Election Law in Nevada 2022

Democrats believe that universal access to voting is essential to a functioning democracy.

The Nevada Legislature in the last several sessions, under Democratic majority leadership significantly expanded voting access and enhanced election security.

Ballots

Every active voter will receive a ballot by mail unless they opt out in writing. Voters may put that completed ballot in the mail, deliver the ballot to a designated drop box, or vote in person. So many choices make voting more accessible.

  • Vote by mail is in place for every election. Voters may opt out of receiving a mail ballot up to 60 days before the election.
  • Deployed members of the U.S. military have been voting by mail since the U.S. Civil War.
  • Ballots postmarked by Election Day are accepted up to four days after Election Day.
  • Nevada mitigates voter fraud by using the election management system (EMS). Only one ballot is assigned to a voter at a time through this EMS system and bar code control. The EMS does not allow a voter to cast multiple ballots. If you choose to vote in person, you will not be allowed to cast a mail ballot. If you vote by mail, you will not be allowed to vote in person.
  • A voter must physically surrender their mail ballot at the polling place to vote in person OR sign an affirmation indicating the voter will not vote their mail ballot. Although encouraged, voters are not required to bring their mail ballot with them to surrender before voting.
  • AKA, Ballot harvesting: A voter may authorize another person to return the mail ballot on their behalf by mail or personal delivery to the county or city clerk or to any ballot drop box. Signature verification and the ballot bar code makes this secure and gives greater accessibility to particular voter groups. Anyone impeding the delivery of such ballots is guilty of a category E felony.

Polling Places

Voters may choose any polling place in their county to vote in person or they may drop their ballot in a designated drop box making voting convenient.

  • Election Day vote centers were established so that voters may choose any polling place in their county to cast their ballot.
  • A minimum number of polling places in each county, based on population, provides more access to polls.
  • Poll observers and workers at election sites are selected by the clerks to be balanced between political parties

Ballot drop boxes

Drop boxes are secure and convenient.

  • Ballot drop boxes are at all polling places.
  • The boxes are constantly monitored by poll workers. They are emptied throughout the day. The boxes are emptied and locked up at night.
  • It is a felony for anyone else to set up a drop box. Only the county or city clerk may establish a drop box.

Voter Registration

Democrats have a goal of increasing the number of eligible voters who participate in our elections. Nevada’s expanded availability of voter registration sites and our secure registration systems within the office of the Secretary of State keeps our voter rolls up-to-date.

  • Motor Voter Registration – The passage of Question 5 on the 2018 ballot created automatic voter registration of eligible citizens when receiving certain services at the Department of Motor Vehicles. This has now been expanded beyond the DMV to include other state agencies. You may register to vote at the office of the city or county clerk, on college campuses, online through the Secretary of State’s office.
  • Nevada has same-day voter registration. Twenty other states and the District of Columbia also have some form of this available. A vote cast after registering on Election Day will be provisional meaning it will not be counted until your information is verified by the election clerk.
  • A 17-year-old who will be 18 by Election Day may pre-register to vote.
    Nevada Voters with disabilities have special accommodations in place. Read more about Nevada’s Effective Absentee System for Elections (EASE) at https://www.NVEASE.gov
    Nevada’s voter registration database has been updated and modernized and requires the Office of the Secretary of State to establish and maintain a database to collect and store all voter registrations in the state. The county clerks use this database to collect and maintain all records for the voters of their counties.
  • If you have moved, changed your name, want to change party affiliation, or otherwise have to update your voter registration status, visit http://RegisterToVoteNV.gov

Election Security

Nevada has many safeguards to ensure the integrity of our elections. Proof of identification is required to register to vote in Nevada. Our election workers will be trained to inspect signatures thus ensuring ballot security. A voter whose signature is questionable will be given the opportunity to verify that ballot in person. (Known as curing the ballot.)

  • A voter who registers to vote without proof of identification must show that identifying document when voting in person for the first time. They must include a copy of the identifying document with their first mail in ballot.
  • What are acceptable forms of ID? Acceptable forms of identification include a current and valid form from the following:
    • Nevada Driver’s license
    • Nevada Identification Card
    • Armed Forces Identification Card
    • Sheriff’s Work Identification Card
    • Identification Card issued by an Agency of the State of Nevada or other political subdivision
    • Student Identification Card
    • United States Passport
    • Tribal Identification Card
    • Other forms of identification may be used, please check with your County Clerk/Registrar of Voters for other acceptable forms of identification like photo ID, copy of a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck stub issued by a government entity which includes the name and address of the person, or a driver’s license number or the last four digits of his or her social security number
  • Annual training is required for all Election staff including training on forensic signature verification.

Presidential Primary

Nevada is one of the most demographically and geographically diverse states in the country. Being the first presidential primary state means Nevadans will have more of a say in who ultimately leads our country.

  • A Presidential Primary in Nevada has replaced the caucus and placed our presidential primary election on the first Tuesday in February.
  • Early Presidential candidates will visit Nevada and have a chance to hear our hopes and concerns.

Note: New Hampshire has not given up and could move theirs further back to maintain their position as first. Either way, we will still be an early primary state.

Sources:

  • Nevada Legislature website: https://www.leg.state.nv.us
  • The Nevada Independent: https://thenevadaindependent.com
  • Nevada Secretary of State https://www.nvsos.gov
  • Resources www.registertovotenv.gov

Related posts:

Important Dates Just the FactsVoting Misinformation Register to Vote