Nevada 2025 Regular Session

Nevada Assembly Bill AB178 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	A.B. 178
4	4
5	5	- AB178
6	6
7	7	ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 178–ASSEMBLYMEMBER GRAY
8	8
9	9	PREFILED FEBRUARY 2, 2025
10	10	____________
11	11
12	12	Referred to Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections
13	13
14	14	SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to elections.
15	15	(BDR 24-210)
16	16
17	17	FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: May have Fiscal Impact.
18	18	Effect on the State: Yes.
19	19
20	20	CONTAINS UNFUNDED MANDATE (§§ 2, 3, 10, 11)
21	21	(NOT REQUESTED BY AFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT)
22	22
23	23	~
24	24
25	25	EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
26	26
27	27
28	28	AN ACT relating to elections; requiring the Secretary of State and
29	29	each county or city clerk to establish procedures to inform
30	30	registered voters of the requirements for voting by mail
31	31	ballot; requiring each county or city clerk to provide
32	32	training to election board officers and certain employees
33	33	relating to processing and counting mail ballots; requiring
34	34	the county or city clerk to submit a report to the Secretary
35	35	of State relating to mail ballots after each election;
36	36	revising the deadline for returning mail ballots and curing
37	37	certain defects in mail ballots; revising the requirements
38	38	for establishing procedures for the processing and
39	39	counting of mail ballots; and providing other matters
40	40	properly relating thereto.
41	41	Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
42	42	Existing law requires the county or city clerk to establish procedures for the 1
43	43	processing and counting of mail ballots. (NRS 293.269925, 293C.26325) Sections 2
44	44	7 and 15 of this bill require that such procedures be fair and efficient. 3
45	45	Sections 2 and 10 of this bill require the Secretary of State and each county or 4
46	46	city clerk to establish procedures to inform registered voters of the requirements for 5
47	47	voting by mail ballot. Sections 2 and 10 further require each county or city clerk to 6
48	48	provide training to election board officers and employees of the elections division 7
49	49	of the county or city on the requirements for processing and counting mail ballots. 8
50	50	Sections 3 and 11 of this bill require, after each election, the county or city 9
51	51	clerk to submit a report to the Secretary of State regarding mail ballots. Sections 3 10
52	52	and 11 also require the Secretary of State to compile the information received from 11
53	53	– 2 –
54	54
55	55
56	56	- AB178
57	57	the county and city clerks and submit a summary to the Director of the Legislative 12
58	58	Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislature or Legislative Commission, as 13
59	59	applicable. 14
60	60	Existing law requires that a mail ballot that is: (1) mailed to a county or city 15
61	61	clerk be postmarked on or before the day of the election and received by 5 p.m. on 16
62	62	the fourth day following the election; or (2) delivered by hand to the county or city 17
63	63	clerk or any drop box before the time set for closing of the polls on election day. 18
64	64	(NRS 293.269921, 293.269923, 293C.26321, 293C.26323) Sections 5, 6, 13 and 19
65	65	14 of this bill require instead that a mail ballot be delivered to the county or city 20
66	66	clerk before the close of business of the office of the county or city clerk, as 21
67	67	applicable, regardless of whether the mail ballot is returned by mail or delivered by 22
68	68	hand to the county or city clerk or any drop box. 23
69	69	Existing law requires certain persons who have not previously voted in any 24
70	70	election for federal office in this State to include a copy of certain information in 25
71	71	the return envelope with a mail ballot. If such a person fails to provide the 26
72	72	information in the return envelope, the county or city clerk must allow the person to 27
73	73	provide the required information before 5 p.m. on the sixth day following the 28
74	74	election in order for the person’s mail ballot to be counted. (NRS 293.269915, 29
75	75	293C.26314) Sections 4 and 12 of this bill provide instead that the county or city 30
76	76	clerk must allow the person to provide the required information before 5 p.m. on 31
77	77	the third day following the election in order for the person’s mail ballot to be 32
78	78	counted. 33
79	79	Existing law provides that if the county or city clerk determines when checking 34
80	80	the signature used for the mail ballot that the voter failed to affix his or her 35
81	81	signature or failed to affix it in the manner required by law for the mail ballot or 36
82	82	that there is a reasonable question of fact as to whether the signature used for the 37
83	83	mail ballot matches the signature of the voter, but the voter is otherwise entitled to 38
84	84	cast the mail ballot, the clerk shall contact the voter and advise the voter of the 39
85	85	procedures to provide a signature or a confirmation that the signature used for the 40
86	86	mail ballot belongs to the voter, as applicable. For the mail ballot to be counted, 41
87	87	the voter must provide a signature or a confirmation, as applicable, not later than 5 42
88	88	p.m. on the sixth day following the election. (NRS 293.269927, 293C.26327) 43
