Accessible Voting
Washoe County is dedicated to ensuring every voter, regardless of ability, can cast a ballot safely, privately and independently. We provide fully accessible polling places and voting machines with audio and large-print options, and provide multiple options for returning a mail ballot. Our poll workers are trained to offer respectful, informed assistance, and we follow all federal accessibility laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Help America Vote Act. Whether you vote in person or from home, your access to voting is our top priority.
Accessible Voting Booths
Our vote centers are equipped to serve voters with mobility, vision and hearing disabilities. Every location has at least one accessible voting system with an audio or large-print option. Poll workers are trained to assist voters so voters who use wheelchairs, are blind or are deaf receive the same access as other voters.
Right to Assistance
Voters with disabilities have the right to get help during the voting process. Under the Voting Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals may choose someone to assist them, except for their employer or a union representative. Assistance can include helping a voter operate the voting booth, filling out a ballot by mail or dropping off at a drop box. This right also applies to voters in nursing homes or group settings. Poll Workers will not restrict those providing lawful assistance.
Mail Ballots
For many voters, mail ballots offer a reliable and convenient way to cast a vote from the comfort of home. Voters with disabilities may find this option particularly helpful if getting to a polling place is difficult.
Nevada's Effective Absentee System for Elections
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EASE Portal
Nevada’s Effective Absentee System for Elections, or EASE, is an online application that was designed to support the needs of our "covered voters". EASE is available to active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, their spouses and dependents, Nevada voters who are outside of the country, Nevada residents with a disability and tribal voters who live on a colony or reservation in Nevada.
The system will be available for all state, county, and municipal elections no less than 46 days before Election Day and can be accessed at NVEASE.gov.
Nevada's EASE is the first entirely online application, that supports Nevada voter needs around the world. Since 2020, legislators have increased access to EASE and it is now open for Nevada residents with disabilities (NRS 293.269951 (1)(a)(a); NAC 293.206) and tribal voters who live on a colony or reservation in Nevada (NRS 293.269951 (1)(a)(2)).
Without any additional state funding, the Secretary of State’s office developed the system with a grant from the Department of Defense's Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), which was used to design and develop an application available for use beginning with the 2014 general election.
EASE Features:
- Nevada law authorizes "covered voters" to use digital or electronic signatures to sign applications to register to vote; applications for military-overseas ballots; and military-overseas ballots. Previously, military and other Nevadans covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) were required to submit their EASE packet by mail or they needed a printer and a scanner to receive and return a ballot via email.
- EASE retrieves the electronic image of the voter’s signature already on file with their county clerk or registrar or from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles so it can be used by the voter to register to vote, fill out their EASE packet, and then facilitate the return of their EASE packet.
- After an EASE voter marks his or her EASE packet, the system applies the voter’s electronic signature and generates a cover sheet with the necessary declarations, affirmations and information to allow the counties to process and count the voter's EASE packet.
- EASE Demonstration - Those interested in seeing how EASE works can view this demonstration. The demonstration is a PDF of the screens an eligible registered Nevada voter will see while using EASE.
Nevada's military and overseas citizens, voters with a disability or tribal voters who live on a colony or reservation in Nevada can access the live EASE system at NVEASE.gov.