Long Lines, White Out Conditions Mark Voting Across Northern Nevada

As our Nevada Vote team reports, despite heavy snow across the region, lots of voters were casting ballots on Election Day, including younger and first time voters, with polls showing extremely competitive races for governor, Senate and other important elected posts.

Screenshot from a video by Alejandra Rubio which can be found on our TikTok with other voting related videos: https://www.tiktok.com/@reynoldssandbox

Snow fell heavily across the northern Nevada region Tuesday, perhaps impacting turnout for highly competitive races in the Silver State’s 2022 midterms, which include an electoral contest between incumbent Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Republican challenger Adam Laxalt.

The balance of power in the U.S. Senate could come down to vote counting in northern Nevada, where voters could also cast their mail-in ballots on voting day.

One of the youngest voters braving the snow in Carson City was Alberto Banda. “It’s not only important to vote during the presidency but it’s really important to vote during the local elections because that’s where the change can really happen,” he said.

Voters had to choose for that Senate race, governor where the polling has also been extremely tight between incumbent Democrat Steve Sisolak and GOP challenger Joe Lombardo, other statewide positions, ballot questions and many local races.

Midday there was a long line at the Sparks Library, despite snow still falling outside. Photo by Troy Welling.

At the Sparks Library, Ana, 20, a medical assistant said it was important for younger voters like herself to cast a ballot, because “they’re the ones that are affected more.”

"I think it's important to vote," said Vidhi, 19, a student at UNR and lab worker on being a first time voter. She was in a long early morning voting line on campus.

"I have a voice and I think it's important to use it, especially since there's so many important issues that are in jeopardy, especially during this election,” she said. “And in this day and age, it's really important, especially [in] Nevada. Nevada always has really important elections, so I think it's important that my vote counts and voting makes it known that I have an opinion, I have values that I'm going to put out into the world."

Voters on campus and at the downtown Reno library included many first time voters and students. There was also last minute campaigning for incumbent Senator Catherine Cortez Masto under the snow, as she faces a daunting challenge to get reelected, with the last polls before Voting Day showing her trailing Republican challenger Adam Laxalt. Photos by Chris Darche at UNR and Patrick McNabb at the downtown library.

Ryland Howser, 26, (in denim jacket above), an elementary school special needs instructor, said he was part of the future generation, which shouldn’t be discounted.

“I think it’s important for my demographic to come out and put our two cents,” he said after voting at the downtown Washoe County library. “I don’t necessarily always agree with what’s going on but if I don’t get out and vote, I can’t say that I at least tried.”

With pre-election polls so close for many races in Nevada, and voters also able to send their mail-in ballots with a today postmark, results in Washoe County and surrounding areas could take several days before these are definitive.

If the Senate’s balance comes down to the Cortez Masto / Laxalt race, there could be intense worldwide attention on the local vote counting.

#NevadaVote Reporting by Alejandra Rubio, Troy Welling, Patrick McNabb and Chris Darche