Nevada Question 6, Renewable Energy Standards Initiative (2020)

Nevada Question 6
Election date November 3, 2020
Topic Energy and Environment
Status a Approved
Type Constitutional amendment	Origin Citizens
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Question 6, the Nevada Renewable Energy Standards Initiative, was on the ballot in Nevada as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 3, 2020. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported amending the state Constitution to require electric utilities to acquire 50 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2030.

A "no" vote opposed amending the state Constitution, thus maintaining the statutory requirements that require electric utilities to acquire 50 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2030.

In Nevada, initiated constitutional amendments need to be approved in two consecutive even-numbered election years. In 2018, this ballot initiative was approved as Question 6, and therefore needed to be approved again in 2020 to amend the Nevada Constitution.

Election results

Nevada Question 6
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		747,581	57.94%
No		542,654	42.06%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

What did Question 6 (2020) change about energy policy in Nevada?

See also: Text of the measure

Question 6 (2020) added language to the Nevada Constitution requiring the state's (RPS) to increase to 50 percent by 2030. An RPS is a mandate that electric utilities acquire a minimum amount of electricity from renewable energy sources. The constitutional amendment increased the RPS to 50 percent by 2030. The amendment also defined renewable energy to include sources such as solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and hydroelectric. Specifically, it required an increased RPS each year until reaching 50 percent in 2030.

On April 22, 2019, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed Senate Bill 358 (SB 358), which was designed to require the same RPS percentage by 2030 as the amendment on the ballot. The chart below illustrates how law before SB 358 compares to the RPS adopted by SB 358 and the RPS proposed by the amendment.

How did Senate Bill 358 relate to Question 6 (2020)?

See also: Senate Bill 358

On March 18, 2019, Nevada Senator Chris Brooks (D-Las Vegas) introduced Senate Bill 358 (SB 358), which was designed to require electric utilities to acquire 50 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2030. A similar law, AB 206 (2017), was vetoed by the former governor of Nevada, Brian Sandoval (R), in June 2017. In 2019, Nevada formed a Democratic trifecta, which made the passage of SB 358 less vulnerable to a veto.

On April 22, 2019, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed SB 358 into law. In his testimony before the Nevada Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure, Sen. Brooks, said, "In 2018, the voters of Nevada decisively advanced, by a 60-40% margin, Question 6—a constitutional amendment that would move our state towards a 50 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard. If approved again in 2020, it would become a part of the state's constitution. I am introducing Senate Bill 358 in the spirit of this ballot initiative. It declares that this Legislature is committed to a robust renewable portfolio standard and establishes a more comprehensive ramp-up to 50% within the next decade." The 2020 amendment would place the requirement enacted by SB 358 that (RPS)) in the state increase to 50 percent by 2030 in the Nevada Constitution. The incremental increases enacted by SB 358 are a few percentage points higher between 2020 and 2024 than the amendment's requirements.

How did Question 6 (2020) relate to Question 6 (2018)?

See also: Nevada Question 6, Renewable Energy Standards Initiative

In Nevada, initiated constitutional amendments need to be approved in two even-numbered election years, meaning that Question 6, which was approved in 2018, needs to be approved again in 2020 to amend the Nevada Constitution. Question 6 was approved with 59.28 percent of the vote.

NextGen Climate Action proposed the initiative. NextGen Climate Action, which was founded by Tom Steyer, financed the campaign Nevadans for a Clean Energy Future to support Question 6. Nevadans for a Clean Energy Future raised $10.74 million, including $10.35 million from NextGen Climate Action.

The Coalition of Energy Users led the campaign in opposition to Question 6. Nevada State Sen. Don Gustavson (R-14) was the campaign's chairperson. The Coalition of Energy Users was a nonprofit organization and thus did not need to report contributions.

