Voting starts at brisk pace

The response to early voting has Douglas County Clerk-Treasurer Barbara Griffin-Reed wondering whether voter turnout will be better than she hoped.

In all 267 voters cast ballots on Saturday, with 168 of those at the Minden Inn, 52 at Topaz Ranch Estates and 47 at Lake Tahoe.

"The turnout so far is very encouraging," Griffin-Reed said. "I'm hoping it will be better than I originally anticipated."

Estimates of voter turnout for the Aug. 15 primary had been pretty dismal, due to the early date and the lack of a presidential race. However, there are primary races in all federal and state races but one.

Voters should have sample ballots by now, Griffin-Reed said.

"If they don't, they should contact us so we can find out if they have a new address or are still registered," she said.

Campaign signs have been springing up all over the Valley and in some cases coming down, too.

The Nevada Department of Transportation took down a collection of political signs at the intersection of Highways 395 and 88.

Nevada Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Magruder said the state collected the signs, which were posted on a fence across from the intersection.

The site is a popular location for signs, both political and for local events.

Magruder said a department maintenance crew brought the signs to their yard, where candidates may retrieve them at 1875 E. Dump Road.

Magruder said the state law that prohibits signs in the right of way is pretty black and white. However, he said the signs on the fence would depend on where the fence was in relation to the state right of way.

"We remind all candidates that when in doubt they should give us a call," Magruder said. "The signs have a tendency to proliferate on weekends and as the primary approaches, everyone wants to get their signs out."

He said most fences are right on the property line and in that case signs on the outside of the fence are considered in the state's right of way and signs on the inside are on private property. Anyone with questions should contact the state at 888-7000.