A.B. 534 - *AB534* ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 534–COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE OPERATIONS AND ELECTIONS (ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE) MARCH 24, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to elections. (BDR 24-975) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: May have Fiscal Impact. Effect on the State: Yes. CONTAINS UNFUNDED MANDATE (§§ 2, 18, 20, 21, 51, 61) (NOT REQUESTED BY AFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT) ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to elections; requiring the Secretary of State to allow certain persons detained in jail to use the system of approved electronic transmission to register to vote and cast a ballot; revising provisions relating to voter registration and updating voter registration information; renaming certain provisional ballots to “conditional ballots;” revising provisions relating to certain petitions; revising the deadline for candidates to file a declaration of candidacy; revising provisions relating to the publication of certain information by a county clerk; authorizing the Secretary of State to require certain employees to attend a training course concerning elections procedures; revising provisions relating mail ballots; revising provisions relating to the testing of certain technology prior to an election; defining the term “personal knowledge” for purposes of certain challenges; revising provisions relating to risk- limiting audits; revising provisions relating to certain prohibited conduct in or around a polling place; revising provisions relating to mechanical voting systems; authorizing, under certain circumstances, the Secretary of State to adjust the date of the presidential preference primary election; making various other changes relating to elections; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. – 2 – - *AB534* Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law requires the Secretary of State to establish a system of approved 1 electronic transmission through which voters may register to vote and apply for and 2 cast a ballot. (NRS 293D.200) Existing law further sets forth provisions governing 3 voting by persons who are detained in a county or city jail. (NRS 293.269971, 4 293.269973, 293.269975) Section 2 of this bill requires the Secretary of State to 5 allow: (1) an elector who is detained in a county or city jail to use the system of 6 approved electronic transmission established for covered voters who are overseas 7 or in the military to register to vote; and (2) a registered voter who is detained in a 8 county or city jail to use the system of approved electronic transmission to apply 9 for and cast a ballot in every election where the system of approved electronic 10 transmission is available to a covered voter who is overseas or in the military. 11 Section 15 of this bill requires the Secretary of State to prescribe the procedures to 12 be followed and the requirements of the use of the system of approved electronic 13 transmission by electors and voters who are detained in a county or city jail. 14 Section 21 of this bill requires the report submitted to the Secretary of State by a 15 person who administers a county or city jail concerning elections conducted in such 16 jails to include an explanation of the process the jail used to comply with the 17 provisions of section 2. (NRS 293.269975) 18 Section 3 of this bill requires, with limited exception, a county or city clerk to 19 respond within 2 working days after receiving any request from the Secretary of 20 State for information or data relating to an election. 21 Section 4 of this bill provides that if an active registered voter moves to another 22 county and registers to vote therein, which may include, without limitation, an 23 application to register to vote which is transmitted to a county clerk from an 24 automatic voter registration agency, it shall be deemed that the voter is updating his 25 or her voter registration rather than registering to vote and, with certain exceptions, 26 the voter must not be required to cast a provisional ballot on the basis of such an 27 update. 28 Existing law sets forth certain procedures governing the use of provisional 29 ballots by registered voters who update their voter registration information after the 30 close of registration for an election and by electors who register to vote in person or 31 by computer during certain periods of time leading up to and during an election. 32 Specifically, existing law: (1) with certain exceptions, requires an elector who is 33 deemed conditionally registered to vote under such circumstances to cast his or her 34 vote by a provisional ballot; and (2) authorizes a county or city clerk, under certain 35 circumstances, to require a registered voter who updates his or her voter registration 36 to cast a provisional ballot in an election. (NRS 293.5772-293.5887) Sections 5, 23, 37 26, 32 and 38-47 of this bill rename ballots cast under such circumstances to be 38 “conditional ballots.” 39 Existing law requires certain petitions to be submitted to a county clerk for 40 verification of the signatures on the petition and sets forth certain deadlines for such 41 submission. (NRS 293.128, 293.172, 293.200, 295.056, 298.109, 306.035, 306.110) 42 Section 65 of this bill prohibits petitions for referendum and certain initiatives from 43 being submitted to a county clerk earlier than the 13th day following the primary or 44 general election, as appropriate. (NRS 295.056) Existing law requires, after the 45 submission of certain petitions containing signatures which are required to be 46 verified, the county clerk to determine the number of signatures affixed to the 47 documents and forward that information to the Secretary of State. (NRS 293.1276) 48 Section 6 of this bill increases the time provided to a county clerk to make such a 49 determination: (1) for a petition to place the name of a candidate for partisan office 50 of a minor political party or an independent candidate for partisan office on the 51 ballot, from 2 working days to 7 working days; and (2) for any other petition which 52 is required to be submitted for such purposes, from 4 working days to 9 working 53 days. 54 – 3 – - *AB534* If the Secretary of State finds that the total number of signatures submitted to 55 all the county clerks is 100 percent or more of the number of registered voters 56 needed to declare the petition sufficient, existing law requires: (1) the Secretary of 57 State to immediately notify the county clerks; and (2) each of the county clerks, 58 after the receipt of such notification, to determine the number of registered voters 59 who have signed the document. (NRS 293.1277) Section 7 of this bill increases the 60 time provided to a county clerk to make such a determination: (1) for a petition to 61 recall a public officer who holds a statewide office, from 20 working days to 25 62 working days; (2) for a petition to place the name of a candidate for partisan office 63 of a minor political party or an independent candidate for partisan office on the 64 ballot, from 3 working days to 8 working days; and (3) for any other petition which 65 is required to be submitted for such purposes, from 9 working days to 14 working 66 days. Sections 8 and 11 of this bill require a petition to place the name of a 67 candidate for partisan office of a minor political party or an independent candidate 68 for partisan office on the ballot be submitted to the county clerk for verification not 69 later than 25 working days, rather than 10 working days, before the last day to file 70 the petition. 71 Existing law provides that the period for filing a declaration of candidacy: (1) 72 for judicial candidates begins on the first Monday in January of the year in which 73 the election is to be held and ends the second Friday after the first Monday in 74 January; and (2) for all nonjudicial candidates begins on the first Monday in March 75 of the year in which the election is to be held and ends the second Friday after the 76 first Monday in March. (NRS 293.177, 293C.145, 293C.175) Sections 9-11, 58 77 and 59 of this bill instead provide that the period for filing a declaration of 78 candidacy for both judicial and nonjudicial candidates begins on the first Monday 79 in February of the year in which the election is to be held and ends not later than 5 80 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday in February. Section 9 similarly 81 revises the dates by which a minor political party is required by existing law to file 82 a list of its candidates for partisan office. (NRS 293.1725) Section 11 further 83 provides that a petition of candidacy for an independent candidate for partisan 84 office must not be filed earlier than the first Monday in February rather than the 85 first Monday in March. 86 Existing law requires a county clerk to publish certain information concerning 87 elections in a newspaper of general circulation. (NRS 293.203, 293.253, 293.3073, 88 293.3576, 293.391, 293.464, 298.670) Sections 12, 25, 27, 28, 31 and 68 of this 89 bill instead require the county clerk to publish such notices in such a manner as the 90 county clerk deems proper, which may include, without limitation, publication in a 91 newspaper of general circulation, on the Internet website of the county clerk or on 92 the social media account of the county clerk. 93 Under existing law, the Secretary of State is required to cause to be published 94 in a newspaper of general circulation, on three separate occasions, in each county of 95 the State, together with any explanatory matter to be placed on the ballot, the entire 96 text of a proposed amendment to the Nevada Constitution which is proposed by an 97 initiative petition. (Nev. Art. 19, § 2; NRS 293.253) Section 17 of this bill 98 authorizes a county clerk to also publish such materials in any other manner as the 99 county clerk deems proper which may include, without limitation, publication on 100 the Internet website of the county clerk or on the social media account of the county 101 clerk. 102 Existing law requires the Secretary of State to adopt regulations, not 103 inconsistent with the election laws of this State, for the conduct of primary, 104 presidential preference primary, general, special and district elections in all cities 105 and counties. (NRS 293.247) Section 14 of this bill authorizes the Secretary of 106 State to adopt regulations which provide standards for certain reports which are 107 required to be filed by a county or city clerk. 108 – 4 – - *AB534* Section 16 of this bill authorizes the Secretary of State to require any deputy or 109 employee of the Office of the Secretary of State whose duties relate to elections to 110 attend the training course provided by the Secretary of State concerning elections 111 procedures. (NRS 293.2504) 112 Existing law authorizes a mail ballot central counting board to begin counting 113 the received mail ballots 15 days before the day of the election and requires the 114 board to complete the count of all mail ballots on or before the seventh day 115 following the election. (NRS 293.269931, 293C.26331) Sections 20 and 61 of this 116 bill: (1) require, instead of authorize, the mail ballot central counting board to begin 117 counting the received mail ballots 15 days before the day of the election; and (2) 118 require the mail central counting board to process each mail ballot on the day that 119 the mail ballot is received. Section 19 of this bill requires the Secretary of State, 120 rather than a county clerk, to establish procedures for the processing and counting 121 of mail ballots. (NRS 293.269925) 122 Existing law requires a county clerk to: (1) prepare and distribute to certain 123 persons in the county a mail ballot for every election; and (2) allow a voter to elect 124 not to receive such a mail ballot by submitting a written notice to the county clerk 125 which must be received by the county clerk not later than 60 days before the day of 126 the election. (NRS 293.269911) Section 18 of this bill authorizes a voter who elects 127 not to receive a mail ballot to later elect to receive a mail ballot for the election if 128 he or she, not later than 14 days before the election, submits to the county clerk a 129 written notice in the form prescribed by the county clerk. 130 Existing law authorizes an elector to vote in the county or city in which the 131 elector is eligible to vote by submitting an application to register to vote by 132 computer using the system established by the Secretary of State before the elector 133 appears at a polling place to vote in person. Existing law further requires an elector 134 who submits an application to register to vote in such a manner less than 14 days 135 before the election to vote in person. (NRS 293.5837, 293.671) Section 41 of this 136 bill instead requires an elector who submits such an application less than 18 days 137 before the election to vote in person. Section 18 requires a county clerk to prepare 138 and distribute a mail ballot to each person who registers to vote or updates his or 139 her voter registration information not later than 18 days, rather than 14 days, before 140 the election. (NRS 293.269911) 141 Existing law requires a county clerk, if the county clerk uses an electronic 142 roster, to complete a test of the electronic roster not earlier than 2 weeks before and 143 not later than 5 p.m. on the day before the first day of the period for early voting by 144 personal appearance to ensure its functionality. (NRS 293.275) Section 22 of this 145 bill prohibits such a test from being completed earlier than 6 weeks, instead of 2 146 weeks, before the first day of the period for early voting by personal appearance. 147 Section 55 of this bill similarly revises the time period provided in existing law for 148 a county or city clerk to perform certain tests on a mechanical recording device 149 which directly records votes electronically and any automatic tabulating equipment 150 and programs. (NRS 293B.150) 151 Sections 24 and 33 of this bill define the term “personal knowledge” for 152 purposes of certain provisions of existing law which authorize certain persons to 153 challenge the right of a person to vote and provide that the term does not include 154 knowledge obtained from a third party. (NRS 293.303, 293.535) 155 Existing law requires each county clerk to conduct a risk-limiting audit of the 156 results of an election. (NRS 293.394) Section 29 of this bill renames such audits to 157 “election accuracy audits.” Existing law provides that certain materials used in the 158 completion of logic and accuracy tests must be sealed and deposited in the vaults of 159 the county clerk. (NRS 293B.170) Section 56 of this bill provides that such 160 materials are subject to inspection for the purposes of an election accuracy audit. 161 Section 30 of this bill provides that the term “canvass” as used in certain 162 provisions relating to recounts demanded by a candidate defeated at an election 163 – 5 – - *AB534* includes, in any general election, the canvass by the Supreme Court of the returns 164 for a candidate for United States Senator or Representative in Congress. 165 (NRS 293.403) 166 Existing law requires a county clerk to cancel the preregistration or registration 167 of a person under certain circumstances and authorizes or requires the reregistration 168 of certain electors whose registration is cancelled. (NRS 293.540, 293.543) Section 169 34 of this bill requires a county clerk to cancel the preregistration or registration of 170 a person if the county clerk receives, from a person who is within the second degree 171 of consanguinity of the person, a sworn affidavit which indicates the death of the 172 person. Section 35 of this bill requires, if the registration or preregistration of an 173 elector is cancelled under such circumstances and the county clerk later determines 174 that the registration or preregistration should not have been cancelled, the county 175 clerk to reregister or repreregister the elector. 