Text of measure

Ballot question

The ballot question for Question 6 was as follows:

“

Shall Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution be amended to require, beginning in calendar year 2022, that all providers of electric utility services who sell electricity to retail customers for consumption in Nevada generate or acquire incrementally larger percentages of electricity from renewable energy resources so that by calendar year 2030 not less than 50 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by each provider to its retail customers in Nevada comes from renewable energy resources? Yes [ ] No [ ]

”

Ballot summary

The ballot explanation for Question 1 was as follows:

“ EXPLANATION—This ballot measure proposes to amend Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution to require all providers of electric utility services that sell electricity to retail customers for consumption in Nevada to meet a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that would go into effect beginning in calendar year 2022 and increase gradually until the RPS reaches 50 percent in calendar year 2030. According to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, an RPS establishes the percentage of electricity sold by an electric utility to retail customers that must come from renewable sources. The measure requires the Nevada Legislature to provide by law for provisions, consistent with the language of the ballot measure, to implement the requirements of the constitutional amendment. These requirements include a mandate that each provider of electric utility service that sells electricity to retail customers for consumption in Nevada must generate or acquire electricity from renewable energy resources in an amount that is: For calendar years 2022 and 2023, not less than 26 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by the provider to retail customers in Nevada during that calendar year; For calendar years 2024 through 2026, inclusive, not less than 34 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by the provider to retail customers in Nevada during that calendar year; For calendar years 2027 through 2029, inclusive, not less than 42 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by the provider to retail customers in Nevada during that calendar year; and For calendar year 2030 and each calendar year thereafter, not less than 50 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by the provider to retail customers in Nevada during that calendar year. The Nevada Legislature would have until July 1, 2021 to pass any law required to carry out the provisions of the constitutional amendment. Renewable energy resources is not specifically defined in the ballot measure; however, the language of the ballot measure indicates that renewable energy resources include solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and waterpower. The measure also contains a statement of policy that declares it is the policy of Nevada that people and entities that sell electricity to retail customers in Nevada be required to obtain an increasing amount of their electricity from renewable energy resources such as solar, geothermal, and wind. The statement of policy also declares that increasing renewable energy will reduce Nevada’s reliance on fossil fuel-fired power plants, which will benefit Nevadans by improving air quality and public health, reducing water use, reducing exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices and supply disruptions, and providing a more diverse portfolio of resources for generating electricity. A 'Yes' vote would amend Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution to require all providers of electric utility services that sell electricity to retail customers for consumption in Nevada to generate or acquire an increasing percentage of electricity from renewable energy resources so that by calendar year 2030 not less than 50 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by each provider to its retail customers in Nevada comes from renewable energy resources. A 'No' vote would retain the provisions of Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution in their current form. These provisions do not require all providers of electric utility services that sell electricity to retail customers for consumption in Nevada to generate or acquire an increasing percentage of electricity from renewable energy resources. DIGEST—Nevada’s current Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) law is found in Chapter 704 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS). Under current law, each provider of electric service in Nevada must generate, acquire, or save electricity from a renewable energy system or efficiency measures in an amount that is not less than 20 percent of the total amount of electricity the provider sells to retail customers in Nevada during the calendar year. Pursuant to current law, the RPS will increase to 22 percent for calendar years 2020 through 2024, inclusive, and finally it will increase to 25 percent for calendar year 2025 and each calendar year thereafter. Approval of this ballot question would not change Nevada’s current RPS law found in Chapter 704 of NRS. Instead, approval of this ballot question would add a provision to the Nevada Constitution that requires the Nevada Legislature, not later than July 1, 2021, to provide by law for provisions to implement the requirements of the constitutional amendment described in the Explanation in the previous section. ”

Constitutional changes

See also: Article 4, Nevada Constitution

Question 6 (2020) added a new section to Article 4 of the Nevada Constitution. The following text was added:

Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.

1. Statement of Policy

The People of the State of Nevada declare that it is the policy of this State that people and entities that sell electricity to retail customers in this State be required to get an increasing amount of their electricity from renewable energy resources such as solar, geothermal, and wind. Increasing renewable energy will reduce the State’s reliance on fossil fuel-fired power plants, which will benefit Nevadans by improving air quality and public health, reducing water use, reducing exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices and supply disruptions, and providing a more diverse portfolio of resources for generating electricity. This Act shall be liberally construed to achieve this purpose.

