line incorrectly assumed the reporter was copying down people’s license plates. An elections worker received the complaint and also questioned the reporter.
— Jessica Hill
7:45 a.m.
‘Come on down’
A steady trickle of voters have made their way in and out of Galleria at Sunset Mall in Henderson without much difficulty.
Imitating a game show announcer, a poll worker at the front of the line is doing his best to keep spirits high.
“Come on down,” he’s repeated with a smile. “You are the next voter in Clark County!”
Election workers cheered and drummed on the table for a handful of first-time voters throughout the morning.
7:30 a.m.
‘Out of my comfort zone’
DJ Tommy Lin mixed together pop hits in the parking lot feet away from the entrance of Desert Breeze Community Center. A DJ of 15 years, he said it was his first time volunteering for DJs at the Polls, a non-partisan get-out-the-vote effort.
“This is out of my comfort zone, but I want to experience something like this,” Lin said. “This is a celebration of democracy.”
— McKenna Ross
7:25 a.m.
Greeting the crowd
Rep. Susie Lee, D-Las Vegas, greets the early voter crowd as they approach Desert Breeze Community Center’s polling site.
Lee said she was excited to “elect the first woman president.” As for her own campaign, she said there was little left to pitch.
“I pretty much thank them for being here,” Lee said. “I figure if they’re already here they’ve made up their mind.”
— McKenna Ross
7:20 a.m.
Smooth process
One of the first voters to cast their ballots at the Silverado Ranch Community Center said the process went smoothly, once the doors opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Karalene Doyen got in line at 6:30 a.m. with her mother, to cast her vote before heading to work. She said waking up earlier than usual was worth the trouble, as the wait she heard for those would just arriving be much longer than she had to endure.
“Definitely get here early so you can get to work five minutes late and not hours and hours late,” Doyen said. “We got here at 6:30 a.m. on the dot and they said it would be a 15-minute wait (once the doors opened). Right now they’re saying it’s going to be a solid three-hour wait if you’re getting in line right now.”
With the presidential race seemingly a tight one heading into Election Day, Doyen said it’s going to be a stressful day waiting on the results.
“I’m going to be sweating,” Doyen said. “We’re planning on going out and watching tonight and planning on being disappointed regardless of the results. But one of them will be a little more disappointing than the other.”
With how contentious the lead up to the election has been, Doyen said she has some slight worries that there might be some unrest, depending on the results.
“Each candidate is going to act childish if they lose,”
Doyen said. “You have to have faith in your fellow humans to not act like children if their candidate doesn’t win. Don’t go out hurting people, it’s just basic humanity.”
— Mick Akers
7:15 a.m.
Different choices lined up
The polls at Allegiant Stadium have opened and a line of well over 100 voters has been led inside.
Voter Andrew Aragon, who arrived at about 6:05 a.m. said he’d be casting his ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris because of her policies on women’s rights, immigration and education.
He said another Trump presidency would make the country “not safe for anybody: women, people of color, people in the LGBTQ+ community.”
But Justin W. Wilson, a criminal defense and personal injury attorney, said he didn’t like Harris or Trump and would likely vote for Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver.
“Honestly, every choice we’ve got this year is just garbage,” he said.
— Noble Brigham
7:05 a.m.
A huge election
Outside one of entrances of Galleria At Sunset Mall, a group of about 30 voters are confused as they try to enter the locked mall and are herded to another door by an election worker.
Among them was Fallon Cope, a 30-year-old Henderson resident and non-partisan voter who declined to share who she was voting for.
Cope said social media has played a huge role in getting voters to the polls this cycle.
“This is a huge election,” Cope said. “It’s got people scared on both sides.”
—Alan Halaly
7:00 a.m.
Voter guides handed out
As the doors opened at the Silverado Ranch Community Center a line of about 200 people were in line ready to cast their vote. As many of the Clark County residents walked from the parking lot toward the facility, a man, decked out in red and donning an Trump hat, approached the majority of them, looking to hand out Republican voter guides.
— Mick Akers
6:58 a.m.
Lines form early
With a couple minutes before polls open, about a hundred people queue in a snaked line at Desert Breeze Community Center. Poll workers say they heard Friday was busy at this location, as well.
— McKenna Ross
6:30 a.m.
Exercise your right
More than 25 people had lined up to vote at Allegiant Stadium half an hour before polls opened.
Ryan Hunt, the first man in line, said he got to the site at 5 a.m.
“There’s no more important time to exercise your right to vote than this election,” he said.
Hunt plans to vote for Trump for the third time. He’s a retired Army officer and said the country needs “dynamic change.”
Ryan Hunt, the first man in line at Allegiant, plans to vote for former President Donald Trump. “There’s no more important time to exercise your right to vote than this election,” he said pic.twitter.com/drwjsRTiOs
— Noble Brigham (@BrighamNoble) November 5, 2024
He said he’s concerned about the economy and foreign policy. Compared to Biden, “I feel like he was a lot stronger for sure,” Hunt said of Trump.
— Noble Brigham
6 a.m.
Welcome to Election Day
It’s Election Day, voters’ last chance to cast a ballot.
The nation’s eyes are trained on the battleground state of Nevada, which could swing the election for president of the United States with its six Electoral College votes.
But there are many more races and questions down the ballot.
Dozens of polling locations across the Las Vegas Valley open at 7 a.m. today, including sites at Allegiant Stadium, Galleria At Sunset and Desert Breeze Community Center.
All locations can be found here. The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s voter guide and election FAQ’s can be found here and here.
Citizens who are in line by closing time at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Anyone who arrives after 7 p.m. will be turned away.
Election offices started counting mail-in ballots last month and will begin tabulating in-person, early voting ballots at 8 a.m.
Nevada allows same-day voter registration. Here is a link to learn what it requires.
Mail-in ballots postmarked Tuesday will be accepted. Initial results are expected to roll out sometime Tuesday night.
But sit tight, it could be awhile before Nevada is ready to declare a winner.
The 2020 presidential race, for example, wasn’t called until the Saturday after Election Day.
The Review-Journal has staff assigned across the Las Vegas Valley and will update this blog in real time throughout the day.
—Ricardo Torres-Cortez