89	89	Sections 8 and 16 of this bill provide instead that for the mail ballot to be counted, 44
90	90	the voter must provide a signature or a confirmation, as applicable, not later than 5 45
91	91	p.m. on the third day following the election. 46
92	92
93	93
94	94	THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
95	95	SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
96	96
97	97	Section 1. Chapter 293 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1
98	98	thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 and 3 of this act. 2
99	99	Sec. 2. 1. The Secretary of State and each county clerk 3
100	100	shall establish procedures to inform registered voters of the 4
101	101	requirements for voting by mail ballot, including, without 5
102	102	limitation: 6
103	103	(a) The deadline for returning a mail ballot by mail or 7
104	104	personal delivery; and 8
105	105	(b) The deadline and process for a registered voter to cure any 9
106	106	defect with the voter’s signature on the mail ballot pursuant to 10
107	107	NRS 293.269927. 11
108	108	– 3 –
109	109
110	110
111	111	- AB178
112	112	 The procedures established pursuant to this subsection must 1
113	113	not conflict with the provisions of this section and NRS 2
114	114	293.269911 to 293.269937, inclusive, and section 3 of this act. 3
115	115	2. Each county clerk shall provide training to election board 4
116	116	officers and employees of the elections division of the county on 5
117	117	the requirements for processing and counting mail ballots, 6
118	118	including, without limitation, the process for allowing a registered 7
119	119	voter to cure any defect with the registered voter’s signature on the 8
120	120	mail ballot. 9
121	121	Sec. 3. 1. After each election, the county clerk shall submit 10
122	122	a report to the Secretary of State regarding mail ballots that 11
123	123	includes, without limitation: 12
124	124	(a) The number of mail ballots that were sent to registered 13
125	125	voters; 14
126	126	(b) The number of mail ballots that were returned by 15
127	127	registered voters; 16
128	128	(c) The number of mail ballots that were returned to the 17
129	129	county clerk by mail or personal delivery; 18
130	130	(d) The number of mail ballots that were returned without the 19
131	131	signature of the registered voter or that contained a defect in the 20
132	132	signature; 21
133	133	(e) The number of registered voters who were contacted by the 22
134	134	county clerk to cure a missing or defective signature; and 23
135	135	(f) The total number of mail ballots that were counted in the 24
136	136	election. 25
137	137	2. The Secretary of State shall compile the information 26
138	138	received pursuant to subsection 1 from each county clerk and 27
139	139	submit a summary to the Director of the Legislative Counsel 28
140	140	Bureau for transmittal to the Legislature or, if the Legislature is 29
141	141	not in session, to the Legislative Commission. 30
142	142	Sec. 4. NRS 293.269915 is hereby amended to read as 31
143	143	follows: 32
144	144	293.269915 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, 33
145	145	if a person applied by mail or computer to register to vote, or 34
146	146	preregistered to vote by mail or computer and is subsequently 35
147	147	deemed to be registered to vote, and the person has not previously 36
148	148	voted in any election for federal office in this State, the county clerk 37
149	149	must inform the person that he or she must include a copy of the 38
150	150	information required in paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of NRS 39
151	151	293.2725 in the return envelope with the mail ballot. 40
152	152	2. The provisions of subsection 1 do not apply to a person who: 41
153	153	(a) Registers to vote by mail or computer, or preregisters to vote 42
154	154	by mail or computer and is subsequently deemed to be registered to 43
155	155	vote, and submits with his or her application to preregister or 44
156	156	register to vote: 45
157	157	– 4 –
158	158
159	159
160	160	- AB178
161	161	(1) A copy of a current and valid photo identification; or 1
162	162	(2) A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck 2
163	163	or document issued by a governmental entity, including a check 3
164	164	which indicates the name and address of the person, but not 4
165	165	including a voter registration card; 5
166	166	(b) Registers to vote by mail or computer and submits with his 6
167	167	or her application to register to vote a driver’s license number or at 7
168	168	least the last four digits of his or her social security number, if a 8
169	169	state or local election official has matched that information with an 9
170	170	existing identification record bearing the same number, name and 10
171	171	date of birth as provided by the person in the application; 11
172	172	(c) Registers to vote pursuant to NRS 293.5768 to 293.57699, 12
173	173	inclusive, and at that time presents to the automatic voter 13
174	174	registration agency: 14
175	175	(1) A copy of a current and valid photo identification; 15
176	176	(2) A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck 16
177	177	or document issued by a governmental entity, including a check 17
178	178	which indicates the name and address of the person, but not 18
179	179	including a voter registration card; or 19
180	180	(3) A driver’s license number or at least the last four digits of 20
181	181	his or her social security number, if a state or local election official 21