2. Implementation

(a) Each provider of electric utility service that is engaged in the business of selling electricity to retail customers for consumption in this State shall generate or acquire electricity from renewable energy resources, including solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and waterpower, in an amount that is:

(i) For calendar years 2022 and 2023, not less than 26 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by the provider to its retail customers in this State during that calendar year.

(ii) For calendar years 2024 through 2026, inclusive, not less than 34 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by the provider to its retail customers in this State during that calendar year.

(iii) For calendar years 2027 through 2029, inclusive, not less than 42 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by the provider to its retail customers in this State during that calendar year.

(iv) For calendar year 2030 and each calendar year thereafter, not less than 50 percent of the total amount of electricity sold by the provider to its retail customers in this State during that calendar year.

(b) Not later than July 1, 2021, the Legislature shall provide, by law, for provisions consistent with this Act to implement the requirements specified in subparagraph (a).

3. Severability

Should any part of this Act be declared invalid, or the application thereof to any person, thing or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions or application of this Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are declared to be severable. This subsection shall be construed broadly to preserve and effectuate the declared purpose of this Act.

Fiscal impact statement

The fiscal impact statement was as follows:

“

Pursuant to Article 19, Section 4 of the Nevada Constitution, a ballot question proposing to amend the Nevada Constitution must be approved by the voters at two successive general elections in order to become a part of the Constitution. If Question 6 is approved by voters at the November 2018 and November 2020 General Elections, the provisions of the question would become effective on the fourth Thursday of November 2020 (November 26, 2020), when the votes are canvassed by the Supreme Court pursuant to NRS 293.395. The Fiscal Analysis Division cannot determine how the constitutional provisions of Question 6 will be implemented by the Legislature or which state agencies will be tasked with implementing and administering any laws relating to increasing electricity from renewable energy sources. Thus, the Fiscal Analysis Division cannot determine the impact upon state government with any reasonable degree of certainty. Additionally, the passage of Question 6 may have an effect upon the cost of electricity sold in Nevada, including the electricity that is purchased and consumed by state and local government entities. The Fiscal Analysis Division is unable to predict the effect that these provisions may have on the cost of electricity in Nevada beginning in calendar year 2022 or the amount of electricity that may be consumed by these government entities beginning in that calendar year; thus, the financial effect upon state and local governments with respect to potential changes in electricity costs cannot be determined with any reasonable degree of certainty.

”

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2020

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The secretary of state wrote the ballot language for this measure. The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 16, and the FRE is 14. The word count for the ballot title is 75, and the estimated reading time is 20 seconds. The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 18, and the FRE is 15. The word count for the ballot summary is 702, and the estimated reading time is 3 minutes and 7 seconds.

Support

Nevadans for Affordable, Clean Energy Choices led the campaign in support of Question 6.

Official arguments

The following arguments in support of Question 6 were included in the 2020 Nevada Voter Guide:

“

Question 6 would require electricity providers to get at least 50 percent of Nevada’s electricity from renewable sources like solar, wind, and geothermal by the year 2030. Nevada is one of America’s sunniest states, yet we get only 20 percent of our power from clean, renewable sources like solar. Instead, we spend $700 million a year to import dirty fossil fuels from other states. Question 6 would change that. A ‘YES’ vote on Question 6 would provide a guarantee that electricity suppliers get more electricity from renewable sources like solar. While Question 3 is a complicated debate about which utility companies will provide our electricity, Question 6 is simple. It is the only measure on the ballot that would guarantee we get more of our energy from renewable sources like solar and wind. A ‘YES’ vote on Question 6 would ensure cleaner air and healthier families. By replacing dirty fossil fuels with clean energy, Question 6 would reduce emissions of toxic pollutants like sulfur dioxide that make our air less safe to breathe. Scientists have found that improved air quality will reduce asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses, and these health benefits will result in fewer hospital visits and school absences, saving Nevadans $20 million per year. A ‘YES’ vote on Question 6 would boost our economy. Instead of sending $700 million a year to other states for fossil fuels, Question 6 would lead to $6.2 billion dollars of investment in Nevada and create 10 thousand new jobs. A ‘YES’ vote on Question 6 would save Nevadans money. The cost of clean energy is already cheaper than dirty energy sources: electricity from a new large-scale solar power plant in Nevada is 45 to 70 percent cheaper than electricity from a new power plant fueled with out-of-state gas. The cost of energy storage is declining fast, making solar an even more attractive option. Question 6 would leave a healthier, economically vibrant Nevada for future generations. We urge you to vote ‘YES’ on Question 6.