176 Existing law provides that the last day for a person to register to vote for certain 177 elections that are held on the same day as a primary election, presidential 178 preference primary election or general election is, if the person is registering by 179 appearing in person at the office of the county clerk or certain county facilities, the 180 fourth Tuesday preceding the primary election, presidential preference primary 181 election or general election. (NRS 293.560) Section 36 of this bill instead provides 182 that the last day to register to vote in such a manner is the day before the first day of 183 the period for early voting by personal appearance. Section 62 of this bill similarly 184 revises such deadlines for registration for a primary city, general city, recall and 185 special city election if there is a period for early voting for the primary or general 186 city election. Section 37 of this bill requires, if an application to register to vote is 187 received not later than 5 days after the appropriate deadline, a county clerk to 188 accept the application if it is obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles and 189 is completed by, depending on if there is a period for early voting by personal 190 appearance, the day before the first day of the period for early voting by personal 191 appearance or the last day to register to vote by mail. (NRS 293.5727) 192 Existing law further provides that if a recall or special election is not held on 193 the same day as certain elections, the last day to register to vote for the recall or 194 special election by any method of registration is the third Saturday preceding the 195 recall or special election. (NRS 293.560) Section 36 instead provides that the last 196 day to register to vote for such a recall or special election: (1) by mail is the second 197 Tuesday preceding the recall or special election; (2) by appearing in person at the 198 office of the county clerk or certain county facilities is, depending on if there is a 199 period for early voting for the recall or special election, either the day before the 200 first day of the period for early voting by personal appearance or the third Saturday 201 preceding the recall or special election; and (3) by computer using the system 202 established on the Internet website of the Office of the Secretary of State is the day 203 of the recall or special election. Section 62 similarly revises deadlines for such 204 registration for such recall and special city elections. 205 Sections 48 and 49 of this bill exempt a person who is conducting an exit poll 206 from certain provisions of law which prohibit a person from: (1) with certain 207 exceptions, remaining inside or outside of any polling place so as to interfere with 208 the conduct of an election; and (2) in certain locations, soliciting a vote or speaking 209 to a voter on the subject of marking the voter’s ballots. (NRS 293.730, 293.740) 210 Section 50 of this bill provides that the termination of a contract by certain 211 local governing bodies for the lease or use of a mechanical voting system or 212 mechanical recording device which is currently used in any election of this State is 213 provisional unless such an entity: (1) submits to the Secretary of State a plan to 214 transition to a new mechanical voting system or mechanical recording device which 215 is approved by the Secretary of State; and (2) signs a contract for the purchase, 216 lease or use of the new mechanical voting system or mechanical recording device. 217 – 6 – - *AB534* Existing law authorizes mechanical voting systems to be used to cast, register, 218 record and count ballots or votes at all statewide, county, city and district elections 219 of any kind held in this State. (NRS 293B.050) Section 51 of this bill instead 220 provides that ballots or votes: (1) may be cast, registered and recorded using a 221 mechanical voting system; and (2) must be counted using a mechanical voting 222 system. Sections 13, 52-54, 57, 63, 64, 66 and 69-80 of this bill make conforming 223 changes to require the use of a mechanical voting system for counting votes and 224 clarify that the use of a mechanical voting system for casting ballots is authorized 225 but not required. 226 Section 67 of this bill authorizes the Secretary of State, with the approval of the 227 Legislative Commission, to adjust the date of the presidential primary election 228 which is set forth in existing law as the first Tuesday in February of each 229 presidential election year. (NRS 298.650) 230 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 293 of NRS is hereby amended by adding 1 thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2, 3 and 4 of this act. 2 Sec. 2. 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the 3 Secretary of State shall allow during the period of early voting and 4 on election day: 5 (a) An elector who is detained in a county or city jail to use the 6 system of approved electronic transmission established pursuant to 7 NRS 293D.200 to register to vote in every election where the 8 system of approved electronic transmission is available to a 9 covered voter to register to vote. The deadline for such an elector 10 to use the system of approved electronic transmission to register to 11 vote is the same as the deadline set forth in NRS 293D.230 for a 12 covered voter to register to vote. 13 (b) A registered voter who is in the custody of a county or city 14 jail to use the system of approved electronic transmission 15 established pursuant to NRS 293D.200 to apply for and cast a 16 ballot in every election where the system of approved electronic 17 transmission is available to a covered voter to request and cast a 18 military-overseas ballot. The deadlines for such a registered voter 19 to use the system of approved electronic transmission to request 20 and cast a ballot are the same as the deadlines set forth in NRS 21 293D.310 and 293D.400 for a covered voter to request and cast a 22 military-overseas ballot. 23 2. Upon receipt of an application and ballot cast by a person 24 pursuant to subsection 1 using the system of approved electronic 25 transmission established pursuant to NRS 293D.200, the local 26 elections official shall affix, mark or otherwise acknowledge 27 receipt of the application and ballot by means of a time stamp on 28 the application. 29 – 7 – - *AB534* 3. The Secretary of State shall ensure that an elector or a 1 registered voter may provide his or her digital signature or 2 electronic signature on any document or other material that is 3 necessary for the elector or registered voter to register to vote, 4 apply for a ballot or cast a ballot, as applicable. 5 4. The Secretary of State shall prescribe the form and content 6 of a declaration for use by an elector or a registered voter to swear 7 or affirm specific representations pertaining to identity, eligibility 8 to vote, status as such an elector or registered voter and timely and 9 proper completion of a ballot. 10 5. The Secretary of State shall prescribe the duties of the 11 county and city clerks upon receipt of a ballot sent by a registered 12 voter using the system of approved electronic transmission 13 pursuant to this section, including, without limitation, the 14 procedures to be used in accepting, handling and counting the 15 ballot. 16 6. The Secretary of State shall make available to an elector or 17 registered voter who is detained in a county or city jail instructions 18 on using the system of approved electronic transmission to register 19 to vote and apply for and cast a ballot. 20 7. A county or city jail shall not prohibit, restrict or monitor 21 the use of the system of approved electronic transmission 22 established pursuant to NRS 293D.200 by any person who is 23 detained in the jail. 24 8. The provisions of this section do not require a county or 25 city jail to allow a person detained in the jail to use the system of 26 approved electronic transmission established pursuant to NRS 27 293D.200 unless the jail has the technology that is necessary for a 28 person to use the system of approved electronic transmission. A 29 county or city jail that has the technology necessary for a person 30 to use the system of approved electronic transmission shall not 31 prohibit, restrict or monitor the use of the system of approved 32 electronic transmission by a person detained in the jail. 33 9. The Secretary of State shall adopt any regulation necessary 34 to carry out the provisions of this section. 35 10. As used in this section: 36 (a) “Covered voter” has the meaning ascribed to it in 37 NRS 293D.030. 38 (b) “Digital signature” has the meaning ascribed to it in 39 NRS 720.060. 40 (c) “Electronic signature” has the meaning ascribed to it in 41 NRS 719.100. 42 (d) “Military-overseas ballot” has the meaning ascribed to it in 43 NRS 293D.050. 44 – 8 – - *AB534* Sec. 3. Except as otherwise provided in this title, if the 1 Secretary of State requests any information or data relating to an 2 election from a county clerk or city clerk, the county or city clerk 3 shall, not later than 2 business days after receiving the request, 4 respond to the Secretary of State with the information or data or 5 provide a written explanation that the clerk will not be able to 6 provide the information or data within 2 business days or does not 7 have the information or data. 8 Sec. 4. If an active registered voter moves to another county 9 and registers to vote therein, which may include, without 10 limitation, an application to register to vote which is transmitted to 11 a county clerk from an automatic voter registration agency: 12 1. It shall be deemed that the voter is updating his or her 13 voter registration rather than registering to vote; and 14 2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 293.5832, the voter 15 must not be required to, on the basis of the update to his or her 16 address, cast a provisional ballot pursuant to NRS 293.3078 to 17 293.3086, inclusive, or a conditional ballot pursuant to NRS 18 293.5772 to 293.5887, inclusive. 19 Sec. 5. NRS 293.093 is hereby amended to read as follows: 20 293.093 “Regular votes” means the votes cast by registered 21 voters, except votes cast by: 22 1. A mail ballot; 23 2. A provisional ballot pursuant to NRS 293.3078 to 293.3086, 24 inclusive; or 25 3. A [provisional] conditional ballot pursuant to NRS 26 293.5772 to 293.5887, inclusive. 27 Sec. 6. NRS 293.1276 is hereby amended to read as follows: 28 293.1276 1. Within [4] 9 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays 29 and holidays, after the submission of a petition containing signatures 30 which are required to be verified pursuant to NRS 293.128, 295.056, 31 298.109, 306.035 or 306.110, and within [2] 7 days, excluding 32 Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after the submission of a petition 33 containing signatures which are required to be verified pursuant to 34 NRS 293.172 or 293.200, the county clerk shall determine the total 35 number of signatures affixed to the documents and, in the case of a 36 petition for initiative or referendum proposing a constitutional 37 amendment or statewide measure, shall tally the number of 38 signatures for each petition district contained fully or partially 39 within the county and forward that information to the Secretary of 40 State. 41 2. If the Secretary of State finds that the total number of 42 signatures filed with all the county clerks is less than 100 percent of 43 the required number of registered voters, the Secretary of State shall 44 so notify the person who submitted the petition and the county 45 – 9 – - *AB534* clerks and no further action may be taken in regard to the petition. If 1 the petition is a petition to recall a county, district or municipal 2 officer, the Secretary of State shall also notify the officer with 3 whom the petition is to be filed. 4 3. After the petition is submitted to the county clerk, it must 5 not be handled by any other person except by an employee of the 6 county clerk’s office until it is filed with the Secretary of State. 7 4. The Secretary of State may adopt regulations establishing 8 procedures to carry out the provisions of this section. 9 Sec. 7. NRS 293.1277 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10 293.1277 1. If the Secretary of State finds that the total 11 number of signatures submitted to all the county clerks is 100 12 percent or more of the number of registered voters needed to declare 13 the petition sufficient, the Secretary of State shall immediately so 14 notify the county clerks. After the notification, each of the county 15 clerks shall determine the number of registered voters who have 16 signed the documents submitted in the county clerk’s county and, in 17 the case of a petition for initiative or referendum proposing a 18 constitutional amendment or statewide measure, shall tally the 19 number of signatures for each petition district contained or fully 20 contained within the county clerk’s county. This determination must 21 be completed within [9] 14 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and 22 holidays, after the notification pursuant to this subsection regarding 23 a petition containing signatures which are required to be verified 24 pursuant to NRS 293.128, 295.056, 298.109 or 306.110, within [20] 25 25 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after the 26 notification pursuant to this subsection regarding a petition 27 containing signatures which are required to be verified pursuant to 28 NRS 306.035, and within [3] 8 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays 29 and holidays, after the notification pursuant to this subsection 30 regarding a petition containing signatures which are required to be 31 verified pursuant to NRS 293.172 or 293.200. For the purpose of 32 verification pursuant to this section, the county clerk shall not 33 include in his or her tally of total signatures any signature included 34 in the incorrect petition district. 35 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 3 and 4, if more 36 than 500 names have been signed on the documents submitted to a 37 county clerk, the county clerk shall examine the signatures by 38 sampling them at random for verification. The random sample of 39 signatures to be verified must be drawn in such a manner that every 40 signature which has been submitted to the county clerk is given an 41 equal opportunity to be included in the sample. The sample must 42 include an examination of: 43 (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), at least 500 44 or 5 percent of the signatures, whichever is greater. 45 – 10 – - *AB534* (b) If the petition is for the recall of a public officer who holds a 1 statewide office, at least 25 percent of the signatures. 2 If documents were submitted to the county clerk for more than 3 one petition district wholly contained within that county, a separate 4 random sample must be performed for each petition district. 5 3. If a petition district comprises more than one county and the 6 petition is for an initiative or referendum proposing a constitutional 7 amendment or a statewide measure, and if more than 500 names 8 have been signed on the documents submitted for that petition 9 district, the appropriate county clerks shall examine the signatures 10 by sampling them at random for verification. The random sample of 11 signatures to be verified must be drawn in such a manner that every 12 signature which has been submitted to the county clerks within the 13 petition district is given an equal opportunity to be included in the 14 sample. The sample must include an examination of at least 500 or 5 15 percent of the signatures presented in the petition district, whichever 16 is greater. The Secretary of State shall determine the number of 17 signatures that must be verified by each county clerk within the 18 petition district. 19 4. If a petition is for the recall of a public officer who does not 20 hold a statewide office, each county clerk: 21 (a) Shall not examine the signatures by sampling them at 22 random for verification; 23 (b) Shall examine for verification every signature on the 24 documents submitted to the county clerk; and 25 (c) When determining the total number of valid signatures on 26 the documents, shall remove each name of a registered voter who 27 submitted a request to have his or her name removed from the 28 petition pursuant to NRS 306.015. 29 5. In determining from the records of registration the number 30 of registered voters who signed the documents, the county clerk may 31 use the signatures contained in the file of applications to register to 32 vote. If the county clerk uses that file, the county clerk shall ensure 33 that every application in the file is examined, including any 34 application in his or her possession which may not yet be entered 35 into the county clerk’s records. Except as otherwise provided in 36 subsection 6, the county clerk shall rely only on the appearance of 37 the signature and the address and date included with each signature 38 in making his or her determination. 39 6. If: 40 (a) A person registers to vote using the system established by 41 the Secretary of State pursuant to NRS 293.671; 42 (b) A person registers to vote pursuant to NRS 293D.230 and 43 signs his or her application to register to vote using a digital 44 signature or an electronic signature; or 45 – 11 – - *AB534* (c) A person is registered to vote by an automatic voter 1 registration agency, 2 the county clerk may rely on such other indicia as prescribed by 3 the Secretary of State in making his or her determination. 4 7. The county clerk shall allow 2 business days for a person 5 to cure any defect in a signature on the petition. 