Election Laws and Legislation

Mail Ballot and In-Person Voting (AB321)

Starting in 2022, Nevada has become an all mail-in ballot state where every active registered voter will be issued a mail-in ballot for all future elections, unless the voter chooses to "opt-out" of receiving a ballot by mail. Voters may still choose to vote in-person at any early voting or election day vote center, if they prefer that method of casting their ballot.

All voters who are registered to vote no later than 14 days before Election Day will receive a mail-in ballot whether or not they requested one, unless they opt-out.
To opt out, you must submit a written or online request to not receive a ballot by mail.
- Click here for the written opt-out form in English
- Click here for the written opt-out form in Spanish
- Click here for the online requests on the Office of the Secretary of State's website who will provide us with your request.
- NOTE: We must receive all requests no later than 60 days before Election Day to opt-out for the next primary or general election. If the request is received after the 60 days prior to election, you will still receive a ballot in the mail for the next election and your request will go into effect at the next election.
In-Person Voting: You may still vote in-person even if you receive a mail-in ballot at any early voting or election day vote center. To vote in person instead of by mail-in ballot:
- If you have your mail ballot with you, you must surrender it at the voting site.
- If you do not have your mail ballot with you, you must sign an affirmation that you are not voting twice in the same election.

RETURNING YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT

Returning by Mail: You may choose to vote your ballot and return it by mailing your voted ballot, postage pre-paid, through the U.S. Postal Service.
Mail-In Ballot Drop Boxes: Secure mail-in ballot drop boxes will be available at all early voting and Election day vote centers.
Ballots must be dropped off at a drop box location by 7:00 pm on Election day or postmarked on or before Election day and received in our office by 5:00 pm on the fourth day following Election day to be counted.
The deadline to cure mail-in ballot signature issues is by 5 pm on the sixth day after Election day.

NOTE: It will be a felony for anyone other than the Elections Department to provide "official" ballot drop boxes.

Same-Day Registration Online (AB321)

Same-Day Registration Online (SDRO) Has Been Extended: Starting in 2022, you may register to vote online after the standard close of registration up to and including Election Day. SDRO voters may only cast a provisional ballot in person at a voting site (mail-in ballot voting is not allowed for same-day registrants).

Registration and Death Records (AB321)

Secretary of State and Vital Statistics Cooperation: The Nevada Secretary of State is authorized to enter into a cooperative agreement with the State Registrar of Vital Statistics to match statewide voter registration information with Vital Statistics records concerning deaths at least once a month to maintain the statewide voter registration list.

Request for the Establishment of a Polling Place within the Boundaries of an Indian Reservation or Indian Colony (AB 321)

The deadlines for an Indian tribe to submit a request for the establishment of a polling place for early voting and/or election day has been extended:
- For a primary election, the deadline has been extended from the first Friday in January to March 1st in the year of the election
- For a general election, the deadline has been extended from the first Friday in July to August 1st in the year of the election.
Along with requesting an early voting and/or Election Day polling location, tribes can also now request for a mail-in ballot drop box as well.

Provisions for Voters with Disabilities (AB121)

Expanded Registration and Voting Options: The Nevada Secretary of State’s system of approved electronic transmission, the Effective Absentee System for Elections (EASE), established for uniformed military and overseas voters, may now be used by a person with a disability to register to vote and also by a registered voter cast a ballot. For more information on EASE go to https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/uniformed-overseas-citizens/ease-overview

Provisions for Voters with Disabilities (AB121)

Expanded Registration and Voting Options: The Nevada Secretary of State’s system of approved electronic transmission, the Effective Absentee System for Elections (EASE), established for uniformed military and overseas voters (UOCAVA), may now be used by a person with a disability to register to vote and also by a registered voter cast a ballot. For more information on EASE go to https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/uniformed-overseas-citizens/ease-overview

EASE will be made available for elections with a federal contest on the ballot for UOCAVA voters and voters with disabilities beginning 45 days before election day and will be available through 7 p.m. on election day.

Presidential Preference Primary (AB126)

Presidential Preference Primary (PPP): Nevada will have a Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) to deliver results to the Secretary of State's office which the major parties can use to determine their June Primary Candidates for U.S. President. Nevada is still a closed primary state and you may only vote for candidates from your own party (the party you specified in your voter registration).
Election Date: The first Tuesday in February in presidential election years is the date for the PPP. In 2024, it will be February 6.
Early Voting Dates: Early voting for the PPP will start 10 days before Election Day and end the Friday before Election Day. In 2024, PPP early voting will be from January 27 (Saturday) to February 2 (Friday).
Candidate Filing Dates: October 1-15 of the year before the PPP are the dates for candidate filing with the Nevada Secretary of State. This will first happen in 2023.
Minor Parties: Minor parties will not participate in the PPP and their candidates will go directly to the General Election ballot.

Automatic Voter Registration (AB432)

Expansion of Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) Agencies: In addition to the Department of Motor Vehicles, agencies that provide will be providing automatic voter registration are:

The Department of Health and Human Services and the agencies it designates that are involved with Medicaid and/or the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange; and
Any other state agency, including the Executive Department or tribal agency that meets certain requirements and is approved by the Governor.
An Indian tribe may submit a request to the Governor for approval to allow an agency of the tribe to become and automatic voter registration agency in order to submit voter registration information of tribal members for the purpose of registering tribal members to vote.

Top-Down Registration System (AB422)

Centralized Statewide Voter Registration System: The Nevada Secretary of State must establish and maintain a centralized, top-down voter registration database for collecting and storing registration information from all counties.

All counties must use the database to collect and maintain all voter registration information. The database will be used to create an official statewide voter list.

Pilot Program for Conducting Risk-Limiting Audit (AB 422): Authorizes the Secretary of State to require each county clerk to participate in a risk-limiting audit pilot program for the 2022 general election.