Ensuring a Safe Election For Your Vote - 8 News NOW

Ensuring a Safe Election For Your Vote

(Oct. 27) -- Disenfranchised voters and allegations of voter registration fraud, it's been a busy campaign season and Election Day isn't even here yet. How can we ensure this election will be safe and your vote will be count?

Thousands of Nevadans have taken advantage of early voting at polling places around the valley. And while Eyewitness News hasn't heard of any major problems, there are concerns there may be a few bumps in the road on Election Day.

Secretary of State Dean Heller says, "What do I trust more a slot machine or an electronic voting machine if that voting machine doesn't have a paper trail to it? I trust the slot machine." Heller says he's confident that the new electronic voting machines with a paper receipt, which Nevada was the first to use, will ensure every vote is counted.

"This allows the voters to be assured that one they can verify their voter they cast electronically, and two the paper trail is used to audit the machines post election," Heller added. But Heller says he is concerned about the thousands of attorneys that the Republican and Democratic parties will have at polling places across the country.

The Nevada Secretary of State said, "Now we have attorneys sitting in Clark and Washoe counties saying they are here to help. I am getting complaints in my office that these attorneys are going to the polling places and they're telling them to vote. That's not right and illegal."

Heller says he's looking into the matter and if evidence is found he will take action.

Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax says he's confident these attorneys and others who want to watch the process will follow the rules. "We have our own attorneys on standby. We're working with Metro so they can respond if necessary in most cases the team leader will talk to them and do whatever is correct."

Again, Clark County has their own attorneys on stand-by and Metro is working with the county so they can respond if necessary. There will be 30 officers assigned to assist with traffic control. Metro will also escort ballots from polling sites to election headquarters.