6 8. In the case of a petition for initiative or referendum 7 proposing a constitutional amendment or statewide measure, when 8 the county clerk is determining the number of registered voters who 9 signed the documents from each petition district contained fully or 10 partially within the county clerk’s county, he or she must use the 11 statewide voter registration list available pursuant to NRS 293.675. 12 [8.] 9. Except as otherwise provided in subsection [10,] 11, 13 upon completing the examination, the county clerk shall 14 immediately attach to the documents a certificate properly dated, 15 showing the result of the examination, including the tally of 16 signatures by petition district, if required, and transmit the 17 documents with the certificate to the Secretary of State. In the case 18 of a petition for initiative or referendum proposing a constitutional 19 amendment or statewide measure, if a petition district comprises 20 more than one county, the appropriate county clerks shall comply 21 with the regulations adopted by the Secretary of State pursuant to 22 this section to complete the certificate. A copy of this certificate 23 must be filed in the clerk’s office. When the county clerk transmits 24 the certificate to the Secretary of State, the county clerk shall notify 25 the Secretary of State of the number of requests to remove a name 26 received by the county clerk pursuant to NRS 295.055 or pursuant 27 to NRS 306.015 for a petition to recall a public officer who holds a 28 statewide office, if applicable. 29 [9.] 10. A person who submits a petition to the county clerk 30 which is required to be verified pursuant to NRS 293.128, 293.172, 31 293.200, 295.056, 298.109, 306.035 or 306.110 must be allowed to 32 witness the verification of the signatures. A public officer who is the 33 subject of a recall petition must also be allowed to witness the 34 verification of the signatures on the petition. 35 [10.] 11. For any petition containing signatures which are 36 required to be verified pursuant to the provisions of NRS 293.200, 37 306.035 or 306.110 for any county, district or municipal office 38 within one county, the county clerk shall not transmit to the 39 Secretary of State the documents containing the signatures of the 40 registered voters. 41 [11.] 12. The Secretary of State shall by regulation establish 42 further procedures for carrying out the provisions of this section. 43 – 12 – - *AB534* Sec. 8. NRS 293.172 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 293.172 1. A petition filed pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 2 293.1715 may consist of more than one document. Each document 3 of the petition must: 4 (a) Bear the name of the minor political party and, if applicable, 5 the candidate and office to which the candidate is to be nominated. 6 (b) Include the affidavit of the person who circulated the 7 document verifying that the signers are registered voters in this State 8 according to his or her best information and belief and that the 9 signatures are genuine and were signed in his or her presence. 10 (c) Bear the name of a county and be submitted to the county 11 clerk of that county for verification in the manner prescribed in NRS 12 293.1276 to 293.1279, inclusive, not later than [10] 25 working days 13 before the last day to file the petition. A challenge to the form of a 14 document must be made in a district court in the county that is 15 named on the document. 16 (d) Be signed only by registered voters of the county that is 17 named on the document. 18 2. If the office to which the candidate is to be nominated is a 19 county office, only the registered voters of that county may sign the 20 petition. If the office to which the candidate is to be nominated is a 21 district office, only the registered voters of that district may sign the 22 petition. 23 3. Each person who signs a petition shall also provide the 24 address of the place where he or she resides, the date that he or she 25 signs and the name of the county in which he or she is registered to 26 vote. 27 4. The county clerk shall not disqualify the signature of a voter 28 who failed to provide all the information required by subsection 3 if 29 the voter is registered in the county named on the document. 30 Sec. 9. NRS 293.1725 is hereby amended to read as follows: 31 293.1725 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, a 32 minor political party that wishes to place its candidates for partisan 33 office on the ballot for a general election and: 34 (a) Is entitled to do so pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of 35 subsection 2 of NRS 293.1715; or 36 (b) Files or will file a petition pursuant to paragraph (c) of 37 subsection 2 of NRS 293.1715, 38 must file with the Secretary of State a list of its candidates for 39 partisan office not earlier than the first Monday in [March] 40 February preceding the election and not later than 5 p.m. on the 41 second Friday after the first Monday in [March.] February. The list 42 must be signed by the person so authorized in the certificate of 43 existence of the minor political party before a notary public or other 44 person authorized to take acknowledgments. The list may be 45 – 13 – - *AB534* amended not later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first 1 Monday in [March.] February. 2 2. The Secretary of State shall immediately forward a certified 3 copy of the list of candidates for partisan office of each minor 4 political party to the filing officer with whom each candidate must 5 file his or her declaration of candidacy. 6 3. Each candidate on the list must file his or her declaration of 7 candidacy with the appropriate filing officer and pay the filing fee 8 required by NRS 293.193 not earlier than the date on which the list 9 of candidates for partisan office of the minor political party is filed 10 with the Secretary of State and not later than 5 p.m. on the second 11 Friday after the first Monday in [March.] February. 12 4. A minor political party that wishes to place candidates for 13 the offices of President and Vice President of the United States on 14 the ballot and has qualified to place the names of its candidates for 15 partisan office on the ballot for the general election pursuant to 16 subsection 2 of NRS 293.1715 must file with the Secretary of State 17 a certificate of nomination for these offices not later than the last 18 Tuesday in August. 19 Sec. 10. NRS 293.177 is hereby amended to read as follows: 20 293.177 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 293.165 21 and 293.166, a name may not be printed on a ballot to be used at a 22 primary election unless the person named has filed a declaration of 23 candidacy with the appropriate filing officer and paid the filing fee 24 required by NRS 293.193 not earlier than [: 25 (a) For a candidate for judicial office, the first Monday in 26 January of the year in which the election is to be held and not later 27 than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday in January; 28 and 29 (b) For all other candidates,] the first Monday in [March] 30 February of the year in which the election is to be held and not later 31 than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday in [March.] 32 February. 33 2. A declaration of candidacy required to be filed pursuant to 34 this chapter must be in substantially the following form: 35 (a) For partisan office: 36 37 DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY OF ........ FOR THE 38 OFFICE OF ................ 39 40 State of Nevada 41 42 County of ................ 43 – 14 – - *AB534* For the purpose of having my name placed on the official 1 ballot as a candidate for the ................ Party nomination for 2 the office of ........., I, the undersigned ........, do swear or 3 affirm under penalty of perjury that I actually, as opposed to 4 constructively, reside at .........., in the City or Town of ......., 5 County of .........., State of Nevada; that my actual, as opposed 6 to constructive, residence in the State, district, county, 7 township, city or other area prescribed by law to which the 8 office pertains began on a date at least 30 days immediately 9 preceding the date of the close of filing of declarations of 10 candidacy for this office; that my telephone number is 11 ............, and the address at which I receive mail, if different 12 than my residence, is .........; that I am registered as a member 13 of the ................ Party; that I am a qualified elector pursuant 14 to Section 1 of Article 2 of the Constitution of the State of 15 Nevada; that if I have ever been convicted of treason or a 16 felony, my civil rights have been restored; that I have not, in 17 violation of the provisions of NRS 293.176, changed the 18 designation of my political party or political party affiliation 19 on an official application to register to vote in any state since 20 December 31 before the closing filing date for this election; 21 that I generally believe in and intend to support the concepts 22 found in the principles and policies of that political party in 23 the coming election; that if nominated as a candidate of the 24 ................ Party at the ensuing election, I will accept that 25 nomination and not withdraw; that I will not knowingly 26 violate any election law or any law defining and prohibiting 27 corrupt and fraudulent practices in campaigns and elections in 28 this State; that I will qualify for the office if elected thereto, 29 including, but not limited to, complying with any limitation 30 prescribed by the Constitution and laws of this State 31 concerning the number of years or terms for which a person 32 may hold the office; that I understand that knowingly and 33 willfully filing a declaration of candidacy which contains a 34 false statement is a crime punishable as a gross misdemeanor 35 and also subjects me to a civil action disqualifying me from 36 entering upon the duties of the office; and that I understand 37 that my name will appear on all ballots as designated in this 38 declaration. 39 40 ............................................................. 41 (Designation of name) 42 43 ............................................................. 44 (Signature of candidate for office) 45 – 15 – - *AB534* Subscribed and sworn to before me 1 this ...... day of the month of ...... of the year ...... 2 3 ......................................................... 4 Notary Public or other person 5 authorized to administer an oath 6 7 (b) For nonpartisan office: 8 9 DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY OF ........ FOR THE 10 OFFICE OF ................ 11 12 State of Nevada 13 14 County of ................ 15 16 For the purpose of having my name placed on the official 17 ballot as a candidate for the office of ................, I, the 18 undersigned ................, do swear or affirm under penalty of 19 perjury that I actually, as opposed to constructively, reside at 20 ........., in the City or Town of ......., County of ........., State of 21 Nevada; that my actual, as opposed to constructive, residence 22 in the State, district, county, township, city or other area 23 prescribed by law to which the office pertains began on a date 24 at least 30 days immediately preceding the date of the close 25 of filing of declarations of candidacy for this office; that my 26 telephone number is ..........., and the address at which I 27 receive mail, if different than my residence, is ..........; that I 28 am a qualified elector pursuant to Section 1 of Article 2 of the 29 Constitution of the State of Nevada; that if I have ever been 30 convicted of treason or a felony, my civil rights have been 31 restored; that if nominated as a nonpartisan candidate at the 32 ensuing election, I will accept the nomination and not 33 withdraw; that I will not knowingly violate any election law 34 or any law defining and prohibiting corrupt and fraudulent 35 practices in campaigns and elections in this State; that I will 36 qualify for the office if elected thereto, including, but not 37 limited to, complying with any limitation prescribed by the 38 Constitution and laws of this State concerning the number of 39 years or terms for which a person may hold the office; that I 40 understand that knowingly and willfully filing a declaration 41 of candidacy which contains a false statement is a crime 42 punishable as a gross misdemeanor and also subjects me to a 43 civil action disqualifying me from entering upon the duties of 44 – 16 – - *AB534* the office; and that I understand that my name will appear on 1 all ballots as designated in this declaration. 2 3 ............................................................. 4 (Designation of name) 5 6 ............................................................. 7 (Signature of candidate for office) 8 9 Subscribed and sworn to before me 10 this ...... day of the month of ...... of the year ...... 11 12 ......................................................... 13 Notary Public or other person 14 authorized to administer an oath 15 16 3. The address of a candidate which must be included in the 17 declaration of candidacy pursuant to subsection 2 must be the street 18 address of the residence where the candidate actually, as opposed to 19 constructively, resides in accordance with NRS 281.050, if one has 20 been assigned. The declaration of candidacy must not be accepted 21 for filing if the candidate fails to comply with the following 22 provisions of this subsection or, if applicable, the provisions of 23 subsection 4: 24 (a) The candidate shall not list the candidate’s address as a post 25 office box unless a street address has not been assigned to his or her 26 residence; and 27 (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, the candidate 28 shall present to the filing officer: 29 (1) A valid driver’s license or identification card issued by a 30 governmental agency that contains a photograph of the candidate 31 and the candidate’s residential address; or 32 (2) A current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or 33 document issued by a governmental entity, including a check which 34 indicates the candidate’s name and residential address, but not 35 including a voter registration card. 36 4. If the candidate executes an oath or affirmation under 37 penalty of perjury stating that the candidate is unable to present to 38 the filing officer the proof of residency required by subsection 3 39 because a street address has not been assigned to the candidate’s 40 residence or because the rural or remote location of the candidate’s 41 residence makes it impracticable to present the proof of residency 42 required by subsection 3, the candidate shall present to the filing 43 officer: 44 – 17 – - *AB534* (a) A valid driver’s license or identification card issued by a 1 governmental agency that contains a photograph of the candidate; 2 and 3 (b) Alternative proof of the candidate’s residential address that 4 the filing officer determines is sufficient to verify where the 5 candidate actually, as opposed to constructively, resides in 6 accordance with NRS 281.050. The Secretary of State may adopt 7 regulations establishing the forms of alternative proof of the 8 candidate’s residential address that the filing officer may accept to 9 verify where the candidate actually, as opposed to constructively, 10 resides in accordance with NRS 281.050. 11 5. The filing officer shall retain a copy of the proof of identity 12 and residency provided by the candidate pursuant to subsection 3 or 13 4. Such a copy: 14 (a) May not be withheld from the public; and 15 (b) Must not contain the social security number, driver’s license 16 or identification card number or account number of the candidate. 17 6. By filing the declaration of candidacy, the candidate shall be 18 deemed to have appointed the filing officer for the office as his or 19 her agent for service of process for the purposes of a proceeding 20 pursuant to NRS 293.182. Service of such process must first be 21 attempted at the appropriate address as specified by the candidate in 22 the declaration of candidacy. If the candidate cannot be served at 23 that address, service must be made by personally delivering to and 24 leaving with the filing officer duplicate copies of the process. The 25 filing officer shall immediately send, by registered or certified mail, 26 one of the copies to the candidate at the specified address, unless the 27 candidate has designated in writing to the filing officer a different 28 address for that purpose, in which case the filing officer shall mail 29 the copy to the last address so designated. 