Unexpected Locations Tied to Las Vegas Voter Registration Probe

Las Vegas officials are investigating voter registrations linked to strip clubs and casinos, raising concerns about potential fraud and inaccuracies in the city’s electoral process.

At a Glance

Clark County, Nevada’s largest jurisdiction, is investigating voter registrations at commercial addresses, including casinos and strip clubs
The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) dropped a lawsuit after officials agreed to investigate 90 suspicious registrations
Nevada mails ballots to all registered voters, making accurate addresses crucial
In the 2022 midterm elections, over 95,000 ballots were sent to undeliverable addresses in Nevada

Unusual Voter Registrations Prompt Investigation

Clark County officials in Las Vegas have launched an investigation into voter registrations linked to commercial addresses, including strip clubs, casinos, and gas stations. This inquiry comes after the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) filed a lawsuit against Clark County Registrar Lorena Portillo, which was subsequently dropped when she agreed to investigate 90 suspicious registrations.

The investigation has revealed alarming examples of faulty addresses, such as Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club, a 7-Eleven, Harry Reid International Airport, and various gas stations and bars. These findings have raised serious questions about the integrity of the voter registration process in a city known for its vibrant nightlife and tourist attractions.

Implications for Nevada’s Mail-In Voting System

The discovery of these irregular registrations is particularly concerning given Nevada’s practice of mailing ballots to all registered voters. This system makes accurate addresses crucial to maintaining election integrity. In the 2022 midterm elections alone, a staggering 95,556 ballots were sent to undeliverable addresses in Nevada, highlighting the potential for voter fraud and disenfranchisement.

“If Nevada is going to continue to run its elections by automatically mailing a ballot to every active registered voter, it needs to do a better job at identifying improper voter registrations,” said PILF President J. Christian Adams.

Adams emphasized the importance of this investigation, stating, “Because of PILF’s lawsuit, Clark County was forced to investigate crazy addresses listed as residences on the voter roll including strip clubs, casinos, and gas stations. Without this litigation, mail ballots would have gone to improper addresses.”

Legal and Political Implications

The investigation has broader implications for election integrity in Nevada and potentially other states. Nevada law requires voters to register at their residential address, making these commercial registrations illegal. PILF had previously notified Nevada election officials about this issue before the 2020 presidential election, indicating a long-standing problem.

“In Clark County, people are registered to vote from strip clubs, casinos, gas stations, and more crazy addresses where it appears no one could reasonably live. We are asking the court to force Nevada election officials to investigate any improper commercial addresses on the voter roll. We must have this fixed before the 2024 election. Otherwise, some of these strip clubs and casinos will receive ballots in the mail,” Adams further elaborated.

The investigation’s outcome could have significant political ramifications. In the 2022 Midterms, the Senate race in Nevada was decided by less than 8,000 votes, while over 95,000 ballots were sent to undeliverable or incorrect addresses. This close margin underscores the potential impact of inaccurate voter rolls on election results.

Conclusion

As Las Vegas officials work to rectify these voter registration irregularities, the situation serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing election integrity in America. With the 2024 elections on the horizon, ensuring accurate voter rolls is more critical than ever. The outcome of this investigation may well set a precedent for how other jurisdictions handle similar issues, potentially reshaping voter registration practices across the nation.