Will the primaries draw even one-third of voters?

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The long-anticipated 2020 general election is almost here, but there’s some primary business to handle first. 

Ballots for the Aug. 4 primary and special elections were mailed Friday to Clark County voters, according to the county elections office. 

In 2016, the previous Presidential election year, the primary elections drew a 30 percent turnout in the county, compared to 77 percent in the general election. 

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden won’t appear on ballots until the fall. But before then, voters have several impactful decisions to make.  

Because it’s an uneven year, the ballot will include a number of partisan races at the local, state and federal levels. Non-partisan elections – typically including city councils and school boards – take place in even-numbered years. 

The top two candidates running for a given office will advance to the general election. 

Under a quirky state law, even races that have only two candidates will be on the ballot. But several races with three candidates – such as Clark County Council District 3, the state’s 49th Legislative District and the 18th Legislative District in the state Senate – will also show up. 

Also on the ballot will be several resolutions that could affect emergency service agencies and school boards.

Clark County’s webpage for the Aug. 4 elections includes a sample ballot, voter’s guides (including in audio form), election-related news releases, copies of the proposed resolutions and key dates.