Record shattered: More than 27,000 show up for first day of early voting in Clark County

Clark County residents showed up to vote on Saturday in record fashion during the initial day of the early voting period.

More than 27,000 cast ballots by 5 p.m. to start the two-week early voting window for Nevada’s midterm election, surpassing the previous first day mark for a midterm by about 10,000 votes, according to Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin.

Many advocacy groups have placed heavy emphasis on encouraging turnout in Nevada, a swing state where incumbent Republican Sen. Dean Heller is in a contested race against Rep. Jacky Rosen, among other races that are anticipated to be closely contested.

Former Vice President Joe Biden was in Nevada Saturday to rally Democratic supporters, and President Donald Trump was in Elko for a similar event with his Republican backers.

“It’s time to getup, lift our heads up, remember who the hell we are,” Biden said in a rally in downtown. “This is America, let’s take back the Senate and we will change the world as we know it.”

Early voting continues through Nov. 2 at more than 90 sites throughout the valley.