Several Nevada Democrats were forced to choose between an hour's wages or voting in the caucuses

As Nevada Democrats flocked to their caucuses on Saturday, some potential caucus-goers were forced to watch from the sidelines — because they're stuck at work. "There was a bunch of people who wanted to vote, and they said they'd lose an hour's wages if they did," Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), a Clinton supporter, told The Washington Post. Whereas a combined precinct at the Wynn Las Vegas was packed with 376 voters in 2008 — mainly workers from that hotel and other hotels nearby — just 60 voters made it to the precinct on Saturday.
Navigating the hospitality and leisure industry's workers' unusual hours has long been a problem for the Nevada caucuses, FiveThirtyEight reports. An estimated 51 percent of workers from these industries were on the clock when caucusing began at 2 p.m. ET Saturday. Pushing back the start time wouldn't help matters much either, FiveThirtyEight reports. Even if the caucus start were to be pushed back to, say, 7 p.m. ET, 37 percent of workers would still be at their jobs.
Still, some workers did opt to clock out to weigh in on the presidential election, and others were able to use their lunch breaks to caucus. MSNBC reports that for a few minutes at the Bellagio on Saturday "the matching outfits of bachelorette parties and tourist groups that typically flood the Las Vegas strip were drowned out by the uniforms of bartenders, maids, and casino dealers."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Harvard sues Trump over frozen grant money
Speed Read The Trump administration withheld $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts after Harvard rejected its demands
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump tariffs place trucking industry in the crosshairs
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the White House barrels ahead with its massive tariff project, American truckers are feeling the heat from a global trade war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Trump stands by Hegseth amid ouster reports
Speed Read The president dismissed reports that he was on the verge of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a second national security breach
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Trump stands by Hegseth amid ouster reports
Speed Read The president dismissed reports that he was on the verge of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a second national security breach
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group text
Speed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US