Nevada GOP official: Polls staying open too late to help ‘certain group’

by Ben Kamisar - 11/05/16 8:15 PM ET

Nevada state GOP Chairman Michael McDonald on Saturday chided poll workers in the state’s largest county for keeping polls open late to help “a certain group” vote.

“Last night in Clark County, they kept a poll open until 10 o’clock at night so a certain group could vote,” he said Saturday night as he warmed up the crowd at a rally for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in Reno, Nev.

{mosads}”The polls are supposed to close at 7; this was kept open ’til 10. Yeah, you feel free right now? You think this is a free and easy election?”

As he spoke, the crowd at the rally began to boo.

Trump, speaking about a half-hour after McDonald, brought up the issue as proof that the system is “rigged” against him.

“Certain key Democratic polling locations in Clark County were kept open hours and hours past closing time to bus and bring Democratic voters in,” Trump said.

Clark County is home to Las Vegas and is one of the few Democratic-leaning counties in the state. About 30 percent of county residents are Hispanic, according to Census data. And a local ABC report from the polling site noted that most of the people waiting in line for hours to vote are Hispanic.

Just before he criticized the polls for staying open after closing time, McDonald rallied his crowd to turn out on Tuesday, telling them to take Election Day off to turn out.

“Come Tuesday, there is no tomorrow. You have to get your neighbors to vote,” he said.

“As a matter of fact, call in sick, take the day off, grab everybody you know and get them to vote. It’s that important. On a serious note, take the day off.”

Proponents of expanded early voting argue that it allows those who don’t have the job stability to take time off on Election Day to vote.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, voters have the right to still cast their ballot as long as they are in line before the polls close.

Updated: 8:57 p.m.

Tags Donald Trump Nevada