”

Opposition

If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments that should be included here, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Opponents

Organizations

• Americans for Tax Reform

Official arguments

The following arguments in opposition to Question 6 were included in the 2020 Nevada Voter Guide:

“

A constitutional mandate dictating energy policy is unnecessary and risky. Nevada’s current Renewable Portfolio Standard is already set to increase to 25 percent by 2025. This steady approach was carefully studied and executed by Nevada lawmakers and approved by the governor to invest in Nevada’s future to become the world’s leader in renewable energy while at the same time protecting Nevadans against out-of-control rate hikes. Passage of Question 6 would pour concrete language into the Nevada Constitution and recklessly pave a path putting ratepayers at risk by erasing Nevada’s legislative ability to judiciously apply its own adjustments to our current Renewable Portfolio Standard. Governor Sandoval expressed it best regarding a similar failed measure that proposed to confine the types of energy consumption Nevadans should be forced to rely on, when he wrote, “If these aggressive new energy policies are enacted, it is the ratepayer who bears the risk of increased rates.” Green technology continues to evolve, and cost-effectiveness for storage and delivery continues to improve. Meanwhile, renewable energy is still dealing with birth pains. The representatives you vote for are better positioned to protect you when they’re allowed to induct renewable energy policies based on merits, rather than mandates that serve to punish consumers and impose flawed policies. The Nevada Legislature adopted its first Renewable Portfolio Standard in 1997. Higher standards were legislatively adjusted as technology improved. Prudence and patience are exercised to encourage innovation while protecting ratepayers. To do otherwise is to asphyxiate innovation and jeopardize the affordable supply of reliable energy Nevadans are currently allowed to purchase. An energy crisis does not exist in Nevada. Ratepayers currently enjoy safe reliable delivery of energy at rates that are far below the national average. Do not confine choice by allowing the attachment of restrictive mandates into our Constitution. If renewable energy was already at a stage of superiority capable of competing on price, it wouldn’t demand a constitutional mandate. Nevada is better served by a legislative process that safely adjusts the proportional quantities of Nevada’s power usage as technological developments continue to advance. Question 6 proposes to rip away our safety net by mandating rigid timeframes that removes the ability to consider ratepayer protections and impending technological improvements. Mandates are unbending and unforgiving. The passage of Question 6 threatens to repress future innovation and wound our efficiency. Defend Nevada consumers by voting no on Ballot Question 6.

”

Campaign finance

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through January 15, 2021.

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Nevada ballot measures

There was one political action committee, Nevadans for Affordable, Clean Energy Choices, registered to support Question 6 (2020). The committee reported $3,000.19 in contributions.

Ballotpedia did not identify a campaign organized in opposition to Question 6 (2020).

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$3,000.19	$0.00	$3,000.19	$0.00	$0.00
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$3,000.19	$0.00	$3,000.19	$0.00	$0.00

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in support of the measure:

Committees in support of Question 6
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Nevadans for Affordable, Clean Energy Choices	$3,000.19	$0.00	$3,000.19	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$3,000.19	$0.00	$3,000.19	$0.00	$0.00

Opposition

Ballotpedia did not identify a campaign organized in opposition to the amendment.

2018 campaign finance

See also: Nevada Question 6 (2018) campaign finance

Question 6 was on the ballot in 2018. For Question 6 of 2018, only one campaign was registered in support of the initiative—Nevadans for a Clean Energy Future. The committee had raised $10.74 million, with NextGen Climate Action providing 96 percent of the campaign's funds.

There were no political action committees registered to oppose Question 6. The Coalition of Energy Users, a nonprofit organization, was opposing the ballot measure.

