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Stories from the KUNR newsroom and regional partners related to the 2024 elections

KUNR 2024 General Election Blog: Trump takes lead in Nevada, Question 3 fails

KUNR logo and text that says, “2024 Nevada Election Blog,” next to a Nevada-shaped icon.
Crystal Willis
/
KUNR Public Radio
Updated: November 6, 2024 at 1:55 PM PST

Nevada’s general election is Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

This live blog is a space for Nevada-based updates throughout Election Day from KUNR reporters on the ground in Northern Nevada, as well as results as they become available.

Browse resources from the KUNR newsroom, NPR and around the state below:

View election results as they become available:

Vea las noticias más recientes de KUNR y recursos en español.


Nevada Secretary of State says no major issues to report on Election Day

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 11:24 p.m.
By Lucia Starbuck

Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar told KUNR that there were no major issues to report on Election Day.

Polls in Nevada officially closed at 9:45 pm. There were a number of voting sites in Washoe County with long lines after 7 p.m., including UNR and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony gym.

“You don’t want to have people wait in line. But again, Nevada offers universal mail ballot opportunities. They offer early voting. We try to get voters to understand the options that are available to them, but if they choose to go on a high-demand day to participate, that’s their choice, and we're excited to have them,” Aguilar said.

There are also still 13,000 ballots that need to be signature cured, which can still determine the outcome of tight races. Voters can go to vote.nv.gov to check the status of their ballot and cure.nv.gov to address the signature issue.


AP: Question 3 fails, Question 7 passes

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 11:13 p.m.
By Brian Duggan

The Associated Press reports Question 3, which would have implemented open primaries and ranked-choice voting in Nevada, has failed. Nevadans saying no were about 57% of the vote with 75% of ballots counted Tuesday night.

Question 7 will require photo identification for Nevada voters. It passed overwhelmingly with 72% of the vote.

Kidd concedes to Amodei, hints at running again in 2026

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 10:50 p.m.
By Kaleb Roedel

Nonpartisan candidate Greg Kidd held a short press conference to concede to longtime Republican incumbent Mark Amodei.

At the time, Amodei led by more than 55,000 votes for Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, according to data from the Nevada Secretary of State. More than 30% of the votes in Nevada have yet to be tallied.

“We put up a competitive fight,” said Kidd, who hinted at challenging Amodei again in two years. “This will never be a cake-walk again.”


Trump takes lead in the first round of results published in Nevada

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 10:44 p.m.
By Lucia Starbuck

Polls in Nevada officially closed at 9:45 pm, according to the Nevada Secretary of State.

Early results show that former president Donald Trump has 34,000 votes more than Vice President Kamala Harris. But more voters are in favor of Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen. That race is tight, she only has 4,455 more votes than retired U.S. Army Captain Sam Brown.

Ballot Question 3 to create open primaries and ranked-choice voting in the general elections is failing right now, with 57% of voters voting no. Ballot Question 6 to constitutionally protect abortions is leaning yes, with nearly 63% of voters approving it right now. And ballot Question 7, requiring voters to show ID, has the largest amount of yes votes, with 72 percent of voters approving it so far.


Sparks voter splits ticket on Trump, abortion

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 9:52 p.m.
By Bert Johnson

Sparks resident Rachel Alva told KUNR she had to wait around an hour and a half to vote at Reed High School. She never received a mail ballot, even though she was already registered to vote and hasn’t moved recently.

“I was like, ‘Well, I guess I'll just wait till the actual date,’” Alva said.

A split-ticket voter, Alva voted in favor of Question 6, which would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution – and also for former president Donald Trump, whose three nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections in Roe v. Wade.

She believes Trump would be the better candidate on economic issues, but sees abortion access as a moral issue.

“Economies and morals are separate for me,” Alva said.

Jose Alberto Luevano, on the other hand, was coy about which candidates he chose to support.

“All I can tell you is I voted for change,” he said. “It's a growing community, with different ethnicities.”

Luevano was already registered, too, but chose to vote in person because he likes the experience.

Meanwhile, voting site manager Morgan Liddick reported the day had gone smoothly so far – in spite of high turnout, and lots of same-day registrations.

“Although I like to see people getting registered, Election Day is not necessarily the day you want to do it,” he said.

While poll workers are available to help with the process, Liddick noted that some voters were missing crucial pieces of information they needed to get registered. They were still able to vote on provisional ballots, but those require the voter to come into the Registrar of Voters office later to confirm their identity.

Liddick expected voting to wrap up at Reed by around 10:30 p.m., meaning he and his staff probably wouldn’t deliver the results to county headquarters until late.

“I reckon I'll be home around midnight… then go out and drink heavily,” he said.


Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Reservation tribe hosts watch party

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 9:50 p.m.
By Manny Holguin

Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Reservation hosted a watch party at its senior center, down the street from the poll location where a mix of opposing party voters met in support of the same message: getting out the “native vote.”

Sharing plates of Indian tacos and cake, roughly 20 attendees closely watched the numbers add up on CNN.