30 7. If the filing officer receives credible evidence indicating that 31 a candidate has been convicted of a felony and has not had his or her 32 civil rights restored, the filing officer: 33 (a) May conduct an investigation to determine whether the 34 candidate has been convicted of a felony and, if so, whether the 35 candidate has had his or her civil rights restored; and 36 (b) Shall transmit the credible evidence and the findings from 37 such investigation to the Attorney General, if the filing officer is the 38 Secretary of State, or to the district attorney, if the filing officer is a 39 person other than the Secretary of State. 40 8. The receipt of information by the Attorney General or 41 district attorney pursuant to subsection 7 must be treated as a 42 challenge of a candidate pursuant to subsections 4 and 5 of NRS 43 293.182 to which the provisions of NRS 293.2045 apply. 44 – 18 – - *AB534* 9. Any person who knowingly and willfully files a declaration 1 of candidacy which contains a false statement in violation of this 2 section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. 3 Sec. 11. NRS 293.200 is hereby amended to read as follows: 4 293.200 1. An independent candidate for partisan office must 5 file with the appropriate filing officer as set forth in NRS 293.185: 6 (a) A copy of the petition of candidacy that he or she intends to 7 subsequently circulate for signatures. The copy must be filed not 8 earlier than the January 2 preceding the date of the election and not 9 later than [10] 25 working days before the last day to file the 10 petition pursuant to subsection 4. The copy of the petition must be 11 filed with the appropriate filing officer before the petition may be 12 circulated for signatures. 13 (b) Either of the following: 14 (1) A petition of candidacy signed by a number of registered 15 voters equal to at least 1 percent of the total number of ballots cast 16 in: 17 (I) This State for that office at the last preceding general 18 election in which a person was elected to that office, if the office is a 19 statewide office; 20 (II) The county for that office at the last preceding general 21 election in which a person was elected to that office, if the office is a 22 county office; or 23 (III) The district for that office at the last preceding 24 general election in which a person was elected to that office, if the 25 office is a district office. 26 (2) A petition of candidacy signed by 250 registered voters if 27 the candidate is a candidate for statewide office, or signed by 100 28 registered voters if the candidate is a candidate for any office other 29 than a statewide office. 30 2. The petition may consist of more than one document. Each 31 document must bear the name of the county in which it was 32 circulated, and only registered voters of that county may sign the 33 document. If the office is not a statewide office, only the registered 34 voters of the county, district or municipality in question may sign 35 the document. The documents that are circulated for signature in a 36 county must be submitted to that county clerk for verification in the 37 manner prescribed in NRS 293.1276 to 293.1279, inclusive, not 38 later than [10] 25 working days before the last day to file the 39 petition pursuant to subsection 4. Each person who signs the petition 40 shall add to his or her signature the address of the place at which the 41 person actually resides, the date that he or she signs the petition and 42 the name of the county where he or she is registered to vote. The 43 person who circulates each document of the petition shall sign an 44 affidavit attesting that the signatures on the document are genuine to 45 – 19 – - *AB534* the best of his or her knowledge and belief and were signed in his or 1 her presence by persons registered to vote in that county. 2 3. The petition of candidacy may state the principle, if any, 3 which the person qualified represents. 4 4. Petitions of candidacy must be filed not earlier than the first 5 Monday in [March] February preceding the general election and not 6 later than 5 p.m. on the third Friday in June. 7 5. No petition of candidacy may contain the name of more than 8 one candidate for each office to be filled. 9 6. A person may not file as an independent candidate if he or 10 she is proposing to run as the candidate of a political party. 11 7. The names of independent candidates must be placed on the 12 general election ballot and must not appear on the primary election 13 ballot. 14 8. If the sufficiency of the petition of the candidacy of any 15 person seeking to qualify pursuant to this section is challenged, all 16 affidavits and documents in support of the challenge must be filed 17 not later than 5 p.m. on the fourth Friday in June. Any judicial 18 proceeding resulting from the challenge must be set for hearing not 19 more than 5 days after the fourth Friday in June. 20 9. Any challenge pursuant to subsection 8 must be filed with: 21 (a) The First Judicial District Court if the petition of candidacy 22 was filed with the Secretary of State. 23 (b) The district court for the county where the petition of 24 candidacy was filed if the petition was filed with a county clerk. 25 10. The district court in which the challenge is filed shall give 26 priority to such proceedings over all other matters pending with the 27 court, except for criminal proceedings. 28 11. An independent candidate for partisan office must file a 29 declaration of candidacy with the appropriate filing officer and pay 30 the filing fee required by NRS 293.193 not earlier than the first 31 Monday in [March] February of the year in which the election is 32 held and not later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first 33 Monday in [March.] February. 34 Sec. 12. NRS 293.203 is hereby amended to read as follows: 35 293.203 Immediately upon receipt by the county clerk of the 36 certified list of candidates for judicial and nonjudicial office from 37 the Secretary of State pursuant to NRS 293.187, the county clerk 38 shall publish a notice of primary election or general election once a 39 week for 2 successive weeks in such a manner as the county clerk 40 deems proper which may include, without limitation, publication 41 in a newspaper of general circulation in the county [once a week for 42 2 successive weeks. If no such newspaper is published in the county, 43 the publication may be made in a newspaper of general circulation 44 published in] or the nearest Nevada county [.] , on the Internet 45 – 20 – - *AB534* website of the county clerk or on the social media account of the 1 county clerk. The notice must contain: 2 1. The date of the election. 3 2. The location of the polling places. 4 3. The hours during which the polling places will be open for 5 voting. 6 The notice required for a general election pursuant to this section 7 may be published in conjunction with the notice required for a 8 proposed constitution or constitutional amendment pursuant to NRS 9 293.253. If the notices are combined in this manner, they must be 10 published three times in accordance with subsection 3 of 11 NRS 293.253. 12 Sec. 13. NRS 293.207 is hereby amended to read as follows: 13 293.207 1. Election precincts must be established on the 14 basis of the number of registered voters therein, with a maximum of 15 5,000 registered voters who are not designated inactive pursuant to 16 NRS 293.530 per precinct in those precincts in which a mechanical 17 voting system is used [.] for casting ballots. 18 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 3 and 4, the 19 county clerk may consolidate two or more contiguous election 20 precincts into a single voting district to conduct a particular election 21 as public convenience, necessity and economy may require. 22 3. If a county clerk proposes to consolidate two or more 23 contiguous election precincts, in whole or in part, pursuant to 24 subsection 2, the county clerk shall, at least 14 days before 25 consolidating the precincts, cause notice of the proposed 26 consolidation to be: 27 (a) Posted in the manner prescribed for a regular meeting of the 28 board of county commissioners; and 29 (b) Mailed to each Assemblyman, Assemblywoman, State 30 Senator, county commissioner and, if applicable, member of the 31 governing body of a city who represents residents of a precinct 32 affected by the consolidation. 33 4. A person may file a written objection to the proposed 34 consolidation with the county clerk. The county clerk shall consider 35 each written objection filed pursuant to this subsection before 36 consolidating the precincts. 37 Sec. 14. NRS 293.247 is hereby amended to read as follows: 38 293.247 1. The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations, not 39 inconsistent with the election laws of this State, for the conduct of 40 primary, presidential preference primary, general, special and 41 district elections in all cities and counties. Permanent regulations of 42 the Secretary of State that regulate the conduct of a primary, 43 general, special or district election and are effective on or before the 44 last business day of February immediately preceding a primary, 45 – 21 – - *AB534* general, special or district election govern the conduct of that 1 election. Permanent regulations of the Secretary of State that 2 regulate the conduct of a presidential preference primary election 3 and are effective on or before the last business day of September 4 immediately preceding a presidential preference primary election 5 govern the conduct of that election. 6 2. The Secretary of State shall prescribe the forms for a 7 declaration of candidacy and any petition which is filed pursuant to 8 the election laws of this State. 9 3. The regulations must prescribe: 10 (a) The manner of printing ballots and the number of ballots to 11 be distributed to precincts and districts; 12 (b) The form and placement of instructions to voters; 13 (c) The disposition of election returns; 14 (d) The procedures to be used for canvasses, ties, recounts and 15 contests, including, without limitation, the appropriate use of a 16 paper record created when a voter casts a ballot on a mechanical 17 voting system that directly records the votes electronically; 18 (e) The procedures to be used to ensure the security of the 19 ballots from the time they are transferred from the polling place 20 until they are stored pursuant to the provisions of NRS 293.391 or 21 293C.390; 22 (f) The procedures to be used to ensure the security and 23 accuracy of computer programs and tapes used for elections; 24 (g) The procedures to be used for the testing, use and auditing of 25 a mechanical voting system which directly records the votes 26 electronically and which creates a paper record when a voter casts a 27 ballot on the system; 28 (h) The acceptable standards for the sending and receiving of 29 applications, forms and ballots, by approved electronic transmission, 30 by the county clerks and the electors, registered voters or other 31 persons who are authorized to use approved electronic transmission 32 pursuant to the provisions of this title; 33 (i) The forms for applications to preregister and register to vote 34 and any other forms necessary for the administration of this title; 35 and 36 (j) Such other matters as determined necessary by the Secretary 37 of State. 38 4. The Secretary of State may adopt regulations which 39 provide standards for any reports required to be filed by a county 40 or city clerk pursuant to this title. 41 5. The Secretary of State may provide interpretations and take 42 other actions necessary for the effective administration of the 43 statutes and regulations governing the conduct of primary, 44 – 22 – - *AB534* presidential preference primary, general, special and district 1 elections in this State. 2 [5.] 6. The Secretary of State shall prepare and distribute to 3 each county and city clerk copies of: 4 (a) Laws and regulations concerning elections in this State; 5 (b) Interpretations issued by the Secretary of State’s Office; and 6 (c) Any Attorney General’s opinions or any state or federal 7 court decisions which affect state election laws or regulations 8 whenever any of those opinions or decisions become known to the 9 Secretary of State. 10 Sec. 15. NRS 293.250 is hereby amended to read as follows: 11 293.250 1. Except as otherwise provided in chapter 293D of 12 NRS, the Secretary of State shall, in a manner consistent with the 13 election laws of this State, prescribe: 14 (a) The form of all ballots, mail ballots, diagrams, sample 15 ballots, certificates, notices, declarations, applications to preregister 16 and register to vote, lists, applications, registers, rosters, statements 17 and abstracts required by the election laws of this State. 18 (b) The procedures to be followed and the requirements of: 19 (1) The system established by the Secretary of State pursuant 20 to NRS 293.671 for using a computer to register voters. 21 (2) The use of the system of approved electronic 22 transmission established pursuant to NRS 293D.200 by electors and 23 voters with disabilities pursuant to NRS 293.269951. 24 (3) The use of the system of approved electronic 25 transmission established pursuant to NRS 293D.200 by electors 26 and voters who are detained in a county or city jail pursuant to 27 section 2 of this act. 28 2. Except as otherwise provided in chapter 293D of NRS, the 29 Secretary of State shall prescribe with respect to the matter to be 30 printed on every kind of ballot: 31 (a) The placement and listing of all offices, candidates and 32 measures upon which voting is statewide, which must be uniform 33 throughout the State. 34 (b) The listing of all other candidates required to file with the 35 Secretary of State, and the order of listing all offices, candidates and 36 measures upon which voting is not statewide, from which each 37 county or city clerk shall prepare appropriate ballot forms for use in 38 any election in his or her county. 39 3. The Secretary of State shall place the condensation of each 40 proposed constitutional amendment or statewide measure near the 41 spaces or devices for indicating the voter’s choice. 42 4. The fiscal note for, explanation of, arguments for and 43 against, and rebuttals to such arguments of each proposed 44 – 23 – - *AB534* constitutional amendment or statewide measure must be included on 1 all sample ballots. 2 5. The condensations and explanations for constitutional 3 amendments and statewide measures proposed by initiative or 4 referendum must be prepared by the Secretary of State, upon 5 consultation with the Attorney General. The arguments and rebuttals 6 for or against constitutional amendments and statewide measures 7 proposed by initiative or referendum must be prepared in the 8 manner set forth in NRS 293.252. The fiscal notes for constitutional 9 amendments and statewide measures proposed by initiative or 10 referendum must be prepared by the Secretary of State, upon 11 consultation with the Fiscal Analysis Division of the Legislative 12 Counsel Bureau. The condensations, explanations, arguments, 13 rebuttals and fiscal notes must be in easily understood language and 14 of reasonable length, and whenever feasible must be completed by 15 August 1 of the year in which the general election is to be held. The 16 explanations must include a digest. The digest must include a 17 concise and clear summary of any existing laws directly related to 18 the constitutional amendment or statewide measure and a summary 19 of how the constitutional amendment or statewide measure adds to, 20 changes or repeals such existing laws. For a constitutional 21 amendment or statewide measure that creates, generates, increases 22 or decreases any public revenue in any form, the first paragraph of 23 the digest must include a statement that the constitutional 24 amendment or statewide measure creates, generates, increases or 25 decreases, as applicable, public revenue. 26 6. The names of candidates for township and legislative or 27 special district offices must be printed only on the ballots furnished 28 to voters of that township or district. 29 7. A county clerk: 30 (a) May divide paper ballots into two sheets in a manner which 31 provides a clear understanding and grouping of all measures and 32 candidates. 33 (b) Shall prescribe the color or colors of the ballots and voting 34 receipts used in any election which the clerk is required to conduct. 35 Sec. 16. NRS 293.2504 is hereby amended to read as follows: 36 293.2504 1. The Secretary of State shall develop and provide 37 a training course to each county clerk and city clerk related to 38 elections procedures, including, without limitation, the procedures 39 set forth in the elections procedures manual required pursuant to 40 NRS 293.2502. 41 2. Each county clerk and city clerk shall attend the training 42 course provided by the Secretary of State. 43 3. A county clerk or city clerk may require any deputy or 44 employee of the office of the county or city clerk whose duties 45 – 24 – - *AB534* relate to elections to attend a training course provided by the 1 Secretary of State pursuant to this section. 