Voting Early in the 2011 Special Congressional Election

Early voting in Reno is a process whereby we can cast our ballots, in person, during a specified period and at certain locations before an election. This 2011 special election is being held to fill the seat in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District. The election became necessary because Nevada law requires a special election fo fill vacant representative seats in Nevada's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat became vacant when Rep. Dean Heller was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Gov. Brian Sandoval following the resignation of then-U.S. Senator John Ensign. Nevada law allows the governor to just appoint a U.S. Senate replacement, but calls for staging a special election to fill congressional district vacancies. Early voting ballots are counted with those tallied on the actual Election Day, which will be on Tuesday, September 13, 2011.

When Is Early Voting?

Early voting is for you if you can't, or don't want to, go to your specified polling place on September 13 (date of the 2011 special congressional election). With early voting, you have 14 days before Election Day during which to vote in person, and you can do so at numerous locations. Early voting in this special congressional election is from Saturday, August 27 through Friday, September 9, 2011.

Nevada is one of 34 states offering early, in person voting, and one of 32 permitting early voting without an excuse. Just show up at one of the polling places and cast your ballot.

Register To Vote

You must register in order to vote. You have until August 13 to register by mail and until August 23 to register in person for the 2011 special congressional election. Only Clark County (Las Vegas area) provides for online voter registration. You can register in person at Nevada DMV offices, any state welfare agency, and county clerk / registrar of voters offices. In Washoe County, mail your application to Registrar of Voters, 1001 E. Ninth St., P.O. Box 11130, Reno, NV 89520-0027, or present it in person.

If you have any concerns about whether or not you are registered to vote, check the Washoe County Voter Registration Status website. By simply entering your last name and birth date, you can make sure you are actually registered and that your information is correct. This is vital should your right to vote be challenged. Here are some important dates related to voting in this 2011 special congressional election in Washoe County...

• August 13 - Last day to register to vote by mail (postmarked) with any agency outside the Registrar of Voters office.
• August 23 - Last day to register to vote in person, at the Registrar of Voters office only.
• September 5 - Last day to request an absentee ballot.
• September 13 - Last day to return an absentee ballot.
• August 27 - September 9 - Early voting.

Early Voting is Not Absent Voting

Early voting must be done in person. It is not the same as casting an absent, or absentee, ballot. Written absent ballot requests must be received by the Tuesday prior to Election Day at 5 p.m. To be counted, the completed absent ballot must be in the Registrar of Voters office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Go to the Washoe County Registrar of Voters website learn about obtaining and casting an absent ballot. For questions about obtaining an absent ballot, call (775) 328-3670.

Source: Washoe County Registrar of Voters.