During a Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Reservation tribe watch party, tribe members including Tribe Chairwoman Cathi Tuni, gathered to watch the election results.
Manny Holguin
/
KUNR Public Radio
During a Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Reservation tribe watch party, tribe members including Tribe Chairwoman Cathi Tuni, gathered to watch the election results.

Cathi Tuni, Tribe Chairwoman, discussed the mission behind the day-long watch party, which saw people trickle through the day.

The watch party is a new practice in reservations since they started getting involved in elections recently.

“Today is Election Day, and across the indigenous nations throughout the United States, we’re all promoting the native vote. We matter,” Tuni said.

Carlene Pacheco, who voted for Donald Trump, said she changed political parties during Trump’s first campaign because he aligned with her views. A change she said is not the norm in the community.

“I have noticed that historically a lot of Native Americans are Democrats and that’s just how we have been voting. We changed our political party and it almost seems a little taboo to do that but my family’s like ‘the heck with it. This is what we’re gonna do,’” Pacheco said.

Carlene Pacheco, a tribe member who cast her vote for Donald Trump, spoke about her choice to change her voting party during Trump's first campaign saying his views aligned with hers.
Manny Holguin
/
KUNR Public Radio
Carlene Pacheco, a tribe member who cast her vote for Donald Trump, spoke about her choice to change her voting party during Trump's first campaign saying his views aligned with hers.

Mary Christie, who helped cook the meals at the party, decided to switch her vote this time from Trump in favor of Harris citing his handling of the pandemic and his multiple felony convictions.

“He brought COVID in and he could have stopped it. It killed everybody,” she said.

Christie is hoping Harris could “clean things up” but is still skeptical about government promises. The government makes a lot of promises but I don’t know if they’re going to keep them,” she said. “We got to pick the best of the worst.”


Dozens gather at GSR to support Congressional District 2 candidate Greg Kidd

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 9:16 p.m.
By Kaleb Roedel

About 80 people are gathered inside the GSR’s Kingpin Lounge to support Congressional District 2 candidate Greg Kidd. The nonpartisan political newcover is challenging Congressman Mark Amodei, northern Nevada’s longtime Republican incumbent.

Just before 9 p.m., Kidd walked into the room to loud cheers and a round of applause. Kidd, a Lake Tahoe-based tech investor who self-funded his campaign, spent most of Election Day visiting with residents near polling locations across Washoe County.

The independent candidate is now milling around the room talking to supporters.


First ballots arrive at Washoe County Registrar of Voters

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 9:03 p.m.
By Ember Braun

The Registrar of Voters office received the first ballot boxes from Aspen Lodge after polls closed at 7 p.m. The ballots arrived just before 8:30 p.m. Drivers are getting cookies.

The Registrar of Voters office received the first ballot boxes from Aspen Lodge after polls closed at 7 p.m.
Lucia Starbuck
/
KUNR Public Radio
The Registrar of Voters office received the first ballot boxes from Aspen Lodge after polls closed at 7 p.m.
Drivers are getting cookies.
Lucia Starbuck
/
KUNR Public Radio
Drivers are getting cookies.

70% turnout in Washoe County so far, several polling sites with long lines after 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8:15 p.m.
By Lucia Starbuck

About 35,000 voters had voted in person on Election Day, as of the polls closing at 7 p.m., according to the deputy registrar of voters Andrew McDonald. He said turnout is at about 70%.

Out of 55, nine voting sites closed right on time, 10 sites had at least an hour-long wait, and the voting center at UNR had more than a three-hour wait, with many first-time voters registering to vote. McDonald said there were roughly 4,000 provisional ballots from Election Day, most of them he estimates to be first-time voters.

McDonald said there was one report from a third-party, which said there were a dozen people in black hoodies, construction vests and backpacks at the voting site in Sun Valley, but when Sheriff deputies arrived they were not there.

The county has already submitted results from in-person early voting and valid mail-in ballots cast before Election Day to the Nevada Secretary of State. Those results will be posted as soon as all the polls close in the state.

McDonald said Washoe County will publish results once per hour from in-person voting today as vote centers close and arrive at the Washoe County Registrar of Voters office. He expects to stay until 2 or 3 a.m. and then continue processing mail-in ballots in the morning.


Manager at UNR polling center estimates last ballot will be cast at about 10 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7:42 p.m.
By Maria Palma

Minutes before polls closed at 7 p.m., voters continued to arrive at the Joe Crowley Student Union to cast their ballots, where there was a line of more than 100 people, many of them students voting for the first time in a presidential election.

“I’m having a good time waiting, it hasn’t been terrible. I care about my rights,” said Thomas Murray, who has been in line for about an hour.

The wait time is probably between an hour and a half to two hours, said Jennifer De Young, assistant manager of the polling place.

“People who are registering for the first time doing the same day registration, they require significantly more time to process than somebody who's already registered,” she said.

De Young anticipates serving the last voter around 10 p.m.

Gavin Waldner got in line at around 6:30 p.m. “We got here kind of late. We kind of expected it. We had classes all day,” he said.

“I'm most passionate about Question 1 on the Nevada ballot. I’m also voting for the candidates who support the economy and national security and stuff,” Waldner said.