182	182	has matched that information with an existing identification record 22
183	183	bearing the same number, name and date of birth as provided by the 23
184	184	person in the application; 24
185	185	(d) Is entitled to vote pursuant to the provisions of chapter 293D 25
186	186	of NRS or the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting 26
187	187	Act, 52 U.S.C. §§ 20301 et seq.; 27
188	188	(e) Is provided the right to vote otherwise than in person 28
189	189	pursuant to the provisions of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly 29
190	190	and Handicapped Act, 52 U.S.C. §§ 20101 et seq.; or 30
191	191	(f) Is entitled to vote otherwise than in person pursuant to the 31
192	192	provisions of any other federal law. 32
193	193	3. If a person fails to provide the identification required 33
194	194	pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of NRS 293.2725 with his 34
195	195	or her mail ballot: 35
196	196	(a) The mail ballot must be treated as a provisional ballot; and 36
197	197	(b) The county clerk must: 37
198	198	(1) Contact the person; 38
199	199	(2) Allow the person to provide the identification required 39
200	200	before 5 p.m. on the [sixth] third day following the election; and 40
201	201	(3) If the identification required pursuant to paragraph (b) of 41
202	202	subsection 1 of NRS 293.2725 is provided, ensure the mail ballot is 42
203	203	delivered to the appropriate mail ballot central counting board. 43
204	204	– 5 –
205	205
206	206
207	207	- AB178
208	208	Sec. 5. NRS 293.269921 is hereby amended to read as 1
209	209	follows: 2
210	210	293.269921 1. Except as otherwise provided in [subsection 2 3
211	211	and] chapter 293D of NRS, in order for a mail ballot to be counted 4
212	212	for any election, before the close of business of the office of the 5
213	213	county clerk on the day of the election, the mail ballot must be: 6
214	214	(a) [Before the time set for closing of the polls, delivered] 7
215	215	Delivered by hand to the county clerk [,] or any ballot drop box 8
216	216	established in the county pursuant to this section; or 9
217	217	(b) [Mailed to] Received by mail by the county clerk . [, and: 10
218	218	(1) Postmarked on or before the day of the election; and 11
219	219	(2) Received by the clerk not later than 5 p.m. on the fourth 12
220	220	day following the election.] 13
221	221	2. [If a mail ballot is received by mail not later than 5 p.m. on 14
222	222	the third day following the election and the date of the postmark 15
223	223	cannot be determined, the mail ballot shall be deemed to have been 16
224	224	postmarked on or before the day of the election. 17
225	225	3.] Each county clerk must establish a ballot drop box at every 18
226	226	polling place in the county, including, without limitation, a polling 19
227	227	place for early voting. A county clerk may establish a ballot drop 20
228	228	box at any other location in the county where mail ballots can be 21
229	229	delivered by hand and collected during the period for early voting 22
230	230	and on election day. No person other than a clerk may establish a 23
231	231	drop box for mail ballots. 24
232	232	[4.] 3. A ballot drop box must be: 25
233	233	(a) Constructed of metal or any other rigid material of sufficient 26
234	234	strength and resistance to protect the security of the mail ballots; and 27
235	235	(b) Capable of securely receiving and holding the mail ballots 28
236	236	and being locked. 29
237	237	[5.] 4. A ballot drop box must be: 30
238	238	(a) Placed in an accessible and convenient location at the office 31
239	239	of the county clerk or a polling place in the county; and 32
240	240	(b) Made available for use during the hours when the office of 33
241	241	the county clerk, or the polling place, is open for business or voting, 34
242	242	as applicable [.] , except that on election day, the ballot drop box 35
243	243	must not be available after the close of business of the office of the 36
244	244	county clerk. 37
245	245	Sec. 6. NRS 293.269923 is hereby amended to read as 38
246	246	follows: 39
247	247	293.269923 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, 40
248	248	at the request of a voter whose mail ballot has been prepared by or 41
249	249	on behalf of the voter, a person authorized by the voter may return 42
250	250	the mail ballot on behalf of the voter by mail or personal delivery to 43
251	251	the county clerk, or any ballot drop box established in the county, 44
252	252	pursuant to NRS 293.269921. 45
253	253	– 6 –
254	254
255	255
256	256	- AB178
257	257	2. Except for an election board officer in the course of the 1
258	258	election board officer’s official duties, a person shall not willfully: 2
259	259	(a) Impede, obstruct, prevent or interfere with the return of a 3
260	260	voter’s mail ballot; 4
261	261	(b) Deny a voter the right to return the voter’s mail ballot; or 5
262	262	(c) If the person receives the voter’s mail ballot and 6
263	263	authorization to return the mail ballot on behalf of the voter by mail 7
264	264	or personal delivery, fail to return the mail ballot [, unless otherwise 8
265	265	authorized by the voter,] by mail or personal delivery [: 9
266	266	(1) Before the end of the third day after the day of receipt, if 10
267	267	the person receives the mail ballot from the voter four or more days 11
268	268	before the day of the election; or 12
269	269	(2) Before the deadline established by the United States 13
