Nevada Voting Guide

Welcome to FindLaw’s Nevada Voter Guide. We’ll answer your questions about voter registration, early voting, and absentee voting. We will also explain how to find your polling place, what to bring to the polls, and what to do if you see illegal activity at the voting locations.

If this is your first time voting or you recently moved to Nevada, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the state’s voting laws. Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, review Nevada’s special voting rules and requirements before Election Day.

Some of the questions voters in Nevada may have include the following:

• Can all Americans vote using an absentee ballot?
• Does Nevada offer early voting?
• Can anyone vote in a primary election?
• Does the Nevada Senate allow mail-in ballots?

This Nevada Voter Guide will help answer these questions and explain how Nevada addresses special accommodations for people with disabilities. This article will provide specific election information, such as voter eligibility, voter registration, and other helpful details.

Nevada Voter Bill of Rights

Nevada has enshrined its Voter Bill of Rights for all Nevadans. Among your other enumerated rights as a Nevada voter, you have the right:

• To vote privately and freely without coercion, intimidation, or duress
• To vote early, by mail, or to cast your ballot if you are in line after the polls close
• To replace a mail-in ballot with a provisional ballot if you change your mind after you mail your ballot
• To have any complaints or concerns addressed in a fair and reasonable manner

Voting is both a right and a privilege.

Who is eligible to vote in Nevada?

To be eligible to vote in Nevada, you must meet specific criteria. These requirements include the following:

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be at least 18 years old on Election Day
• Must have lived in Nevada for at least 30 days
• Must live in the precinct where you will be voting at least ten days before the election
• Must be registered to vote in Nevada

You cannot register and vote if:

• You are currently in prison for a felony offense
• The courts have deemed you mentally incompetent

If you have a felony conviction, having your voting rights restored after finishing your sentence was put into law in 2019. However, you will need to register before you can vote again.

Nevada voters should be aware that if they fail to vote in two consecutive federal elections, the local county clerk/Registrar of Voters may eventually cancel their voter registration. They must re-register to vote. If their mail is returned as undeliverable, the voter will be placed on inactive status.

To see if you’re registered to vote, visit Nevada’s Secretary of State voting site.

Where Do I Vote?

In Clark and Washoe Counties, voters can vote at any polling place. Voters in all other Nevada counties must vote at their assigned polling place. Polling places must be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

What are Nevada’s voter deadlines?

Visit the Elections Resource page on the Secretary of State’s website to see the specific deadlines for voter registration by mail, in person, or online. Nevada is a mail-in voting state. If you want to vote in person and opt out of receiving a mail-in ballot, you must notify your county registrar’s office at least 60 days before the election. Even if you receive a mail-in ballot, you may vote in person by surrendering your ballot at the polling place. If you register less than 10 days prior to the election, you may not receive a mail-in ballot and will need to vote in person.

What is early voting?

Registered voters can opt for early voting at any polling place in their county that offers it. The early voting period runs for 14 days. See the early voting information on the Secretary of State’s website for the exact dates and locations in your county. You can find information about specific dates for all voting-related questions here.

How do I request an absentee ballot in Nevada?

Any registered voter may request to vote by mail with an absentee ballot. Complete and submit the Absent Ballot Request Form and return it to your county clerk or Registrar of Voters.

If you are a first-time voter, you will need photo identification and proof of residency to demonstrate your identity and residency. For military members or or Nevadians who live overseas, you can use the FVAP website to request an absentee ballot.

Clark County has special voter registration rules. Effective January 1, 2020, Clark County registered voters can make a one-time request to receive a mail-in/absentee ballot for all future elections. This request will be effective if you keep your address up to date with the Elections Department.

The county clerk or Registrar of Voters must receive your written absentee ballot request by 7 p.m. (5 p.m. in Clark County) at least two weeks before Election Day. For questions about absentee voting, call the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at (775) 684-5705.

What should I bring to the polls in Nevada?

There are specific items you must bring to the polling place. A photo ID is required in the following situations:

• You are voting for the first time in a federal election
• You registered to vote by mail and didn’t provide identification

If you want to vote and have not previously registered, you can use same-day registration by proving your identification and residency. The following current and valid documents are acceptable as proof:

Identification

• Nevada driver’s license
• ID card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles
• Military ID
• Employee ID card issued by a sheriff of a Nevada county
• ID card issued by an agency of the State of Nevada, a public school, college, or university
• Student ID card from an accredited private school, college, or university
• United States passport
• Tribal ID card

Residency documents

• Any of the IDs listed above
• Utility bill, phone bill, cable bill
• Bank statement, mortgage document, lease or income tax return, property tax statement
• Paycheck
• Motor vehicle registration
• Government document
• Any other official document that the county clerk determines, at their discretion, to be a reliable indication of the valid address of the person

If you don’t have this documentation, you can still vote. Poll workers will give you a provisional ballot. Take this ballot and an acceptable form of ID to your county clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on the Friday after Election Day. If you don’t do this, your vote won’t count.

Are special accommodations available to voters with disabilities?

Every polling place in Nevada has at least one voting station accessible to older adults and persons with disabilities. When you arrive, let the poll worker know you want to use the ADA-compliant voting booth.

Accessible voting machines have audio units and breath-response capabilities. All voting machines have large-print capability.

A voter can bring someone with them or ask for assistance with entering the polling location, checking in, entering the voting booth, marking their ballot, exiting the booth, and checking out. You can get assistance from a poll worker or someone who isn’t your employer, an agent of your employer, or an agent of your labor union.

If you have difficulty reading or understanding English, you can ask for language assistance. The poll workers can provide translated materials. The law requires some Nevada counties to offer language assistance in Spanish, Shoshone, Paiute, and other native languages.

You can contact your county clerk before Election Day to see what they offer. Bringing an interpreter with you is permitted.

What if I see something illegal at the polls?

Nevada election law prohibits electioneering, intimidation, and harassment at and around the polling stations. If you are being harassed at the polls or believe you are witnessing unlawful behavior, do not interfere. Report the activity to the polling station’s election officials. If you witness violent behavior, call law enforcement.

If you believe you witnessed unlawful activity related to voting, contact the Secretary of State’s Elections Integrity Task Force (EITF) at (775) 687-8683. They can provide additional information on who you should contact.

Poll watchers can assist voters under certain circumstances. They can give you advice about how to utilize the machines and drop boxes. If you don’t believe the poll workers or watchers treated you fairly, call your county clerk or the Election Protection Hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE / 888-VE-Y-VOTA.

A Voting Rights Lawyer Can Help

If you aren’t sure about your eligibility to vote, a civil rights lawyer can help. They can also help protect your voting rights.

If you believe someone has violated your civil rights, an attorney can help protect your interests. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help.