Further back in line was Erica Paradise, who arrived in line five minutes before the polls closed, “I don't know how long I would have to wait, but that's ok,” she said. “I plan on killing time, just like in line, studying and stuff. Reproductive rights is a big topic for me,” Paradise said.

Minutes before polls closed at 7 p.m., voters continued to arrive at the Joe Crowley Student Union to cast their ballots.
Maria Palma
/
KUNR Public Radio
Minutes before polls closed at 7 p.m., voters continued to arrive at the Joe Crowley Student Union to cast their ballots.

Long lines at the Elko Convention Center

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 6:15 p.m.
By Lori Gilbert

There are hundreds of people in line to vote at the Elko Convention Center.

"No issues, no problems," says Elko County Clerk Becky Plunkett. "Just long lines."

Voters stand in line to vote at the Elko Convention Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Hundreds of people stand in line that wraps around a railing.
Lori Gilbert
Voters stand in line to vote at the Elko Convention Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Tens of thousands of Washoe County voters cast ballots in person on Election Day

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 4:01 p.m.
By Lucia Starbuck

Roughly 21,000 voters had voted in person on Election Day in Washoe County as of 2:30 pm, according to the deputy registrar of voters Andrew McDonald.

He said all the voting sites opened without any issue, but there have been several concerns of electioneering, including a voter refusing to remove their hat. Nevada law says people cannot electioneer for or against a political party within 100 feet of the entrance to a voting area.

“The poll manager goes out there and speaks to the individual, and we calm them down and explain the electioneering clause, or, if you will, the statute and most people calm down and are fine with it,” McDonald said.

The first round of results will be posted after every poll in the state closes. McDonald said the first batch will include all in-person voting and most mail-in ballots sent before Tuesday.

Washoe County deputy registrar of voters Andrew McDonald speaks at press conference at 3 p.m. at the registrars office in Reno, Nevada.
Ember Braun
Washoe County deputy registrar of voters Andrew McDonald speaks at press conference at 3 p.m. at the registrars office in Reno, Nevada.

High voter turnout led to long lines Tuesday morning at Washoe County polling places

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 11:40 a.m.
By Maria Palma

The Spanish Springs Library in Reno saw a high turnout early in the day, with waits up to an hour as residents lined up to cast their ballots.

“It's very busy. We probably have the longest wait out in this area and a lot of people wanting same day registrations which takes time. I've gone up and down the line and showing them the app where the other locations show less time and they say, ‘Well, I'm here. I'll wait,’" said Connie Douglas, polling place manager.

Among those waiting in line was Christy O'Brien, who came to vote with her son, Ken.

"I feel like it's my civic duty. I think this is an important election. I try to vote every time there's an election," Christy said.

Ken expressed a mix of excitement and nervousness, "I'm nervous, this is going to be an iffy one."

At the Joe Crowley Student Union on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, turnout was equally high, according to polling place manager Nicole Obritsch.

By 10 a.m., the wait was about an hour, and one person fainted for unknown reasons. He was immediately assisted.

“Things are going great this morning. We had a lot of voters since we opened at seven o'clock, lots of same day registrations going on here. Aside from this little incident, there's been no other problems,” Obritsch said.

At the Joe Crowley Student Union on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, turnout was equally high.
Maria Palma
/
KUNR Public Radio.
At the Joe Crowley Student Union on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, turnout was equally high.

Lydia Harper was one of dozens of students waiting in line. It was her first time voting.

“If you have a position on anything, then you should make that known instead of just complaining about it and not doing anything about it. Use your right to vote,” Harper said.

For those still planning to vote, polling locations across Washoe County will remain open until 7 p.m. tonight. Anyone in line by that time will be allowed to cast their ballot.


Nearly 14,000 mail-in ballots have signature issues in Nevada

Monday, Nov. 4 at 3:05 p.m.
By Lucia Starbuck

If you return your mail-in ballot and your signature doesn’t match what your county election department has on file, your vote will not be counted. As of Monday morning, nearly 14,000 mail-in ballots needed to be signature-cured in Nevada.

There are several ways to track your ballot, including signing up through Ballot Trax online. If your contact information on your voter registration is up to date, which you can also update through the Secretary of State, your county will contact you. Political parties might also reach out. Voters can also reach out to the county in which they vote.

Nevada voters have until November 12 at 5 p.m. to address a signature issue. If you’re voting in person on Election Day, you must be in line by 7 p.m.


Some Lyon County voters will cast ballots in the wrong race following redistricting error

Monday, Nov. 4 at 11:15 a.m.
By Bert Johnson

Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar announced Friday that some Lyon County voters will be casting their ballots for the wrong race.

“A portion of Lyon County Precinct 26 was not properly redistricted after the 2021 Special Legislative Session, and remained in Assembly District 38 when it should have been moved to Assembly District 39,” Aguilar said in a written statement.

The Lyon County clerk first informed state officials of the error last week, according to Aguilar’s office. But with voting well underway, they can’t do much to address the problem before the end of the election.

Voters can contact Lyon County administrators at (775) 463-6501 for more information.