270	270	Postal Service for the mail ballot to be postmarked on the day of the 14
271	271	election or before the polls close on the day of the election, as 15
272	272	applicable to the type of delivery, if the person receives the mail 16
273	273	ballot from the voter three or fewer days before the day of the 17
274	274	election.] so that the mail ballot is received by the county clerk 18
275	275	before the close of business of the office of the county clerk on the 19
276	276	day of the election. 20
277	277	3. A person who violates any provision of subsection 2 is 21
278	278	guilty of a category E felony and shall be punished as provided in 22
279	279	NRS 193.130. 23
280	280	Sec. 7. NRS 293.269925 is hereby amended to read as 24
281	281	follows: 25
282	282	293.269925 1. The county clerk shall establish procedures 26
283	283	for the fair and efficient processing and counting of mail ballots. 27
284	284	2. The procedures established pursuant to subsection 1: 28
285	285	(a) May authorize mail ballots to be processed, verified and 29
286	286	counted by computer or other electronic means; and 30
287	287	(b) Must not conflict with the provisions of NRS 293.269911 to 31
288	288	293.269937, inclusive. 32
289	289	Sec. 8. NRS 293.269927 is hereby amended to read as 33
290	290	follows: 34
291	291	293.269927 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 35
292	292	293D.200, when a mail ballot is returned by or on behalf of a voter 36
293	293	to the county clerk, and a record of its return is made in the mail 37
294	294	ballot record for the election, the clerk or an employee in the office 38
295	295	of the clerk shall check the signature used for the mail ballot by 39
296	296	electronic means pursuant to subsection 2 or manually pursuant to 40
297	297	subsection 3. 41
298	298	2. To check the signature used for a mail ballot by electronic 42
299	299	means: 43
300	300	(a) The electronic device must take a digital image of the 44
301	301	signature used for the mail ballot and compare the digital image 45
302	302	– 7 –
303	303
304	304
305	305	- AB178
306	306	with the signatures of the voter from his or her application to 1
307	307	register to vote or application to preregister to vote available in the 2
308	308	records of the county clerk. 3
309	309	(b) If the electronic device does not match the signature of the 4
310	310	voter, the signature shall be reviewed manually pursuant to the 5
311	311	provisions of subsection 3. 6
312	312	3. To check the signature used for a mail ballot manually, the 7
313	313	county clerk shall use the following procedure: 8
314	314	(a) The clerk or employee shall check the signature used for the 9
315	315	mail ballot against all signatures of the voter available in the records 10
316	316	of the clerk. 11
317	317	(b) If at least two employees in the office of the clerk believe 12
318	318	there is a reasonable question of fact as to whether the signature 13
319	319	used for the mail ballot matches the signature of the voter, the clerk 14
320	320	shall contact the voter and ask the voter to confirm whether the 15
321	321	signature used for the mail ballot belongs to the voter. 16
322	322	4. For purposes of subsection 3: 17
323	323	(a) There is a reasonable question of fact as to whether the 18
324	324	signature used for the mail ballot matches the signature of the voter 19
325	325	if the signature used for the mail ballot differs in multiple, 20
326	326	significant and obvious respects from the signatures of the voter 21
327	327	available in the records of the clerk. 22
328	328	(b) There is not a reasonable question of fact as to whether the 23
329	329	signature used for the mail ballot matches the signature of the voter 24
330	330	if: 25
331	331	(1) The signature used for the mail ballot is a variation of the 26
332	332	signature of the voter caused by the substitution of initials for the 27
333	333	first or middle name, the substitution of a different type of 28
334	334	punctuation in the first, middle or last name, the use of a common 29
335	335	nickname or the use of one last name for a person who has two last 30
336	336	names and it does not otherwise differ in multiple, significant and 31
337	337	obvious respects from the signatures of the voter available in the 32
338	338	records of the clerk; or 33
339	339	(2) There are only slight dissimilarities between the signature 34
340	340	used for the mail ballot and the signatures of the voter available in 35
341	341	the records of the clerk. 36
342	342	5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, if the clerk 37
343	343	determines that the voter is entitled to cast the mail ballot, the clerk 38
344	344	shall deposit the mail ballot in the proper ballot box or place the 39
345	345	mail ballot, unopened, in a container that must be securely locked or 40
346	346	under the control of the clerk at all times. The clerk shall deliver the 41
347	347	mail ballots to the mail ballot central counting board to be processed 42
348	348	and prepared for counting. 43
349	349	6. If the clerk determines when checking the signature used for 44
350	350	the mail ballot that the voter failed to affix his or her signature or 45
351	351	– 8 –
352	352
353	353
354	354	- AB178
355	355	failed to affix it in the manner required by law for the mail ballot or 1
356	356	that there is a reasonable question of fact as to whether the signature 2
357	357	used for the mail ballot matches the signature of the voter, but the 3