2 4. The Secretary of State may require any deputy or employee 3 of the Office of the Secretary of State whose duties relate to 4 elections to attend the training course provided by the Secretary of 5 State pursuant to this section. 6 5. The Secretary of State: 7 (a) Shall provide to or reimburse the county or city, as 8 applicable, for the cost of the per diem allowance and travel 9 expenses of the county clerk or city clerk for attending the training 10 course required pursuant to this section. Any reimbursement must 11 be paid from the Reserve for Statutory Contingency Account upon 12 recommendation by the Secretary of State and approval by the State 13 Board of Examiners. 14 (b) May provide to or reimburse the county or city, as 15 applicable, for the cost of the per diem allowance and travel 16 expenses of any deputy or employee of the office of the county or 17 city clerk for attending the training course required pursuant to this 18 section. Any reimbursement must be paid from the Reserve for 19 Statutory Contingency Account upon recommendation by the 20 Secretary of State and approval by the State Board of Examiners. 21 Sec. 17. NRS 293.253 is hereby amended to read as follows: 22 293.253 1. The Secretary of State shall provide each county 23 clerk with copies of any proposed constitution or constitutional 24 amendment which will appear on the general election ballot, 25 together with the copies of the condensations, explanations, 26 arguments, rebuttals and fiscal notes prepared pursuant to NRS 27 218D.810, 293.250 and 293.252. 28 2. Whenever feasible, the Secretary of State shall provide those 29 copies on or before the first Monday in August of the year in which 30 the proposals will appear on the ballot. Copies of any additional 31 proposals must be provided as soon after their filing as feasible. 32 3. Each county clerk shall cause a copy of the full text of any 33 such constitution or amendment and its condensation, explanation, 34 arguments, rebuttals and fiscal note to be published, in conspicuous 35 display advertising format of not less than 10 column inches, in a 36 newspaper of general circulation in the county three times at 37 intervals of not less than 7 days, the first publication to be on or 38 before the first Monday in October. If no such newspaper is 39 published in the county, the publication may be made in a 40 newspaper of general circulation published in the nearest Nevada 41 county [.] and in addition to any publication made in a newspaper 42 pursuant to this subsection, a county clerk may publish a copy of 43 the full text of any such constitution or amendment and its 44 condensation, explanation, arguments, rebuttals and fiscal note in 45 – 25 – - *AB534* such a manner as the county clerk deems proper which may 1 include, without limitation, publication on the Internet website of 2 the county clerk or on the social media account of the county 3 clerk. 4 4. If a copy of any such constitution or amendment is furnished 5 by the Secretary of State too late to be published at 7-day intervals, 6 it must be published three times at the longest intervals feasible in 7 each county. 8 5. The portion of the cost of publication which is attributable to 9 publishing the questions, explanations, arguments, rebuttals and 10 fiscal notes of proposed constitutions or constitutional amendments 11 is a charge against the State and must be paid from the Reserve for 12 Statutory Contingency Account upon recommendation by the 13 Secretary of State and approval by the State Board of Examiners. 14 Sec. 18. NRS 293.269911 is hereby amended to read as 15 follows: 16 293.269911 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, 17 the county clerk shall prepare and distribute to each active registered 18 voter in the county and each person who registers to vote or updates 19 his or her voter registration information not later than the [14] 18 20 days before the election a mail ballot for every election. The county 21 clerk shall make reasonable accommodations for the use of the mail 22 ballot by a person who is elderly or disabled, including, without 23 limitation, by providing, upon request, the mail ballot in 12-point 24 type to a person who is elderly or disabled. 25 2. The county clerk shall allow a voter to elect not to receive a 26 mail ballot pursuant to this section by submitting to the county clerk 27 a written notice in the form prescribed by the county clerk which 28 must be received by the county clerk not later than 60 days before 29 the day of the election. If a voter elects not to receive a mail ballot 30 pursuant to this subsection, he or she may later elect to receive a 31 mail ballot for the election if he or she, not later than 14 days 32 before the election, submits to the county clerk a written notice in 33 the form prescribed by the county clerk. 34 3. The county clerk shall not distribute a mail ballot to any 35 person who: 36 (a) Registers to vote for the election pursuant to the provisions 37 of NRS 293.5772 to 293.5887, inclusive; or 38 (b) Elects not to receive a mail ballot pursuant to subsection 2. 39 4. The mail ballot must include all offices, candidates and 40 measures upon which the voter is entitled to vote at the election. 41 5. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3, the 42 mail ballot must be distributed to: 43 (a) Each active registered voter who: 44 – 26 – - *AB534* (1) Resides within the State, not later than 20 days before the 1 election; and 2 (2) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c), resides 3 outside the State, not later than 40 days before the election. 4 (b) Each active registered voter who registers to vote after the 5 dates set for distributing mail ballots pursuant to paragraph (a) but 6 who is eligible to receive a mail ballot pursuant to subsection 1, not 7 later than 13 days before the election. 8 (c) Each covered voter who is entitled to have a military-9 overseas ballot transmitted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 10 293D of NRS or the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee 11 Voting Act, 52 U.S.C. §§ 20301 et seq., not later than the time 12 required by those provisions. 13 6. In the case of a special election where no candidate for 14 federal office will appear on the ballot, the mail ballot must be 15 distributed to each active registered voter not later than 15 days 16 before the special election. 17 7. Any untimely legal action which would prevent the mail 18 ballot from being distributed to any voter pursuant to this section is 19 moot and of no effect. 20 Sec. 19. NRS 293.269925 is hereby amended to read as 21 follows: 22 293.269925 1. The [county clerk] Secretary of State shall 23 establish procedures for the processing and counting of mail ballots. 24 2. The procedures established pursuant to subsection 1: 25 (a) May authorize mail ballots to be processed, verified and 26 counted by computer or other electronic means; and 27 (b) Must not conflict with the provisions of NRS 293.269911 to 28 293.269937, inclusive. 29 Sec. 20. NRS 293.269931 is hereby amended to read as 30 follows: 31 293.269931 1. The mail ballot central counting board [may] 32 shall begin counting the received mail ballots 15 days before the 33 day of the election [.] and must process each mail ballot pursuant 34 to NRS 293.269933 on the day that the mail ballot is received. The 35 board must complete the count of all mail ballots on or before the 36 seventh day following the election. The counting procedure must be 37 public. 38 2. If two or more mail ballots are found folded together to 39 present the appearance of a single ballot, the mail ballots must be 40 rejected and placed in an envelope, upon which must be written the 41 reason for their rejection. The envelope must be signed by an 42 election board officer and placed in the container or ballot box after 43 the count is completed. 44 – 27 – - *AB534* Sec. 21. NRS 293.269975 is hereby amended to read as 1 follows: 2 293.269975 Not later than 30 days after each primary election, 3 presidential preference primary election, primary city election, 4 general election and general city election, each person who 5 administers a county jail or city jail shall submit in a report to the 6 Secretary of State: 7 1. An explanation of the process the jail used to comply with 8 the requirements of NRS 293.269971 and 293.269973 and section 2 9 of this act for the election; and 10 2. A summary of each complaint received by the jail from a 11 person detained in the jail relating to registering to vote or voting in 12 the election. 13 Sec. 22. NRS 293.275 is hereby amended to read as follows: 14 293.275 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, an 15 election board may not perform its duty in serving registered voters 16 at any polling place in any election provided for in this title, unless 17 it has before it: 18 (a) The roster designated for registered voters who apply to vote 19 at the polling place; and 20 (b) The roster designated for electors who apply to register to 21 vote or apply to vote at the polling place pursuant to NRS 293.5772 22 to 293.5887, inclusive. 23 2. For a polling place established pursuant to NRS 293.3072, 24 an election board may perform its duty in serving registered voters 25 at the polling place in an election if the election board has before it 26 the roster for the county. 27 3. If a county clerk uses an electronic roster, not earlier than [2] 28 6 weeks before and not later than 5 p.m. on the day before the first 29 day of the period for early voting by personal appearance, the 30 county clerk shall complete a test of the electronic roster to ensure 31 its functionality in accordance with regulations adopted by the 32 Secretary of State. 33 Sec. 23. NRS 293.3025 is hereby amended to read as follows: 34 293.3025 The Secretary of State and each county and city clerk 35 shall ensure that a copy of each of the following is posted in a 36 conspicuous place at each polling place on election day: 37 1. A sample ballot; 38 2. Information concerning the date and hours of operation of 39 the polling place; 40 3. Instructions for voting and casting a ballot, including a 41 provisional ballot pursuant to NRS 293.3078 to 293.3086, inclusive, 42 or a [provisional] conditional ballot pursuant to NRS 293.5772 to 43 293.5887, inclusive; 44 – 28 – - *AB534* 4. Instructions concerning the identification required for 1 persons who registered by mail or computer and are first-time voters 2 for federal office in this State; 3 5. Information concerning the accessibility of polling places to 4 persons with disabilities; 5 6. General information concerning federal and state laws which 6 prohibit acts of fraud and misrepresentation; and 7 7. Information concerning the eligibility of a candidate, a ballot 8 question or any other matter appearing on the ballot as a result of a 9 judicial determination or by operation of law, if any. 10 Sec. 24. NRS 293.303 is hereby amended to read as follows: 11 293.303 1. A person applying to vote may be challenged: 12 (a) Orally by any registered voter of the precinct upon the 13 ground that he or she is not the person entitled to vote as claimed or 14 has voted before at the same election. A registered voter who 15 initiates a challenge pursuant to this paragraph must submit an 16 affirmation that is signed under penalty of perjury and in the form 17 prescribed by the Secretary of State stating that the challenge is 18 based on the personal knowledge of the registered voter. 19 (b) On any ground set forth in a challenge filed with the county 20 clerk pursuant to the provisions of NRS 293.547. 21 2. If a person is challenged, an election board officer shall 22 tender the challenged person the following oath or affirmation: 23 (a) If the challenge is on the ground that the challenged person 24 does not belong to the political party designated upon the roster, “I 25 swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that I belong to the political 26 party designated upon the roster”; 27 (b) If the challenge is on the ground that the roster does not 28 show that the challenged person designated the political party to 29 which he or she claims to belong, “I swear or affirm under penalty 30 of perjury that I designated on the application to register to vote the 31 political party to which I claim to belong”; 32 (c) If the challenge is on the ground that the challenged person 33 does not reside at the residence for which the address is listed in the 34 roster, “I swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that I reside at the 35 residence for which the address is listed in the roster”; 36 (d) If the challenge is on the ground that the challenged person 37 previously voted a ballot for the election, “I swear or affirm under 38 penalty of perjury that I have not voted for any of the candidates or 39 questions included on this ballot for this election”; or 40 (e) If the challenge is on the ground that the challenged person is 41 not the person he or she claims to be, “I swear or affirm under 42 penalty of perjury that I am the person whose name is in this roster.” 43 – 29 – - *AB534* The oath or affirmation must be set forth on a form prepared by 1 the Secretary of State and signed by the challenged person under 2 penalty of perjury. 3 3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, if the 4 challenged person refuses to execute the oath or affirmation so 5 tendered, the person must not be issued a ballot, and the election 6 board officer shall indicate in the roster “Challenged” by the 7 person’s name. 8 4. If the challenged person refuses to execute the oath or 9 affirmation set forth in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection 2, the 10 election board officers shall issue the person a nonpartisan ballot. 11 5. If the challenged person refuses to execute the oath or 12 affirmation set forth in paragraph (c) of subsection 2, the election 13 board officers shall inform the person that he or she is entitled to 14 vote only in the manner prescribed in NRS 293.304. 15 6. If the challenged person executes the oath or affirmation and 16 the challenge is not based on the ground set forth in paragraph (e) of 17 subsection 2, the election board officers shall issue the person a 18 partisan ballot. 19 7. If the challenge is based on the ground set forth in paragraph 20 (c) of subsection 2, and the challenged person executes the oath or 21 affirmation, the election board shall not issue the person a ballot 22 until he or she furnishes satisfactory identification which contains 23 proof of the address at which the person actually resides. For the 24 purposes of this subsection, a voter registration card does not 25 provide proof of the address at which a person resides. 26 8. If the challenge is based on the ground set forth in paragraph 27 (e) of subsection 2 and the challenged person executes the oath or 28 affirmation, the election board shall not issue the person a ballot 29 unless the person: 30 (a) Furnishes official identification which contains a photograph 31 of the person, such as a driver’s license or other official document; 32 or 33 (b) Brings before the election board officers a person who is at 34 least 18 years of age who: 35 (1) Furnishes official identification which contains a 36 photograph of that person, such as a driver’s license or other official 37 document; and 38 (2) Executes an oath or affirmation under penalty of perjury 39 that the challenged person is who he or she swears to be. 40 9. The election board officers shall: 41 (a) Record on the challenge list: 42 (1) The name of the challenged person; 43 (2) The name of the registered voter who initiated the 44 challenge; and 45 – 30 – - *AB534* (3) The result of the challenge; and 1 (b) If possible, orally notify the registered voter who initiated 2 the challenge of the result of the challenge. 3 10. For the purposes of this section, “personal knowledge” 4 means firsthand knowledge through experience or observation of 5 the facts upon each ground that the challenge is based. The term 6 does not include knowledge obtained from a third party, including, 7 without limitation, information obtained from the review of data in 8 a database or other compilation of information. 9 Sec. 25. NRS 293.3073 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10 293.3073 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, if 11 a county clerk establishes one or more polling places pursuant to 12 NRS 293.3072, the county clerk must: 13 (a) Publish during the week before the election [in a newspaper 14 of general circulation] a notice of the location of each such polling 15 place. The county clerk may make this publication in such a 16 manner as the county clerk deems proper which may include, 17 without limitation, publication in a newspaper of general 18 circulation, on the Internet website of the county clerk or on the 19 social media account of the county clerk. 