Long lines at Clark County polling places on Tuesday recalled a similar scene from the 1996 general election, when waits of up to two hours sparked a public uproar involving the city's top elected officials. Then-Councilman Matthew Callister blamed Registrar of Voters Kathryn Ferguson for the delays, telling a reporter, "That broad ought to be shit-canned." He said he spent the night explaining he was not in charge of the "debacle." The long waits were attributed in part to a shortage of electronic voting machines, which were being used in a general election for the first time.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jan Jones moved to the front of the line at her polling place, citing a packed schedule. "You can't elect me to be mayor and then say our work at City Hall isn't a priority," she said at the time. The next day, county commissioners and members of the public criticized both officials. Commissioner Paul Christensen, Callister's cousin, urged residents to file ethics complaints, calling the councilman's language a "serious breach of ethics." Commissioner Myrna Williams rebuked Jones, noting that everyone had appointments and responsibilities, "not just the mayor."
Callister later apologized for his choice of words but not for his sentiment. "This isn't a Third World country here in Las Vegas," the attorney and former state legislator said. "Nobody should have to stand for two hours waiting to vote." Jones, the city's first female mayor, also apologized but maintained the core issue was why voters were forced to wait two hours in the first place. Officials have warned that heavy turnout and process changes could make lines even longer on Tuesday night.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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