358	358	voter is otherwise entitled to cast the mail ballot, the clerk shall 4
359	359	contact the voter and advise the voter of the procedures to provide a 5
360	360	signature or a confirmation that the signature used for the mail ballot 6
361	361	belongs to the voter, as applicable. For the mail ballot to be counted, 7
362	362	the voter must provide a signature or a confirmation, as applicable, 8
363	363	not later than 5 p.m. on the [sixth] third day following the election. 9
364	364	7. The clerk shall prescribe procedures for a voter who failed to 10
365	365	affix his or her signature or failed to affix it in the manner required 11
366	366	by law for the mail ballot, or for whom there is a reasonable 12
367	367	question of fact as to whether the signature used for the mail ballot 13
368	368	matches the signature of the voter, in order to: 14
369	369	(a) Contact the voter; 15
370	370	(b) Allow the voter to provide a signature or a confirmation that 16
371	371	the signature used for the mail ballot belongs to the voter, as 17
372	372	applicable; and 18
373	373	(c) After a signature or a confirmation is provided, as applicable, 19
374	374	ensure the mail ballot is delivered to the mail ballot central counting 20
375	375	board. 21
376	376	8. If there is a reasonable question of fact as to whether the 22
377	377	signature used for the mail ballot matches the signature of the voter, 23
378	378	the voter must be identified by: 24
379	379	(a) Answering questions from the county clerk covering the 25
380	380	personal data which is reported on the application to register to vote; 26
381	381	(b) Providing the county clerk, orally or in writing, with other 27
382	382	personal data which verifies the identity of the voter; or 28
383	383	(c) Providing the county clerk with proof of identification as 29
384	384	described in NRS 293.277 other than the voter registration card 30
385	385	issued to the voter. 31
386	386	9. The procedures established pursuant to subsection 7 for 32
387	387	contacting a voter must require the clerk to contact the voter, as 33
388	388	soon as possible after receipt of the mail ballot, by: 34
389	389	(a) Mail; 35
390	390	(b) Telephone, if a telephone number for the voter is available in 36
391	391	the records of the clerk; and 37
392	392	(c) Electronic means, which may include, without limitation, 38
393	393	electronic mail, if the voter has provided the clerk with sufficient 39
394	394	information to contact the voter by such means. 40
395	395	Sec. 9. Chapter 293C of NRS is hereby amended by adding 41
396	396	thereto the provisions set forth as sections 10 and 11 of this act. 42
397	397	Sec. 10. 1. The Secretary of State and each city clerk shall 43
398	398	establish procedures to inform registered voters of the 44
399	399	– 9 –
400	400
401	401
402	402	- AB178
403	403	requirements for voting by mail ballot, including, without 1
404	404	limitation: 2
405	405	(a) The deadline for returning a mail ballot by mail or 3
406	406	personal delivery; and 4
407	407	(b) The deadline and process for a registered voter to cure any 5
408	408	defect with the voter’s signature on the mail ballot pursuant to 6
409	409	NRS 293C.26327. 7
410	410	 The procedures established pursuant to this subsection must 8
411	411	not conflict with the provisions of this section and NRS 293C.263 9
412	412	to 293C.26337, inclusive, and section 11 of this act. 10
413	413	2. Each city clerk shall provide training to election board 11
414	414	officers and employees of the elections division of the city on the 12
415	415	requirements for processing and counting mail ballots, including, 13
416	416	without limitation, the process for allowing a registered voter to 14
417	417	cure any defect with the registered voter’s signature on the mail 15
418	418	ballot. 16
419	419	Sec. 11. 1. After each city election, the city clerk shall 17
420	420	submit a report to the Secretary of State regarding mail ballots 18
421	421	that includes, without limitation: 19
422	422	(a) The number of mail ballots that were sent to registered 20
423	423	voters; 21
424	424	(b) The number of mail ballots that were returned by 22
425	425	registered voters; 23
426	426	(c) The number of mail ballots that were returned to the city 24
427	427	clerk by mail or personal delivery; 25
428	428	(d) The number of mail ballots that were returned without the 26
429	429	signature of the registered voter or that contained a defect in the 27
430	430	signature; 28
431	431	(e) The number of registered voters who were contacted by the 29
432	432	city clerk to cure a missing or defective signature; and 30
433	433	(f) The total number of mail ballots that were counted in the 31
434	434	city election. 32
435	435	2. The Secretary of State shall compile the information 33
436	436	received pursuant to subsection 1 from each city clerk and submit 34
437	437	a summary to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for 35
438	438	transmittal to the Legislature or, if the Legislature is not in 36
439	439	session, to the Legislative Commission. 37
440	440	Sec. 12. NRS 293C.26314 is hereby amended to read as 38
441	441	follows: 39
442	442	293C.26314 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, 40
443	443	if a person applied by mail or computer to register to vote, or 41
444	444	preregistered to vote by mail or computer and is subsequently 42
445	445	deemed to be registered to vote, and the person has not previously 43
446	446	voted in any election for federal office in this State, the city clerk 44