20 (b) Post a list of the location of each such polling place on any 21 bulletin board used for posting notice of meetings of the board of 22 county commissioners. The list must be posted continuously for a 23 period beginning not later than the fifth business day before the 24 election and ending at 7 p.m. on the day of the election. The county 25 clerk shall make copies of the list available to the public during the 26 period of posting in reasonable quantities without charge. 27 2. The provisions of subsection 1 do not apply if every polling 28 place in the county is a polling place where any person entitled to 29 vote in the county by personal appearance may do so on the day of 30 the primary election or general election. 31 3. No additional polling place may be established pursuant to 32 NRS 293.3072 after the publication pursuant to this section, except 33 in the case of an emergency and if approved by the Secretary of 34 State. 35 Sec. 26. NRS 293.3078 is hereby amended to read as follows: 36 293.3078 As used in NRS 293.3078 to 293.3086, inclusive, 37 unless the context otherwise requires: 38 1. “Provisional ballot” means a provisional ballot cast by a 39 person pursuant to NRS 293.3078 to 293.3086, inclusive. 40 2. The term does not include a [provisional] conditional ballot 41 cast by a person pursuant to NRS 293.5772 to 293.5887, inclusive. 42 Sec. 27. NRS 293.3576 is hereby amended to read as follows: 43 293.3576 1. The county clerk shall publish during the week 44 before the period for early voting and at least once each week during 45 – 31 – - *AB534* the period for early voting [in a newspaper of general circulation] a 1 schedule stating [: 2 (a) The] the location of each permanent and temporary polling 3 place for early voting [. 4 (b) The] and the dates and hours that early voting will be 5 conducted at each location. The county clerk may make this 6 publication in such a manner as the county clerk deems proper 7 which may include, without limitation, publication in a newspaper 8 of general circulation, on the Internet website of the county clerk 9 or on the social media account of the county clerk. 10 2. The county clerk shall post a copy of the schedule on the 11 bulletin board used for posting notice of meetings of the board of 12 county commissioners. The schedule must be posted continuously 13 for a period beginning not later than the fifth day before the first day 14 of the period for early voting by personal appearance and ending on 15 the last day of that period. 16 3. The county clerk shall make copies of the schedule available 17 to the public in reasonable quantities without charge during the 18 period of posting. 19 4. No additional polling places for early voting may be 20 established after the schedule is published pursuant to this section. 21 5. The hours that early voting will be conducted at each polling 22 place for early voting may be extended at the discretion of the 23 county clerk after the schedule is published pursuant to this section. 24 Sec. 28. NRS 293.391 is hereby amended to read as follows: 25 293.391 1. The voted ballots, rejected ballots, spoiled ballots, 26 challenge lists, records printed on paper of voted ballots collected 27 pursuant to NRS 293B.400, reports prepared pursuant to NRS 28 293.269937 and stubs of the ballots used, enclosed and sealed, must, 29 after canvass of the votes by the board of county commissioners, be 30 deposited in the vaults of the county clerk. The records of voted 31 ballots that are maintained in electronic form must, after canvass of 32 the votes by the board of county commissioners, be sealed and 33 deposited in the vaults of the county clerk. The tally lists collected 34 pursuant to this title must, after canvass of the votes by the board of 35 county commissioners, be deposited in the vaults of the county clerk 36 without being sealed. All materials described by this subsection 37 must be preserved for at least 22 months, and all such sealed 38 materials must be destroyed immediately after the preservation 39 period. A notice of the destruction must , not less than 2 weeks 40 before the destruction, be published by the clerk in such a manner 41 as the county clerk deems proper which may include, without 42 limitation, publication in at least one newspaper of general 43 circulation in the county [not less than 2 weeks before] , on the 44 – 32 – - *AB534* Internet website of the county clerk or on the social media account 1 of the [destruction.] county clerk. 2 2. Unused ballots, enclosed and sealed, must, after canvass of 3 the votes by the board of county commissioners, be deposited in the 4 vaults of the county clerk and preserved for at least the period 5 during which the election may be contested and adjudicated, after 6 which the unused ballots may be destroyed. 7 3. The rosters containing the signatures of those persons who 8 voted in the election and the tally lists deposited with the board of 9 county commissioners are subject to the inspection of any elector 10 who may wish to examine them at any time after their deposit with 11 the county clerk. 12 4. A contestant of an election may inspect all of the material 13 regarding that election which is preserved pursuant to subsection 1 14 or 2, except the voted ballots and records printed on paper of voted 15 ballots collected pursuant to NRS 293B.400 which are deposited 16 with the county clerk. 17 5. The voted ballots and records printed on paper of voted 18 ballots collected pursuant to NRS 293B.400 which are deposited 19 with the county clerk are not subject to the inspection of anyone, 20 except in cases of a contested election, and then only by the judge, 21 body or board before whom the election is being contested, or by the 22 parties to the contest, jointly, pursuant to an order of such judge, 23 body or board. 24 Sec. 29. NRS 293.394 is hereby amended to read as follows: 25 293.394 1. The Secretary of State shall adopt regulations for 26 conducting [a risk-limiting] an election accuracy audit of an 27 election, which may include, without limitation: 28 (a) Procedures to conduct [a risk-limiting] an election accuracy 29 audit; 30 (b) Criteria for which elections must be audited; and 31 (c) Criteria to determine the scope of the [risk-limiting] election 32 accuracy audit. 33 2. In accordance with the regulations adopted by the Secretary 34 of State pursuant to this section, each county clerk shall conduct [a 35 risk-limiting] an election accuracy audit of the results of an 36 election. 37 3. As used in this section, [“risk-limiting] “election accuracy 38 audit” means an audit protocol that: 39 (a) Makes use of statistical principles and methods; and 40 (b) Is designed to limit the risk of certifying an incorrect 41 election outcome. 42 Sec. 30. NRS 293.403 is hereby amended to read as follows: 43 293.403 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 293.424, a 44 candidate defeated at any election may demand and receive a 45 – 33 – - *AB534* recount of the vote for the office for which he or she is a candidate 1 to determine the number of votes received for the candidate and the 2 number of votes received for the person who won the election if, 3 within 3 working days after the canvass of the vote and the 4 certification by the county clerk or city clerk of the abstract of votes, 5 the candidate who demands the recount: 6 (a) Files in writing a demand with the officer with whom the 7 candidate filed his or her declaration of candidacy; and 8 (b) Deposits in advance the estimated costs of the recount with 9 that officer. 10 2. Any voter at an election may demand and receive a recount 11 of the vote for a ballot question if, within 3 working days after the 12 canvass of the vote and the certification by the county clerk or city 13 clerk of the abstract of votes, the voter: 14 (a) Files in writing a demand with: 15 (1) The Secretary of State, if the demand is for a recount of a 16 ballot question affecting more than one county; or 17 (2) The county or city clerk who will conduct the recount, if 18 the demand is for a recount of a ballot question affecting only one 19 county or city; and 20 (b) Deposits in advance the estimated costs of the recount with 21 the person to whom the demand was made. 22 3. The estimated costs of the recount must be determined by 23 the person with whom the advance is deposited based on regulations 24 adopted by the Secretary of State defining the term “costs.” 25 4. As used in this section, “canvass” means: 26 (a) In any primary election, the canvass by the board of county 27 commissioners of the returns for a candidate or ballot question voted 28 for in one county or the canvass by the board of county 29 commissioners last completing its canvass of the returns for a 30 candidate or ballot question voted for in more than one county. 31 (b) In any primary city election, the canvass by the city council 32 of the returns for a candidate or ballot question voted for in the city. 33 (c) In any general election: 34 (1) The canvass by the Supreme Court of the returns for a 35 candidate for United States Senator, Representative in Congress or 36 a statewide office or a statewide ballot question; or 37 (2) The canvass of the board of county commissioners of the 38 returns for any other candidate or ballot question, as provided in 39 paragraph (a). 40 (d) In any general city election, the canvass by the city council 41 of the returns for a candidate or ballot question voted for in the city. 42 Sec. 31. NRS 293.464 is hereby amended to read as follows: 43 293.464 1. If a court of competent jurisdiction orders a 44 county to extend the deadline for voting beyond the statutory 45 – 34 – - *AB534* deadline in a particular election, the county clerk shall, as soon as 1 practicable after receiving notice of the court’s decision: 2 (a) Cause notice of the extended deadline to be published in 3 such a manner as the county clerk deems proper which may 4 include, without limitation, publication in a newspaper of general 5 circulation in the county [;] , on the Internet website of the county 6 clerk or on the social media account of the county clerk; and 7 (b) Transmit a notice of the extended deadline to each registered 8 voter who received a mail ballot for the election and has not 9 returned the mail ballot before the date on which the notice will be 10 transmitted. 11 2. The notice required pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 1 12 must be published: 13 (a) In a county whose population is 52,000 or more, on at least 3 14 successive days. 15 (b) In a county whose population is less than 52,000, at least 16 twice in successive issues of the newspaper [.] or, if the notice is 17 not published in a newspaper, on at least 2 successive days. 18 Sec. 32. NRS 293.4695 is hereby amended to read as follows: 19 293.4695 1. Each county clerk shall collect the following 20 information regarding each primary election, presidential preference 21 primary election and general election, on a form provided by the 22 Secretary of State and made available at each polling place in the 23 county, each polling place for early voting in the county, the office 24 of the county clerk and any other location deemed appropriate by 25 the Secretary of State: 26 (a) The number of ballots that have been discarded or for any 27 reason not included in the final canvass of votes, along with an 28 explanation for the exclusion of each such ballot from the final 29 canvass of votes. 30 (b) A report on each malfunction of any mechanical voting 31 system, including, without limitation: 32 (1) Any known reason for the malfunction; 33 (2) The length of time during which the mechanical voting 34 system could not be used; 35 (3) Any remedy for the malfunction which was used at the 36 time of the malfunction; and 37 (4) Any effect the malfunction had on the election process. 38 (c) A list of each polling place not open during the time 39 prescribed pursuant to NRS 293.273 and an account explaining why 40 each such polling place was not open during the time prescribed 41 pursuant to NRS 293.273. 42 (d) A description of each challenge made to the eligibility of a 43 voter pursuant to NRS 293.303 and the result of each such 44 challenge. 45 – 35 – - *AB534* (e) A description of each complaint regarding a ballot cast by 1 mail or facsimile filed with the county clerk and the resolution, if 2 any, of the complaint. 3 (f) The results of any audit of election procedures and practices 4 conducted pursuant to regulations adopted by the Secretary of State 5 pursuant to this chapter. 6 (g) The number of provisional ballots cast pursuant to NRS 7 293.3078 to 293.3086, inclusive, and the reason for the casting of 8 each such provisional ballot. 9 (h) The number of [provisional] conditional ballots cast 10 pursuant to NRS 293.5772 to 293.5887, inclusive. 11 2. Each county clerk shall submit to the Secretary of State, on a 12 form provided by the Secretary of State, the information collected 13 pursuant to subsection 1 not more than 60 days after each primary 14 election, presidential preference primary election and general 15 election. 16 3. The Secretary of State may contact any political party and 17 request information to assist in the investigation of any allegation of 18 voter intimidation. 19 4. The Secretary of State shall establish and maintain an 20 Internet website pursuant to which the Secretary of State shall solicit 21 and collect voter comments regarding election processes. 22 5. The Secretary of State shall compile the information and 23 comments collected pursuant to this section into a report and shall 24 submit the report to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau 25 for transmission to the Legislature not sooner than 30 days before 26 and not later than 30 days after the first day of each regular session 27 of the Legislature. 28 6. The Secretary of State may make the report required 29 pursuant to subsection 5 available on an Internet website established 30 and maintained by the Secretary of State. 31 Sec. 33. NRS 293.535 is hereby amended to read as follows: 32 293.535 1. The county clerk shall notify a registrant if any 33 elector or other reliable person files an affidavit with the county 34 clerk stating that: 35 (a) The registrant is not a citizen of the United States; or 36 (b) The registrant has: 37 (1) Moved outside the boundaries of the county where he or 38 she is registered to another county, state, territory or foreign 39 country, with the intention of remaining there for an indefinite time 40 and with the intention of abandoning his or her residence in the 41 county where registered; and 42 (2) Established residence in some other state, territory or 43 foreign country, or in some other county of this state, naming the 44 place. 45 – 36 – - *AB534* The affiant must state that he or she has personal knowledge of 1 the facts set forth in the affidavit. 2 2. Upon the filing of an affidavit pursuant to paragraph (b) of 3 subsection 1, the county clerk shall notify the registrant in the 4 manner set forth in NRS 293.530 and shall enclose a copy of the 5 affidavit. If the registrant fails to respond or appear to vote within 6 the required time, the county clerk shall cancel the registration. 7 3. An affidavit filed pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 1 8 must be filed not later than 30 days before an election. Upon the 9 filing of such an affidavit, the county clerk shall notify the registrant 10 by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, of the filing 11 of the affidavit, and shall enclose a copy of the affidavit. Unless the 12 registrant, within 15 days after the return receipt has been filed in 13 the office of the county clerk, presents satisfactory proof of 14 citizenship, the county clerk shall cancel the registration. 15 4. The provisions of this section do not prevent the challenge 16 provided for in NRS 293.303 or 293C.292. 17 5. A county clerk is not required to take any action pursuant to 18 this section in relation to a person who is preregistered to vote until 19 the person is deemed to be registered to vote pursuant to subsection 20 2 of NRS 293.4855. 21 6. For the purposes of this section, “personal knowledge” 22 means firsthand knowledge through experience or observation of 23 the facts upon each ground that the challenge is based. The term 24 does not include knowledge obtained from a third party, including, 25 without limitation, information obtained from the review of data in 26 a database or other compilation of information. 27 Sec. 34. NRS 293.540 is hereby amended to read as follows: 28 293.540 1. The county clerk shall cancel the preregistration 29 of a person: 30 (a) If the county clerk becomes aware of the death of the 31 person through any of the following methods: 32 (1) The county clerk has personal knowledge of the death of 33 the person ; 34 (2) The county clerk receives, from a person who is within 35 the second degree of consanguinity to the person, a sworn 36 affidavit which indicates the death of the person; or [if an] 37 (3) An authenticated certificate of the death of the person is 38 filed in the county clerk’s office. 