A Clark County district judge has ordered new protections for voters at the Desert Breeze Community Center vote center in the southwest valley after the ACLU of Nevada alleged that people outside the site harassed voters during early voting, News 3 reported Friday.
What the judge ordered
Judge Joe Hardy signed a temporary restraining order Thursday night, Oct. 29, in a complaint the ACLU of Nevada filed against Clark County and three unnamed individuals listed as Jane Does 1-3 (case A-26-960658-C). Under the order:
- Clark County must designate the roughly 15-foot-wide walkway from the parking lot as the official entrance to the polling place.
- Electioneering is not allowed within 100 feet of that walkway.
- The three unnamed individuals must stop following voters while recording them, blocking entrances or exits, and threatening physical harm.
The order covers Friday, Oct. 30, the last day of in-person early voting. According to the ACLU, it could be extended through Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, and a hearing may be held Monday morning.
What the complaint alleges
The ACLU says voters at the center, near Durango Drive and Spring Mountain Road, faced vulgar insults, were followed and filmed as they walked in, and found the only path to the entrance obstructed. The group says the walkway is the only way for voters to reach the polls from the parking lot. These are allegations in a court filing; the individuals named only as Jane Does have not been publicly identified. News 3 said it asked Clark County for comment, and it was unclear whether the county would respond on the Nevada Day holiday.
What it means for locals and visitors
If you vote at Desert Breeze, expect the walkway from the parking lot to be treated as the official polling entrance, with campaigning kept at least 100 feet back. Early voting ended Friday; on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, Clark County voters can cast a ballot at any vote center in the county. If you feel intimidated at any polling site, tell a poll worker or contact the Clark County Election Department.