447	447	must inform the person that he or she must include a copy of the 45
448	448	– 10 –
449	449
450	450
451	451	- AB178
452	452	information required in paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of NRS 1
453	453	293.2725 in the return envelope with the mail ballot. 2
454	454	2. The provisions of subsection 1 do not apply to a person who: 3
455	455	(a) Registers to vote by mail or computer, or preregisters to vote 4
456	456	by mail or computer and is subsequently deemed to be registered to 5
457	457	vote, and submits with his or her application to preregister or 6
458	458	register to vote: 7
459	459	(1) A copy of a current and valid photo identification; or 8
460	460	(2) A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck 9
461	461	or document issued by a governmental entity, including a check 10
462	462	which indicates the name and address of the person, but not 11
463	463	including a voter registration card; 12
464	464	(b) Registers to vote by mail or computer and submits with his 13
465	465	or her application to register to vote a driver’s license number or at 14
466	466	least the last four digits of his or her social security number, if a 15
467	467	state or local election official has matched that information with an 16
468	468	existing identification record bearing the same number, name and 17
469	469	date of birth as provided by the person in the application; 18
470	470	(c) Registers to vote pursuant to NRS 293.5768 to 293.57699, 19
471	471	inclusive, and at that time presents to the automatic voter 20
472	472	registration agency: 21
473	473	(1) A copy of a current and valid photo identification; 22
474	474	(2) A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck 23
475	475	or document issued by a governmental entity, including a check 24
476	476	which indicates the name and address of the person, but not 25
477	477	including a voter registration card; or 26
478	478	(3) A driver’s license number or at least the last four digits of 27
479	479	his or her social security number, if a state or local election official 28
480	480	has matched that information with an existing identification record 29
481	481	bearing the same number, name and date of birth as provided by the 30
482	482	person in the application; 31
483	483	(d) Is entitled to vote pursuant to the provisions of chapter 293D 32
484	484	of NRS or the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting 33
485	485	Act, 52 U.S.C. §§ 20301 et seq.; 34
486	486	(e) Is provided the right to vote otherwise than in person 35
487	487	pursuant to the provisions of the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly 36
488	488	and Handicapped Act, 52 U.S.C. §§ 20101 et seq.; or 37
489	489	(f) Is entitled to vote otherwise than in person pursuant to the 38
490	490	provisions of any other federal law. 39
491	491	3. If a person fails to provide the identification required 40
492	492	pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of NRS 293.2725 with his 41
493	493	or her mail ballot: 42
494	494	(a) The mail ballot must be treated as a provisional ballot; and 43
495	495	(b) The city clerk must: 44
496	496	(1) Contact the person; 45
497	497	– 11 –
498	498
499	499
500	500	- AB178
501	501	(2) Allow the person to provide the identification required 1
502	502	before 5 p.m. on the [sixth] third day following the election; and 2
503	503	(3) If the identification required pursuant to paragraph (b) of 3
504	504	subsection 1 of NRS 293.2725 is provided, ensure the mail ballot is 4
505	505	delivered to the appropriate mail ballot central counting board. 5
506	506	Sec. 13. NRS 293C.26321 is hereby amended to read as 6
507	507	follows: 7
508	508	293C.26321 1. Except as otherwise provided in [subsection 2 8
509	509	and] chapter 293D of NRS, in order for a mail ballot to be counted 9
510	510	for any election, before the close of business of the office of the 10
511	511	city clerk on the day of the election, the mail ballot must be: 11
512	512	(a) [Before the time set for closing of the polls, delivered] 12
513	513	Delivered by hand to the city clerk [,] or any ballot drop box 13
514	514	established in the city [,] pursuant to this section; or 14
515	515	(b) [Mailed to] Received by mail by the city clerk . [, and: 15
516	516	(1) Postmarked on or before the day of the election; and 16
517	517	(2) Received by the clerk not later than 5 p.m. on the fourth 17
518	518	day following the election.] 18
519	519	2. [If a mail ballot is received by mail not later than 5 p.m. on 19
520	520	the third day following the election and the date of the postmark 20
521	521	cannot be determined, the mail ballot shall be deemed to have been 21
522	522	postmarked on or before the day of the election. 22
523	523	3.] Each city clerk must establish a ballot drop box at every 23
524	524	polling place in the city, including, without limitation, a polling 24
525	525	place for early voting. A city clerk may establish a drop box at any 25
526	526	other location in the city where mail ballots can be delivered by 26
527	527	hand and collected during the period for early voting and on election 27
528	528	day. No person other than a clerk may establish a drop box for mail 28
529	529	ballots. 29
530	530	[4.] 3. A ballot drop box must be: 30
531	531	(a) Constructed of metal or any other rigid material of sufficient 31
532	532	strength and resistance to protect the security of the mail ballots; and 32
533	533	(b) Capable of securely receiving and holding the mail ballots 33
