Signed by Governor Steve Sisolak

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes a mostly mail-in election for the 2020 general election in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Authorizes any election to be considered an “affected election” if a state of emergency is in effect (Sec. 8).

• Requires county clerks to establish the following number of polling places (Sec. 11):

• At least 35 polling places for counties with 700,000 people or more;

• At least 15 polling places for counties with 100,000-700,000 people; and

• At least 1 polling place for counties with less than 100,000 people.

• Authorizes indigenous Tribes to request an early voting site to be established on their reservation (Sec. 11).

• Requires all county and city clerks to distribute sample and mail-in ballots to all registered voters (Sec. 15).

• Requires all ballots to be postmarked on or before Election Day (Sec. 20).

• Requires all counties to establish at least one mail-in ballot drop box in their jurisdictions (Sec. 20).

• Establishes a mail ballot central counting board for the election (Sec. 24).

• Authorizes the counting board to begin counting 15 days before Election Day (Sec. 25).

• Requires the counting board to finish their counting by the 9th day following Election Day (Sec. 25).

• Authorizes voters to vote by mail for all future elections as long as they provide written notice to the county clerk (Sec. 36).

• Prohibits any person from (Sec. 70):

• Impeding, obstructing, preventing, or interfering with the return of an absentee ballot;

• Denying anyone the right to return an absentee ballot; or

• Failing to return someone else’s absentee ballot.

• Specifies that any of the aforementioned actions are considered a category E felony (Sec. 70).

• Requires the city clerk to mail absentee ballots to all eligible voters before 5 p.m. on the last business day preceding the first day of early voting for any primary or general city election (Sec. 74).

• Specifies that section 74 of this bill takes effect on July 1, 2021 (Sec. 88).

• Specifies that the remainder of this bill takes effect immediately upon passage (Sec. 88).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes a mostly mail-in election for the 2020 general election in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• Authorizes any election to be considered an “affected election” if a state of emergency is in effect (Sec. 8).

• Requires county clerks to establish the following number of polling places (Sec. 11):

• At least 35 polling places for counties with 700,000 people or more;

• At least 15 polling places for counties with 100,000-700,000 people; and

• At least 1 polling place for counties with less than 100,000 people.

• Authorizes indigenous Tribes to request an early voting site to be established on their reservation (Sec. 11).

• Requires all county and city clerks to distribute sample and mail-in ballots to all registered voters (Sec. 15).

• Requires all ballots to be postmarked on or before Election Day (Sec. 20).

• Requires all counties to establish at least one mail-in ballot drop box in their jurisdictions (Sec. 20).

• Establishes a mail ballot central counting board for the election (Sec. 24).

• Authorizes the counting board to begin counting 15 days before Election Day (Sec. 25).

• Requires the counting board to finish their counting by the 9th day following Election Day (Sec. 25).

• Authorizes voters to vote by mail for all future elections as long as they provide written notice to the county clerk (Sec. 36).

• Prohibits any person from (Sec. 70):

• Impeding, obstructing, preventing, or interfering with the return of an absentee ballot;

• Denying anyone the right to return an absentee ballot; or

• Failing to return someone else’s absentee ballot.

• Specifies that any of the aforementioned actions are considered a category E felony (Sec. 70).

• Requires the city clerk to mail absentee ballots to all eligible voters before 5 p.m. on the last business day preceding the first day of early voting for any primary or general city election (Sec. 74).

• Specifies that section 74 of this bill takes effect on July 1, 2021 (Sec. 88).

• Specifies that the remainder of this bill takes effect immediately upon passage (Sec. 88).

Full Bill Text