Early voting is good for business

TEXT OF STORY

Steve Chiotakis: Did we mention it’s election day? Yeah, we probably did. It seems like a lot of people are getting into this democracy thing. In some states such as Nevada, early voting has been a way to get — and make — casting a ballot more convenient. It’s been good for the Republic — and for business, as Janice Baker reports.

Janice Baker: Nevada’s economy has been in shock. Unemployment’s around 7 percent. The state has the highest rate of foreclosures in the country. And retail business is down. But early voting has helped ease the pain for participating stores.

Scott Muelrath is general manager at the Galleria at Sunset Mall:

Scott Muelrath: This year has been far and away the busiest session of early voting we’ve seen.

At a nearby Albertson’s grocery store, Eugene and Natassia Bousley waited in line nearly an hour to cast their ballots.

Eugene Bousley: Yeah, I actually went in and got a soda and some chips, ’cause I didn’t know how long the wait was gonna be.

Natassia Bousley: There’s always extra milk or bread or eggs to pick up.

Albertson’s produce manager, Cathy Rooney, says other voters also pulled double duty:

Cathy Rooney: I can tell by my in-stock conditions when we order that we’ve definitely been busier.

Back at the Galleria, Scott Muelrath says early voting has been a way to kick start sales before the holidays.

Muelrath: We will always use the mall as early voting. It’s been a home run every year, especially this year.

Nearly 100 other stores in and around Las Vegas offered early voting.

I’m Janice Baker for Marketplace.