534	534	and being locked. 34
535	535	[5.] 4. A ballot drop box must be: 35
536	536	(a) Placed in an accessible and convenient location at the office 36
537	537	of the city clerk, or a polling place in the city; and 37
538	538	(b) Made available for use during the hours when the office of 38
539	539	the city clerk, or the polling place, is open for business or voting, as 39
540	540	applicable [.] , except that on election day, the ballot drop box must 40
541	541	not be available after the close of business of the office of the city 41
542	542	clerk. 42
543	543	– 12 –
544	544
545	545
546	546	- AB178
547	547	Sec. 14. NRS 293C.26323 is hereby amended to read as 1
548	548	follows: 2
549	549	293C.26323 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, 3
550	550	at the request of a voter whose mail ballot has been prepared by or 4
551	551	on behalf of the voter, a person authorized by the voter may return 5
552	552	the mail ballot on behalf of the voter by mail or personal delivery to 6
553	553	the city clerk, or any ballot drop box established in the city, pursuant 7
554	554	to NRS 293C.26321. 8
555	555	2. Except for an election board officer in the course of the 9
556	556	election board officer’s official duties, a person shall not willfully: 10
557	557	(a) Impede, obstruct, prevent or interfere with the return of a 11
558	558	voter’s mail ballot; 12
559	559	(b) Deny a voter the right to return the voter’s mail ballot; or 13
560	560	(c) If the person receives the voter’s mail ballot and 14
561	561	authorization to return the mail ballot on behalf of the voter by mail 15
562	562	or personal delivery, fail to return the mail ballot [, unless otherwise 16
563	563	authorized by the voter,] by mail or personal delivery [: 17
564	564	(1) Before the end of the third day after the day of receipt, if 18
565	565	the person receives the mail ballot from the voter four or more days 19
566	566	before the day of the election; or 20
567	567	(2) Before the deadline established by the United States 21
568	568	Postal Service for the mail ballot to be postmarked on the day of the 22
569	569	election or before the polls close on the day of the election, as 23
570	570	applicable to the type of delivery, if the person receives the mail 24
571	571	ballot from the voter three or fewer days before the day of the 25
572	572	election.] so that the mail ballot is received by the city clerk before 26
573	573	the close of business of the office of the city clerk on the day of the 27
574	574	election. 28
575	575	3. A person who violates any provision of subsection 2 is 29
576	576	guilty of a category E felony and shall be punished as provided in 30
577	577	NRS 193.130. 31
578	578	Sec. 15. NRS 293C.26325 is hereby amended to read as 32
579	579	follows: 33
580	580	293C.26325 1. The city clerk shall establish procedures for 34
581	581	the fair and efficient processing and counting of mail ballots. 35
582	582	2. The procedures established pursuant to subsection 1: 36
583	583	(a) May authorize mail ballots to be processed, verified and 37
584	584	counted by computer or other electronic means; and 38
585	585	(b) Must not conflict with the provisions of NRS 293C.263 to 39
586	586	293C.26337, inclusive. 40
587	587	Sec. 16. NRS 293C.26327 is hereby amended to read as 41
588	588	follows: 42
589	589	293C.26327 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 43
590	590	293D.200, when a mail ballot is returned by or on behalf of a voter 44
591	591	to the city clerk, and a record of its return is made in the mail ballot 45
592	592	– 13 –
593	593
594	594
595	595	- AB178
596	596	record for the election, the clerk or an employee in the office of 1
597	597	the clerk shall check the signature used for the mail ballot by 2
598	598	electronic means pursuant to subsection 2 or manually pursuant to 3
599	599	subsection 3. 4
600	600	2. To check the signature used for a mail ballot by electronic 5
601	601	means: 6
602	602	(a) The electronic device must take a digital image of the 7
603	603	signature used for the mail ballot and electronically compare the 8
604	604	digital image with the signatures of the voter from his or her 9
605	605	application to register to vote or application to preregister to vote 10
606	606	available in the records of the city clerk. 11
607	607	(b) If the electronic device does not match the signature of the 12
608	608	voter, the signature shall be reviewed manually pursuant to the 13
609	609	provisions of subsection 3. 14
610	610	3. To check the signature used for a mail ballot manually, the 15
611	611	city clerk shall use the following procedure: 16
612	612	(a) The clerk or employee shall check the signature used for the 17
613	613	mail ballot against all signatures of the voter available in the records 18
614	614	of the clerk. 19
615	615	(b) If at least two employees in the office of the clerk believe 20
616	616	there is a reasonable question of fact as to whether the signature 21
617	617	used for the mail ballot matches the signature of the voter, the clerk 22
618	618	shall contact the voter and ask the voter to confirm whether the 23
619	619	signature used for the mail ballot belongs to the voter. 24
620	620	4. For purposes of subsection 3: 25
621	621	(a) There is a reasonable question of fact as to whether the 26
622	622	signature used for the mail ballot matches the signature of the voter 27
623	623	if the signature used for the mail ballot differs in multiple, 28
