VOTING BEGINS IN NEVADA GENERAL ELECTION

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Exercising an option provided under state law, Nevadans
began voting Saturday for U.S. senator, governor and other candidates on the
Nov. 3 general election ballot.

Washoe County Registrar of Voters Laura Dancer said more than 300 people
took advantage of the early-voting option at a special polling place at
Macy's in Meadowood Mall.

"We've had an outstanding turnout so far," she said. "People like the
convenience of it. They can avoid the long lines of election day. And they
don't have to request an absentee ballot if they'll be out of town on
election day."

The final day of early voting is Oct. 30. In most counties, voters can
exercise the option at clerk's offices.

Heading the ballot are the tight U.S. Senate race between Sen. Harry Reid,
D-Nev., and Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., and the hotly contested governor's
race between Republican Kenny Guinn and Democrat Jan Jones.

Nevadans also will vote on a full slate of statewide officeholders and a
variety of ballot questions, including one to allow the use of marijuana for
medical purposes.

Several rallies were planned by various groups to kick off the first weekend
of early voting.

In Reno, a rally designed to get Hispanics to vote early will be held
beginning at noon Sunday outside Pioneer Citizens Bank, near the Macy's
polling place.

In Las Vegas, Reid will gather Sunday with supporters, including tennis star
Andre Agassi of Las Vegas, to cast an early vote himself.

Plans call for Reid and his supporters to march from a 1:30 p.m. rally
outside Orr Middle School to nearby Boulevard Mall to cast their ballots.

Dancer predicted a voter turnout of 53 percent for the election, up from the
primary's 34 percent.

"We've got some important races and school bond questions, things likely to
bring people out," she said.

Checked-by: Don Beck