With the final stretch approaching until the November 6 election, Carson City Clerk-Recorder Alan Glover reminds voters of some important pieces of information to remember. The last day to register to vote is 5 p.m. Oct. 6. Voters can registered at the Clerk-Recorders office, 885 E. Musser Street, Suite 1025.
Voters who visit the Carson City Clerk-Recorders Office in person with a photo ID and proof of residency have until Oct. 16. Statewide early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. through Friday, Nov. 2.
Sample ballots will be mailed on the Monday Oct. 15. All registered voters will get a sample ballot, which should arrive within 1-2 days after they were mailed.
If voters do not get a sample ballot they should immediately contacted the Clerk's Office to inquire why.
"Do not wait until Election Day to find out why you didn't get a sample ballot," said Glover.
In-town absentee ballots will be mailed on Friday, Oct. 5. Absentee ballots for out-of-state residents and members of the military have already been mailed. Absentee ballots should be done before Election Day. Voters should not mail their absentee ballots on Election Day. Voters will need to mail their absentee ballots 3 to 4 working days before the election. Absentee ballots can be delivered to the Carson City Clerk by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
As a side note, there have been some concerns brought to the attention of the Clerk's office regarding mailers and phone call reminders regarding absentee ballots. These are coming from political parties both in-state and outside the area. Absentee ballots have not been sent yet, Glover said. If voters have concerns about these mailers or have been told by election canvassers that they should have already gotten their absentees, they should contact the political parties.
Meanwhile, at least two senior citizen voters said they were contacted by canvassers in the parking lot of Wal-Mart and at a fast food restaurant this weekend and were told that new voting laws had gone into affect this year and that they would have to re-register to vote.
The voters contacted the Secretary of State's Office and the Carson City Democrat headquarters and reported the canvassers, who apparently identified themselves as being with the Romney campaign.
Lili Miller, 72, of Carson City said she was approached by a man with a clipboard who asked her if she was voting. She said she was and he asked her if she she registered to vote. She said she's always been registered and has never had any problems. The young man identified himself as being with "part of a group that is with the Romney campaign," Miller said. He went on to tell her that a new law "now requires" her to register every two years.
"I told him that's not true and that I've been voting ever since I could vote and I would know about such laws," she said. Miller called the Clerk's Office and the Carson City Democrats office to make sure there wasn't a change in the law and to report the what she was told.
Another Carson City senior, Janet Riggs, said she received a phone call inquiring as to whether she was registered and whether or not she would vote absentee ballot and that she needed to re-register if she was going to vote during this election.
Political canvassers of all stripes are advised by state election officials to not be deceptive and to not harass frail and elderly voters with untruths about their registration. If voters have registration concerns they should contact the Clerk's office.