624	624	significant and obvious respects from the signatures of the voter 29
625	625	available in the records of the clerk. 30
626	626	(b) There is not a reasonable question of fact as to whether the 31
627	627	signature used for the mail ballot matches the signature of the voter 32
628	628	if: 33
629	629	(1) The signature used for the mail ballot is a variation of the 34
630	630	signature of the voter caused by the substitution of initials for the 35
631	631	first or middle name, the substitution of a different type of 36
632	632	punctuation in the first, middle or last name, the use of a common 37
633	633	nickname or the use of one last name for a person who has two last 38
634	634	names and it does not otherwise differ in multiple, significant and 39
635	635	obvious respects from the signatures of the voter available in the 40
636	636	records of the clerk; or 41
637	637	(2) There are only slight dissimilarities between the signature 42
638	638	used for the mail ballot and the signatures of the voter available in 43
639	639	the records of the clerk. 44
640	640	– 14 –
641	641
642	642
643	643	- AB178
644	644	5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, if the clerk 1
645	645	determines that the voter is entitled to cast the mail ballot, the clerk 2
646	646	shall deposit the mail ballot in the proper ballot box or place the 3
647	647	mail ballot, unopened, in a container that must be securely locked or 4
648	648	under the control of the clerk at all times. The clerk shall deliver the 5
649	649	mail ballots to the mail ballot central counting board to be processed 6
650	650	and prepared for counting. 7
651	651	6. If the clerk determines when checking the signature used for 8
652	652	the mail ballot that the voter failed to affix his or her signature or 9
653	653	failed to affix it in the manner required by law for the mail ballot or 10
654	654	that there is a reasonable question of fact as to whether the signature 11
655	655	used for the mail ballot matches the signature of the voter, but the 12
656	656	voter is otherwise entitled to cast the mail ballot, the clerk shall 13
657	657	contact the voter and advise the voter of the procedures to provide a 14
658	658	signature or a confirmation that the signature used for the mail ballot 15
659	659	belongs to the voter, as applicable. For the mail ballot to be counted, 16
660	660	the voter must provide a signature or a confirmation, as applicable, 17
661	661	not later than 5 p.m. on the [sixth] third day following the election. 18
662	662	7. The clerk shall prescribe procedures for a voter who failed to 19
663	663	affix his or her signature or failed to affix it in the manner required 20
664	664	by law for the mail ballot, or for whom there is a reasonable 21
665	665	question of fact as to whether the signature used for the mail ballot 22
666	666	matches the signature of the voter, in order to: 23
667	667	(a) Contact the voter; 24
668	668	(b) Allow the voter to provide a signature or a confirmation that 25
669	669	the signature used for the mail ballot belongs to the voter, as 26
670	670	applicable; and 27
671	671	(c) After a signature or a confirmation is provided, as applicable, 28
672	672	ensure the mail ballot is delivered to the mail ballot central counting 29
673	673	board. 30
674	674	8. If there is a reasonable question of fact as to whether the 31
675	675	signature used for the mail ballot matches the signature of the voter, 32
676	676	the voter must be identified by: 33
677	677	(a) Answering questions from the city clerk covering the 34
678	678	personal data which is reported on the application to register to vote; 35
679	679	(b) Providing the city clerk, orally or in writing, with other 36
680	680	personal data which verifies the identity of the voter; or 37
681	681	(c) Providing the city clerk with proof of identification as 38
682	682	described in NRS 293C.270 other than the voter registration card 39
683	683	issued to the voter. 40
684	684	9. The procedures established pursuant to subsection 7 for 41
685	685	contacting a voter must require the clerk to contact the voter, as 42
686	686	soon as possible after receipt of the mail ballot, by: 43
687	687	(a) Mail; 44
688	688	– 15 –
689	689
690	690
691	691	- AB178
692	692	(b) Telephone, if a telephone number for the voter is available in 1
693	693	the records of the clerk; and 2
694	694	(c) Electronic means, which may include, without limitation, 3
695	695	electronic mail, if the voter has provided the clerk with sufficient 4
696	696	information to contact the voter by such means. 5
697	697	Sec. 17. The provisions of subsection 1 of NRS 218D.380 do 6
698	698	not apply to any provision of this act which adds or revises a 7
699	699	requirement to submit a report to the Legislature. 8
700	700	Sec. 18. The provisions of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any 9
701	701	additional expenses of a local government that are related to the 10
702	702	provisions of this act. 11
703	703	Sec. 19. 1. This section and sections 17 and 18 of this act 12
704	704	become effective upon passage and approval. 13
705	705	2. Sections 1 to 16, inclusive, of this act become effective: 14
706	706	(a) Upon passage and approval for the purpose of adopting any 15
707	707	regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative 16
708	708	tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and 17
709	709	(b) On January 1, 2026, for all other purposes. 18
710	710
711	711	H
712	712
713	713
714	714