39 (b) At the request of the person. 40 (c) If the county clerk has discovered an incorrect preregistration 41 pursuant to the provisions of NRS 293.5235 and the person has 42 failed to respond within the required time. 43 (d) As required by NRS 293.541. 44 – 37 – - *AB534* (e) Upon verification that the application to preregister to vote is 1 a duplicate if the county clerk has the original or another duplicate 2 of the application on file in the county clerk’s office. 3 2. The county clerk shall cancel the registration of a person: 4 (a) If the county clerk becomes aware of the death of the 5 person through any of the following methods: 6 (1) The county clerk has personal knowledge of the death of 7 the person ; 8 (2) The county clerk receives, from a person who is within 9 the second degree of consanguinity to the voter, a sworn affidavit 10 which indicates the death of the voter; or [if an] 11 (3) An authenticated certificate of the death of the person is 12 filed in the county clerk’s office. 13 (b) If the county clerk is provided a certified copy of a court 14 order stating that the court specifically finds by clear and convincing 15 evidence that the person lacks the mental capacity to vote because 16 he or she cannot communicate, with or without accommodations, a 17 specific desire to participate in the voting process. 18 (c) Upon the determination that the person has been convicted of 19 a felony and is currently incarcerated. 20 (d) Upon the production of a certified copy of the judgment of 21 any court directing the cancellation to be made. 22 (e) At the request of the person. 23 (f) If the county clerk has discovered an incorrect registration 24 pursuant to the provisions of NRS 293.5235, 293.530 or 293.535 25 and the elector has failed to respond or appear to vote within the 26 required time. 27 (g) As required by NRS 293.541. 28 (h) Upon verification that the application to register to vote is a 29 duplicate if the county clerk has the original or another duplicate of 30 the application on file in the county clerk’s office. 31 Sec. 35. NRS 293.543 is hereby amended to read as follows: 32 293.543 1. If the registration of an elector is cancelled 33 pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 2 of NRS 293.540, the 34 county clerk shall reregister the elector upon notice from the clerk of 35 the district court that the elector has been found by the district court 36 to have the mental capacity to vote. The court must include the 37 finding in a court order and, not later than 30 days after issuing 38 the order, provide a certified copy of the order to the county clerk of 39 the county in which the person is a resident and to the Office of the 40 Secretary of State. 41 2. If the registration of an elector is cancelled pursuant to 42 paragraph (c) of subsection 2 of NRS 293.540, the elector may 43 reregister upon release from prison. 44 – 38 – - *AB534* 3. If the registration of an elector is cancelled pursuant to the 1 provisions of paragraph (e) of subsection 2 of NRS 293.540, after 2 the close of registration for a primary election, the elector may not 3 reregister until after the primary election. 4 4. If the registration or preregistration of an elector is 5 cancelled pursuant to subparagraph (2) of paragraph (a) of 6 subsection 1 of NRS 293.540 or subparagraph (2) of paragraph 7 (a) of subsection 2 of NRS 293.540 and the county clerk later 8 determines that the registration or preregistration should not have 9 been cancelled, the county clerk shall reregister or repreregister 10 the elector, as applicable. 11 5. A county clerk shall not require an elector to present 12 evidence, including, without limitation, a court order or any other 13 document, to prove that the elector satisfies the requirements of 14 subsection 2. 15 Sec. 36. NRS 293.560 is hereby amended to read as follows: 16 293.560 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 17 293.269951, 293.502, 293.5772 to 293.5887, inclusive, 293D.230 18 and 293D.300: 19 (a) For a primary election, presidential preference primary 20 election or general election, or a recall or special election that is held 21 on the same day as a primary election, presidential preference 22 primary election or general election, the last day to register to vote: 23 (1) By mail is the fourth Tuesday preceding the primary 24 election, presidential preference primary election or general 25 election. 26 (2) By appearing in person at the office of the county clerk 27 or, if open, a county facility designated pursuant to NRS 293.5035, 28 is the [fourth Tuesday preceding] day before the first day of the 29 period for early voting by personal appearance for the primary 30 election, presidential preference primary election or general 31 election. 32 (3) By computer using the system established by the 33 Secretary of State pursuant to NRS 293.671, is the day of the 34 primary election, presidential preference primary election or general 35 election. 36 (b) If a recall or special election is not held on the same day as a 37 primary election, presidential preference primary election or general 38 election, the last day to register to vote for the recall or special 39 election [by any method of registration] : 40 (1) By mail is the second Tuesday preceding the recall or 41 special election. 42 (2) By appearing in person at the office of the county clerk 43 or, if open, a county facility designated pursuant to NRS 293.5035, 44 is : 45 – 39 – - *AB534* (I) If there is a period for early voting for the recall or 1 special election, the day before the first day of the period for early 2 voting by personal appearance for the recall or special election; or 3 (II) If there is not a period for early voting for the recall 4 or special election, the third Saturday preceding the recall or 5 special election. 6 (3) By computer using the system established by the 7 Secretary of State pursuant to NRS 293.671 is the day of the recall 8 or special election. 9 2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 293.5772 to 293.5887, 10 inclusive, after the deadlines for the close of registration for a 11 primary election, presidential preference primary election or general 12 election set forth in subsection 1, no person may register to vote for 13 the election. 14 3. Except for a recall or special election held pursuant to 15 chapter 306 or 350 of NRS: 16 (a) The county clerk of each county shall cause a notice signed 17 by him or her to be published in a newspaper having a general 18 circulation in the county indicating: 19 (1) The day and time that each method of registration for the 20 election, as set forth in subsection 1, will be closed; and 21 (2) If the county clerk has designated a county facility 22 pursuant to NRS 293.5035, the location of that facility. 23 If no such newspaper is published in the county, the publication 24 may be made in a newspaper of general circulation published in the 25 nearest county in this State. 26 (b) The notice must be published once each week for 4 27 consecutive weeks next preceding the day that the last method of 28 registration for the election, as set forth in subsection 1, will be 29 closed. 30 4. The offices of the county clerk, a county facility designated 31 pursuant to NRS 293.5035 and other ex officio registrars may 32 remain open on the last Friday in October in each even-numbered 33 year. 34 5. A county facility designated pursuant to NRS 293.5035 may 35 be open during the periods described in this section for such hours 36 of operation as the county clerk may determine, as set forth in 37 subsection 3 of NRS 293.5035. 38 Sec. 37. NRS 293.5727 is hereby amended to read as follows: 39 293.5727 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the 40 Department of Motor Vehicles shall provide an application to 41 preregister or register to vote to each person who applies for the 42 issuance or renewal of any type of driver’s license or identification 43 card issued by the Department. 44 – 40 – - *AB534* 2. The county clerk shall use the applications to preregister or 1 register to vote which are signed and completed pursuant to 2 subsection 1 to preregister or register an applicant to vote or to 3 correct the preregistration or registration of the applicant, as 4 applicable. An application that is not signed must not be used to 5 preregister or register or correct the preregistration or registration of 6 the applicant. 7 3. For the purposes of this section, each employee specifically 8 authorized to do so by the Director of the Department may oversee 9 the completion of an application. The authorized employee shall 10 check the application for completeness and verify the information 11 required by the application. Each application must include a 12 duplicate copy or receipt to be retained by the applicant upon 13 completion of the form. The Department shall, except as otherwise 14 provided in this subsection, forward each application on a weekly 15 basis to the county clerk or, if applicable, to the registrar of voters of 16 the county in which the applicant resides. The applications must be 17 forwarded daily during the 2 weeks immediately preceding the last 18 [day to register to vote by mail pursuant to NRS 293.560 or 19 293C.527, as applicable.] date that the county clerk is required to 20 accept such an application pursuant to subsection 5. 21 4. The Department is not required to provide an application to 22 register to vote pursuant to subsection 1 to a person who declines to 23 apply to register to vote pursuant to this section and submits to the 24 Department a written form that meets the requirements of 52 U.S.C. 25 § 20506(a)(6). Information related to the declination to apply to 26 register to vote must not be used for any purpose other than voter 27 registration. 28 5. The county clerk shall accept any application to: 29 (a) Preregister to vote at any time. 30 (b) Register to vote which is obtained from the Department of 31 Motor Vehicles pursuant to this section and completed by : 32 (1) If there is a period for early voting, the day before the 33 first day of the period for early voting by personal appearance; or 34 (2) If there is not a period for early voting, the last day to 35 register to vote by mail pursuant to NRS 293.560 or 293C.527, as 36 applicable, 37 if the county clerk receives the application not later than 5 days 38 after that date. 39 6. Upon receipt of an application, the county clerk or field 40 registrar of voters shall determine whether the application is 41 complete. If the county clerk or field registrar of voters determines 42 that the application is complete, he or she shall notify the applicant 43 and the applicant shall be deemed to be preregistered or registered 44 as of the date of the submission of the application. If the county 45 – 41 – - *AB534* clerk or field registrar of voters determines that the application is not 1 complete, he or she shall notify the applicant of the additional 2 information required. The applicant shall be deemed to be 3 preregistered or registered as of the date of the initial submission of 4 the application if the additional information is provided within 15 5 days after the notice for the additional information is mailed. If the 6 applicant has not provided the additional information within 15 days 7 after the notice for the additional information is mailed, the 8 incomplete application is void. Any notification required by this 9 subsection must be given by mail at the mailing address on the 10 application not more than 7 working days after the determination is 11 made concerning whether the application is complete. 12 7. The county clerk shall use any form submitted to the 13 Department to correct information on a driver’s license or 14 identification card to correct information on a previous application 15 to preregister or register unless the person indicates on the form that 16 the correction is not to be used for the purposes of preregistration or 17 voter registration. The Department shall forward each such form to 18 the county clerk or, if applicable, to the registrar of voters of the 19 county in which the person resides in the same manner provided by 20 subsection 3 for applications to preregister or register to vote. 21 8. Upon receipt of a form to correct information, the county 22 clerk shall compare the information to that contained in the database 23 created by the Secretary of State pursuant to NRS 293.675. The 24 county clerk shall correct the information to reflect any changes 25 indicated on the form. After making any changes, the county clerk 26 shall notify the person by mail that the records have been corrected. 27 9. The Secretary of State shall, with the approval of the 28 Director, adopt regulations to: 29 (a) Establish any procedure necessary to provide a person who 30 applies to preregister to vote or an elector who applies to register to 31 vote pursuant to this section the opportunity to do so; 32 (b) Prescribe the contents of any forms or applications which the 33 Department is required to distribute pursuant to this section; and 34 (c) Provide for the transfer of the completed applications of 35 preregistration or registration from the Department to the 36 appropriate county clerk. 37 Sec. 38. NRS 293.5782 is hereby amended to read as follows: 38 293.5782 “Final verification” means the procedures established 39 pursuant to NRS 293.5872 to verify and determine whether a person 40 who cast a [provisional] conditional ballot was qualified to register 41 to vote and to cast the ballot in the election. 42 – 42 – - *AB534* Sec. 39. NRS 293.5792 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 293.5792 1. [“Provisional] “Conditional ballot” means a 2 [provisional] conditional ballot cast by a person pursuant to NRS 3 293.5772 to 293.5887, inclusive. 4 2. The term does not include a provisional ballot cast by a 5 person pursuant to: 6 (a) NRS 293.3078 to 293.3086, inclusive; or 7 (b) Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, 52 8 U.S.C. § 21082, as amended. 9 Sec. 40. NRS 293.5832 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10 293.5832 1. After the close of registration for an election 11 pursuant to NRS 293.560 or 293C.527, a registered voter may 12 update his or her voter registration information, including, without 13 limitation, his or her name, address and party affiliation. 14 2. The county or city clerk shall authorize at least one of the 15 following methods for a registered voter to update his or her voter 16 registration information pursuant to this section: 17 (a) A paper application; or 18 (b) The system established by the Secretary of State pursuant to 19 NRS 293.671. 20 If the county or city clerk authorizes the use of both methods, the 21 county or city clerk may limit the use of one method to 22 circumstances when the other method is not reasonably available. 23 3. If a registered voter updates his or her voter registration 24 information pursuant to this section and applies to vote in the 25 election, the county or city clerk may require the voter to cast a 26 [provisional] conditional ballot in the election if any circumstances 27 exist that give the county or city clerk reasonable cause to believe 28 that the use of a [provisional] conditional ballot is necessary to 29 provide sufficient time to verify and determine whether the voter is 30 eligible to cast the ballot in the election based on his or her updated 31 voter registration information. 32 4. If a registered voter casts a [provisional] conditional ballot 33 in the election pursuant to this section, the [provisional] conditional 34 ballot is subject to final verification in accordance with the 35 procedures that apply to other [provisional] conditional ballots cast 36 in the election pursuant to NRS 293.5772 to 293.5887, inclusive. 37 Sec. 41. NRS 293.5837 is hereby amended to read as follows: 38 293.5837 1. An elector may register to vote in the county or 39 city, as applicable, in which the elector is eligible to vote by 40 submitting an application to register to vote by computer using the 41 system established by the Secretary of State pursuant to NRS 42 293.671 before the elector appears at a polling place described in 43 subsection 2 to vote in person. 44 – 43 – - *AB534* 2. If an elector submits an application to register to vote 1 pursuant to this section less than [14] 18 days before the election, 2 the elector may vote only in person: 3 (a) During the period for early voting, at any polling place for 4 early voting by personal appearance in the county or city, as 5 applicable, in which the elector is eligible to vote; or 6 (b) On the day of the election, at: 7 (1) A polling place established pursuant to NRS 293.3072 or 8 293C.3032 in the county or city, as applicable, in which the elector 9 is eligible to vote; or 10 (2) The polling place for his or her election precinct. 