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Background

Senate Bill 358

On March 18, 2019, Nevada Senator Chris Brooks (D-Las Vegas) introduced Senate Bill 358 (SB 358), which was designed to require electric utilities to acquire 50 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2030. On April 16, the Nevada State Senate approved the bill in a unanimous vote. On April 19, the Nevada State Assembly approved the bill in a unanimous vote. On April 22, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed SB 358 into law.

In his testimony before the Nevada Senate Committee on Growth and Infrastructure, Sen. Brooks, said, "In 2018, the voters of Nevada decisively advanced, by a 60-40% margin, Question 6—a constitutional amendment that would move our State towards a 50 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard. If approved again in 2020, it would become a part of the state's constitution. I am introducing Senate Bill 358 in the spirit of this ballot initiative. It declares that this Legislature is committed to a robust renewable portfolio standard and establishes a more comprehensive ramp-up to 50% within the next decade."

Nevada initiated constitutional amendments not approved by second vote

In Nevada, initiated constitutional amendments need to be approved in two consecutive even-numbered election years. Between 1980 and 2019, two initiated constitutional amendments were not approved by voters the second time they appeared on ballots. Question 9 (1982) was rejected with 58.77% of the vote after it was approved with 70.31% of the vote in 1980. Question 3 (2018) was rejected with 67.05% of the vote after it was approved with 72.36% of the vote in 2016.

RPS laws in the U.S.

As of 2020, 29 states had renewable portfolio standards (RPS). An RPS is a mandate to electric utilities to generate a minimum amount of electricity from eligible renewable energy sources. California, Hawaii, and New Mexico had the highest future requirement, as of 2018, at 100 percent by 2045. The following list provides details on the different state RPS laws:

State	Amount	Year
Arizona	15%	2025
California	100%	2045
Colorado	30% (IOUs) or 10%-20% (municipalities and co-ops)	2020
Connecticut	27%	2020
Delaware	25%	2025-2026
Hawaii	100%	2045
Illinois	25%	2025-2026
Iowa	105 MW (IOUs)	N/A
Maine	40%	2017
Maryland	20%	2022
Massachusetts	15%+1% each year thereafter (Class I) and 5.5% (Class II)	2020
Michigan	15%	2021
Minnesota	26.5% (IOUs) and 25% (other utilitites)	2025
Missouri	15% (IOUs)	2021
Montana	15%	2015
Nevada	50%	2030
New Hampshire	24.8%	2025
New Jersey	24.5%	2020
New Mexico	100%	2045
New York	50%	2030
North Carolina	12.5% (IOUs) and 10% (municipalities and co-ops)	2021 (IOUs) and 2018 (municipalities and co-ops)
Ohio	25%	2026
Oregon	50% (utilities with 3 percent or more of the state’s load) and 10% (utilities with 1.5–3 percent of the state's load) and 5% (utilities with less than 1.5% of the state’s load)	2040 (utilities with 3% or more of the state’s load) and 2025 (utilities with 3% or less of the state's load)
Texas	10,000 MW	2025
Pennsylvania	18%	2020-2021
Vermont	75%	2032
Virginia	100%	2045
Washington	15%	2020
Wisconsin	10%	2015

RPS on the ballot

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Between 2004 and 2019, voters in seven states had voted on ballot measures related to renewable portfolio standards (RPS). Four (57 percent) of the ballot measures were approved, and three (43 percent) were defeated.

The first state to set an RPS via ballot measure was Colorado in 2004, when voters approved Initiative 37. In 2006, voters in Washington passed Initiative 937. California Proposition 7 was defeated in 2006. The state Democratic and Republican parties both opposed Proposition 7, as did the Sierra Club and California Chamber of Commerce. In 2008, voters in Missouri approved Proposition C.

Voters in Michigan rejected Proposal 3 in 2012, which would have increased the state's RPS. In 2018, a ballot initiative was proposed to increase Michigan's RPS to 30 percent. However, the campaign behind the ballot initiative was suspended after a compromise was struck with two of the state's largest utilities—DTE Energy Co. and Consumers Energy Co. The companies committed to producing 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources.

Along with the proposal in Michigan, the group NextGen Climate Action funded campaigns supporting ballot initiatives in Arizona and Nevada in 2018. Arizona Proposition 127 was defeated and, as of 2018, was the most expensive ballot measure in the state's history. Voters in Nevada approved Nevada Question 6, but, as an initiated constitutional amendment requiring two votes, the ballot initiative was placed on the ballot again in 2020.

