LAS VEGAS -- Four years ago, Nevada's Republican caucuses were a complete debacle. In 2012, it took three days to count just 33,000 ballots and to declare Mitt Romney the winner over Newt Gingrich.
This time around, Republican officials hoped things would be different.
Not so much.
In some precincts around the states, reporters and caucus-goers witnessed voting irregularities, violations of caucus rules and utter disorganization.
At Palo Verde High School in the Summerlin community of Las Vegas, multiple caucus-goers said no one checked their IDs before they were handed ballots — a fact that made them uneasy and question whether people could find ways to vote multiple times.
"It makes the results suspect," Summerlin resident Melissa Marks, who said her ID wasn't checked, said. "Literally anybody can walk in and vote for anybody."
Caucus chaos at Palo Verde HS in Summerlin NV #nvgopcaucus pic.twitter.com/OqIjd50B3b— Bill Clark (@billclarkphotos) February 24, 2016
Second woman says no one checked her ID. She was just handed a ballot. She says it's very scary. #Nevadacaucus pic.twitter.com/VqxrOianFj— Emily Cahn (@CahnEmily) February 24, 2016
In Carson City, caucus-goers had their hands stamped in an attempt to prevent voters from casting multiple ballots.
Carson R’s at #nvgopcaucus hand stamping participants with dye to prevent double voting— Geoff Dornan (@NvDornan) February 24, 2016
Aides to the campaigns of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz were less than impressed, according to National Review reporter Elaina Plott.
Rubio source @ caucus site: "I had to step outside. This is like trying to plug holes in the Titanic."— Elaina Plott (@elainaplott) February 24, 2016
Text from Cruz source: "Our state party, under this leadership, is legendary."— Elaina Plott (@elainaplott) February 24, 2016
Plott also tweeted that some caucus-goers headed to their precinct and found no site set up.
New: People registered for precinct 1303 in Sierra Vista showed up to caucus. There was literally no site set up.— Elaina Plott (@elainaplott) February 24, 2016
According to the state Republican party though, everything was going smoothly with no official complaints.
There have been no official reports of voting irregularities or violations. #nvgopcaucus— Nevada GOP (@NVGOP) February 24, 2016
It's not against the rules for volunteers to wear candidate gear. Volunteers went through extensive training & are doing a great job— Nevada GOP (@NVGOP) February 24, 2016
In response to reports that some voters had cast too ballots, the GOP said that ballots would be "reviewed."
GOP official on caucus insanity, reports of double voting. pic.twitter.com/CY6ACvLssM— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) February 24, 2016
Jon Ralston, a veteran Nevada political reporter made it pretty clear: Nevada's Republican Party is not ready for prime time.
I don't know of any org less prepared to deal with unusually high turnout than NV GOP. Also, no org less equipped to deal w/low turnout.— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) February 24, 2016
Meanwhile in Iowa, some people are taking a victory lap.
Politics watcher texts from Vegas: "The big takeaway, Iowans know how to caucus, Nevadans not so much. No where near as organized as Iowa."— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 24, 2016