This year’s primary election will mark the first time Malorie Schwartz will cast a ballot.
The University of Nevada, Reno freshman says it’s important for eligible voters to have a say in the direction of the country.
“I would like to know that I’m doing my part in picking the best person to represent the country I live in,” she said.
Schwartz, who registered as a Democrat in her hometown of Las Vegas, plans to vote by mail. While Schwartz knows her registration is up to date and has a plan for voting, election officials are reminding voters there’s still time for each would be voter to formulate their own plan before the June 11th election.
“That’s the big one, May 28,” Carson City Clerk-Recorder Scott Hoen said about the deadline to check your voter registration status.
Hoen, who was elected in 2022, said the key component for college students and voting is to vote in the proper county.
“Let’s say they live in Las Vegas with their parents, that’s where they’ve got their ballot in the past, that’s where they are registered to vote,” he explained.
As a first-term county clerk, Hoen says one of the issues he frequently encounters is voters who register at the Department of Motor Vehicles. He said when voters visit the DMV, they often update their registration unknowingly.
“Most people who are registered at the DMV are registered as non-partisan. It is probably the largest party right now in Northern Nevada because of just that,” Hoen said.
As of April 1, there were 2,317,568 registered voters in Nevada. Statewide broken down by party, non-partisan had the largest number at 786,379, followed by registered Democrats with 707,287. Republican voters ranked in at 652,171.
Of those registered voters, 236,581 were between the ages 18-24, according to the secretary of state’s office.
One student who won’t register for either party but who plans to vote is UNR senior Joe Church.
He believes college students play an important role in the election process. It’s one of the reasons Church registered to vote as soon as he was eligible at age 18 to participate in the process.
“It is important to vote for what you believe in, in hopes that it can change the country for the better,” he said.
Hoen also stressed the importance of participating in democracy.
“Tell your family, friends, and neighbors to go vote. It’s that cornerstone of what we all believe in, and everybody’s vote is important,” he said.
Church, a Douglas County native, who moved to Carson City in 2021, last cast his vote during the 2020 presidential election. The registered independent voter said he plans to participate in this upcoming primary election cycle. Church is currently educating himself about the candidates and their agendas.
“I’m turning to the news, debates, social media, campaign speeches they give,” he said.
Schwartz, who’s studying journalism, learns about those running for office from her own circles.
“I learn about the candidates I vote for through social media and word of mouth from family members and peers,” she said.
Church also suggested students do their own research and verify the information they see to ensure truthfulness.
“In today’s digital age, it’s sometimes hard to believe what you are reading, which makes it super important to not get fooled by false information,” he said.
This comes amid concerns from the right of the political spectrum in how Nevada’s elections have been conducted in recent years.
“Our state runs some of the most accessible, secure elections in the country,” Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in January. “This is possible thanks to the hard-working election officials that have been working tirelessly to prepare and the poll workers that are gearing up to help make these elections happen.”
However, Hoen suggests voters should be leery about trusting mail-in delivery of their ballots.
“In-person (voting), no problems,” he said. “By mail, you have to worry about that a little bit. If you are going to vote by mail, make sure it is postmarked by election day. If you’re going to vote by mail and use the post office, then mail it early and don’t wait until the last day.”
Important dates for the upcoming primary election:
• In-person voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 11.
• Early voting will take place starting Saturday, May 25 through Friday, June 7.
• Mail in ballots will be sent by May 22.
Important dates for the upcoming general election:
• The 2024 general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 5.
• Early voting will take place starting Saturday, Oct. 19 through Friday, Nov. 1.
Voters can register or update their voter registration at registertovote.nv.gov. To check your voter registration and mail-in ballot status in Washoe County, visit https://www.washoecounty.gov/voters/2024-election/index.php.