Initiative	Year	Requirement	Status
Colorado Initiative 37	2004	10% by 2015	a
Washington Initiative 937	2006	15% by 2020	a
California Proposition 7	2008	50% by 2025	d
Missouri Proposition C	2008	15% by 2021	a
Michigan Proposal 3	2012	25% by 2025	d
Arizona Proposition 127	2018	50% by 2030	d
Nevada Question 6	2018	50% by 2030	a

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Nevada

The state process

In Nevada, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated constitutional amendment for the ballot is equal to 10 percent of the total votes cast in the most recent general election. Moreover, signature gathering must be distributed equally among each of the state's four congressional districts. The initial filing of an initiated constitutional amendment cannot be made before September 1 of the year preceding the election year. The signature petitions must be filed with county officials by the third Tuesday in June of an even-numbered year. The final submission of signatures to the secretary of state must be made at least 90 days before the next regular general election. Initiated constitutional amendments that qualify for the ballot must be approved at two consecutive general elections.

The requirements to get an initiated constitutional amendment certified for the 2018 ballot and the next even-yeared election ballot:

• Signatures: 112,543 valid signatures were required.
• Deadline: The deadline to submit signatures was June 19, 2018.

Signatures are verified by county clerks using a random sampling method if more than 500 signatures were submitted in that county. If enough signatures are submitted and verified, the initiative goes on the next general election ballot. If approved at the first election, it goes on the next general election ballot.

Details about the initiative

On February 6, 2018, the committee Nevadans for a Clean Energy Future filed the ballot initiative. On June 18, 2018, supporters filed more than 230,000 signatures for the ballot initiative. At least 112,543 signatures (48.9 percent) need to be valid for the initiative to make the ballot for the election on November 6, 2018. On July 12, 2018, Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske announced that 133,005 signatures were valid, certifying the ballot initiative to appear on the ballot for the election on November 6, 2018. As the ballot initiative was approved in 2018, as Question 6, the ballot initiative was again certified for the November 3, 2020, general election.

Cost of signature collection:
Sponsors of the measure hired FieldWorks, LLC to collect signatures for the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot. A total of $1,402,142.75 was spent to collect the 112,543 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of $12.46.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Nevada

Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Nevada.

How to cast a vote in Nevada

The information below covers regular voting policies in the state. Information may have not applied to the election on November 3, 2020, because of temporary changes in response to coronavirus. Click here to read about changes made for the 2020 elections. Poll times All polling places in Nevada are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Registration requirements Check your voter registration status here. To register to vote in Nevada, each applicant must be must a citizen of the United States, a resident of Nevada for at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the election. Seventeen-year-olds can preregister to vote. Anyone who has been declared mentally incompetent by a court may not register to vote. A voter registration application can be completed in person at the county clerk’s office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, other social service agencies, or college campuses. In-person registration must be completed 28 days before regular elections; registration forms submitted by mail must be postmarked by the same day. Online applications must be submitted by the Thursday before regular elections. Nevada also allows same-day registration. Automatic registration See also: Automatic voter registration Nevada automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Online registration See also: Online voter registration Nevada has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registration See also: Same-day voter registration Nevada allows same-day voter registration at polling places during early voting and on election day. Residency requirements In order to register to vote in Nevada, applicants must be a resident of the state for at least 30 days prior to the election. Verification of citizenship See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States Nevada does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury. All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registration The Nevada Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website. Voter ID requirements Nevada does not require voters to present identification while voting, in most cases. A voter in Nevada must sign their name in the election board register at his or her polling place. The signature is compared with the signature on the voter's original application to vote or another form of identification, such as a driver's license, a state identification card, military identification, or another government-issued ID.

See also

2020 measures

• 2020 ballot measures
• Energy on the ballot
• 2020 petition deadlines

Nevada

• Nevada ballot measures
• Nevada initiative laws
• Energy policy in Nevada

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls
• Ballot measure signature costs

External links

• Initiative Petition