11 3. To vote in person, an elector who submits an application to 12 register to vote pursuant to this section must: 13 (a) Appear before the close of polls at a polling place described 14 in subsection 2; 15 (b) Inform an election board officer that, before appearing at the 16 polling place, the elector submitted an application to register to vote 17 by computer using the system established by the Secretary of State 18 pursuant to NRS 293.671; and 19 (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, provide his or 20 her current and valid driver’s license or identification card issued by 21 the Department of Motor Vehicles which shows his or her physical 22 address as proof of the elector’s identity and residency. 23 4. If the driver’s license or identification card issued by the 24 Department of Motor Vehicles to the elector does not have the 25 elector’s current residential address, the following documents may 26 be used to establish the residency of the elector if the current 27 residential address of the elector, as indicated on his or her 28 application to register to vote, is displayed on the document: 29 (a) A military identification card; 30 (b) A utility bill, including, without limitation, a bill for electric, 31 gas, oil, water, sewer, septic, telephone, cellular telephone or cable 32 television service; 33 (c) A bank or credit union statement; 34 (d) A paycheck; 35 (e) An income tax return; 36 (f) A statement concerning the mortgage, rental or lease of a 37 residence; 38 (g) A motor vehicle registration; 39 (h) A property tax statement; or 40 (i) Any other document issued by a governmental agency. 41 5. Subject to final verification, if an elector submits an 42 application to register to vote and appears at a polling place to vote 43 in person pursuant to this section: 44 – 44 – - *AB534* (a) The elector shall be deemed to be conditionally registered to 1 vote at the polling place upon: 2 (1) The determination that the elector submitted the 3 application to register to vote by computer using the system 4 established by the Secretary of State pursuant to NRS 293.671 and 5 that the application to register to vote is complete; and 6 (2) The verification of the elector’s identity and residency 7 pursuant to this section. 8 (b) After the elector is deemed to be conditionally registered to 9 vote at the polling place pursuant to paragraph (a), the elector: 10 (1) May vote in the election only at that polling place; 11 (2) Must vote as soon as practicable and before leaving that 12 polling place; and 13 (3) Must vote by casting a [provisional] conditional ballot, 14 unless it is verified, at that time, that the elector is qualified to 15 register to vote and to cast a regular ballot in the election at that 16 polling place. 17 Sec. 42. NRS 293.5842 is hereby amended to read as follows: 18 293.5842 1. Notwithstanding the close of any method of 19 registration for an election pursuant to NRS 293.560 or 293C.527, 20 an elector may register to vote in person at any polling place for 21 early voting by personal appearance in the county or city, as 22 applicable, in which the elector is eligible to vote. 23 2. To register to vote in person during the period for early 24 voting, an elector must: 25 (a) Appear before the close of polls at a polling place for early 26 voting by personal appearance in the county or city, as applicable, in 27 which the elector is eligible to vote. 28 (b) Complete the application to register to vote by a method 29 authorized by the county or city clerk pursuant to this paragraph. 30 The county or city clerk shall authorize at least one of the following 31 methods for a person to register to vote pursuant to this paragraph: 32 (1) A paper application; or 33 (2) The system established by the Secretary of State pursuant 34 to NRS 293.671. 35 If the county or city clerk authorizes the use of both methods, the 36 county or city clerk may limit the use of one method to 37 circumstances when the other method is not reasonably available. 38 (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, provide his or 39 her current and valid driver’s license or identification card issued by 40 the Department of Motor Vehicles which shows his or her physical 41 address as proof of the elector’s identity and residency. 42 3. If the driver’s license or identification card issued by the 43 Department of Motor Vehicles to the elector does not have the 44 elector’s current residential address, the following documents may 45 – 45 – - *AB534* be used to establish the residency of the elector if the current 1 residential address of the elector, as indicated on his or her 2 application to register to vote, is displayed on the document: 3 (a) A military identification card; 4 (b) A utility bill, including, without limitation, a bill for electric, 5 gas, oil, water, sewer, septic, telephone, cellular telephone or cable 6 television service; 7 (c) A bank or credit union statement; 8 (d) A paycheck; 9 (e) An income tax return; 10 (f) A statement concerning the mortgage, rental or lease of a 11 residence; 12 (g) A motor vehicle registration; 13 (h) A property tax statement; or 14 (i) Any other document issued by a governmental agency. 15 4. Subject to final verification, if an elector registers to vote in 16 person at a polling place pursuant to this section: 17 (a) The elector shall be deemed to be conditionally registered to 18 vote at the polling place upon: 19 (1) The determination that the application to register to vote 20 is complete; and 21 (2) The verification of the elector’s identity and residency 22 pursuant to this section. 23 (b) After the elector is deemed to be conditionally registered to 24 vote at the polling place pursuant to paragraph (a), the elector: 25 (1) May vote in the election only at that polling place; 26 (2) Must vote as soon as practicable and before leaving that 27 polling place; and 28 (3) Must vote by casting a [provisional] conditional ballot, 29 unless it is verified, at that time, that the elector is qualified to 30 register to vote and to cast a regular ballot in the election at that 31 polling place. 32 Sec. 43. NRS 293.5847 is hereby amended to read as follows: 33 293.5847 1. Notwithstanding the close of any method of 34 registration for an election pursuant to NRS 293.560 or 293C.527, 35 an elector may register to vote in person on the day of the election at 36 any polling place in the county or city, as applicable, in which the 37 elector is eligible to vote. 38 2. To register to vote on the day of the election, an elector 39 must: 40 (a) Appear before the close of polls at a polling place in the 41 county or city, as applicable, in which the elector is eligible to vote. 42 (b) Complete the application to register to vote by a method 43 authorized by the county or city clerk pursuant to this paragraph. 44 – 46 – - *AB534* The county or city clerk shall authorize at least one of the following 1 methods for a person to register to vote pursuant to this paragraph: 2 (1) A paper application; or 3 (2) The system established by the Secretary of State pursuant 4 to NRS 293.671. 5 If the county or city clerk authorizes the use of both methods, the 6 county or city clerk may limit the use of one method to 7 circumstances when the other method is not reasonably available. 8 (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, provide his or 9 her current and valid driver’s license or identification card issued by 10 the Department of Motor Vehicles which shows his or her physical 11 address as proof of the elector’s identity and residency. 12 3. If the driver’s license or identification card issued by the 13 Department of Motor Vehicles to the elector does not have the 14 elector’s current residential address, the following documents may 15 be used to establish the residency of the elector if the current 16 residential address of the elector, as indicated on his or her 17 application to register to vote, is displayed on the document: 18 (a) A military identification card; 19 (b) A utility bill, including, without limitation, a bill for electric, 20 gas, oil, water, sewer, septic, telephone, cellular telephone or cable 21 television service; 22 (c) A bank or credit union statement; 23 (d) A paycheck; 24 (e) An income tax return; 25 (f) A statement concerning the mortgage, rental or lease of a 26 residence; 27 (g) A motor vehicle registration; 28 (h) A property tax statement; or 29 (i) Any other document issued by a governmental agency. 30 4. Subject to final verification, if an elector registers to vote in 31 person at a polling place pursuant to this section: 32 (a) The elector shall be deemed to be conditionally registered to 33 vote at the polling place upon: 34 (1) The determination that the application to register to vote 35 is complete; and 36 (2) The verification of the elector’s identity and residency 37 pursuant to this section. 38 (b) After the elector is deemed to be conditionally registered to 39 vote at the polling place pursuant to paragraph (a), the elector: 40 (1) May vote in the election only at that polling place; 41 (2) Must vote as soon as practicable and before leaving that 42 polling place; and 43 (3) Must vote by casting a [provisional] conditional ballot. 44 – 47 – - *AB534* Sec. 44. NRS 293.5852 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 293.5852 If a person casts a [provisional] conditional ballot 2 pursuant to NRS 293.5772 to 293.5887, inclusive, the [provisional] 3 conditional ballot must include all offices, candidates and measures 4 upon which the person would have been entitled to vote if the 5 person had cast a regular ballot. 6 Sec. 45. NRS 293.5872 is hereby amended to read as follows: 7 293.5872 1. Each county and city clerk shall establish 8 procedures, approved by the Secretary of State, for: 9 (a) Carrying out final verification to verify and determine 10 whether a person who cast a [provisional] conditional ballot was 11 qualified to register to vote and to cast the ballot in the election; and 12 (b) Keeping each [provisional] conditional ballot separate from 13 other ballots until such final verification. 14 2. For the purposes of final verification: 15 (a) The Secretary of State shall verify that an elector has voted 16 in the election in only one county or city, as applicable, and provide 17 each county and city clerk with a copy of the verification report; and 18 (b) Each county and city clerk shall verify that an elector has 19 voted in the election at only one polling place in the county or city, 20 as applicable. 21 Sec. 46. NRS 293.5877 is hereby amended to read as follows: 22 293.5877 1. Following each election, a canvass of the 23 [provisional] conditional ballots cast in the election must be 24 conducted pursuant to NRS 293.387 and 293C.387. 25 2. The county or city clerk shall not include any [provisional] 26 conditional ballot in the unofficial results reported on election night. 27 3. Beginning on the day following the election, the county or 28 city clerk shall regularly report the results of the counting of the 29 [provisional] conditional ballots until such counting is completed. 30 Sec. 47. NRS 293.5882 is hereby amended to read as follows: 31 293.5882 1. The Secretary of State shall establish a free 32 access system, such as a toll-free telephone number or an Internet 33 website, to inform a person who cast a [provisional] conditional 34 ballot whether the person’s ballot was counted and, if the ballot was 35 not counted, the reason why the ballot was not counted. 36 2. The free access system must ensure secrecy of the ballot 37 while protecting the confidentiality and integrity of personal 38 information contained therein. 39 3. Access to information concerning a [provisional] 40 conditional ballot must be restricted to the person who cast the 41 [provisional] conditional ballot. 42 Sec. 48. NRS 293.730 is hereby amended to read as follows: 43 293.730 1. Except for an election board officer in the course 44 of the election board officer’s official duties, a person shall not: 45 – 48 – - *AB534* (a) Remain in or outside of any polling place so as to interfere 1 with the conduct of the election. The provisions of this paragraph 2 do not prohibit a person from conducting an exit poll in or outside 3 of the polling place. 4 (b) Accept from any voter a ballot prepared by or on behalf of 5 the voter, other than a mail ballot or military-overseas ballot 6 prepared by or on behalf of the voter with his or her authorization 7 pursuant to this title. 8 (c) Remove a ballot from any polling place before the closing of 9 the polls. 10 (d) Apply for or receive a ballot at any election precinct or 11 district other than one at which the person is entitled to vote. 12 (e) Show his or her ballot to another person, after voting, so as 13 to reveal any of his or her votes on the ballot, other than on his or 14 her mail ballot or military-overseas ballot prepared by or on behalf 15 of the voter with his or her authorization pursuant to this title. 16 (f) Inside a polling place, ask another person for his or her name, 17 address or political affiliation or for whom he or she intends to vote. 18 (g) Send, transmit, distribute or deliver a ballot to a voter, other 19 than a mail ballot or military-overseas ballot when permitted 20 pursuant to this title. 21 (h) Except when permitted by the voter, alter, change, deface, 22 damage or destroy a mail ballot or military-overseas ballot prepared 23 by or on behalf of the voter with his or her authorization pursuant to 24 this title. 25 2. A voter shall not: 26 (a) Accept a ballot from another person, other than an election 27 board officer in the course of the election board officer’s official 28 duties or a person who sends, transmits, distributes or delivers a 29 mail ballot or military-overseas ballot to the voter when permitted 30 pursuant to this title. 31 (b) Deliver to an election board officer in the course of the 32 election board officer’s official duties any ballot other than the one 33 received. 34 (c) Place any mark upon his or her ballot by which it may 35 afterward be identified as the one that he or she voted, other than 36 any such mark that is permitted to be placed on a mail ballot or 37 military-overseas ballot prepared by or on behalf of the voter with 38 his or her authorization pursuant to this title. 39 3. A person other than a county or city clerk shall not set up a 40 ballot drop box that purports to be an official ballot drop box for 41 mail ballots. 42 4. Any person who violates any provision of this section is 43 guilty of a category E felony and shall be punished as provided in 44 NRS 193.130. 45 – 49 – - *AB534* Sec. 49. NRS 293.740 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 293.740 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, it is 2 unlawful inside a polling place, within 100 feet from the entrance to 3 the building or other structure in which a polling place is located, 4 inside the area of a county or city jail where a person detained in the 5 jail may vote or within 100 feet from the entrance of the area in a 6 jail where a person detained in the jail may vote: 7 (a) For any person to solicit a vote or speak to a voter on the 8 subject of marking the voter’s ballot [.] unless the person is 9 conducting an exit poll. 10 (b) For any person, including an election board officer, to do 11 any electioneering on election day. 12 The county clerk or registrar of voters shall ensure that, at the 13 outer limits of the area within which electioneering is prohibited, 14 notices are continuously posted on which are printed in large letters 15 “Distance Marker: No electioneering between this point and the 16 entrance to the polling place.” 17 2. The county clerk shall ensure that any notice posted 18 pursuant to subsection 1 is: 19 (a) At least 17 inches by 11 inches in size; 20 (b) Placed on a window or door of the polling place or a 21 freestanding sign; and 22 (c) Visible to a person approaching the outer limits of the area 23 within which electioneering is prohibited pursuant to subsection 1. 24 3. The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 do not apply to the 25 conduct of a person in a private residence or on commercial or 26 residential property that is within 100 feet from the entrance to a 27 building or other structure in which a polling place is located. The 28 provisions of subsection 1 are not intended to prohibit a person from 29 voting solely because he or she is wearing a prohibited political 30 insigne and is reasonably unable to remove the insigne or cover it. 31 In such a case, the election board officer shall take such action as is 32 necessary to allow the voter to vote as expediently as possible and 33 then assist the voter in exiting the polling place as soon as is 34 possible. 35 4. Any person who violates any provision of this section is 36 guilty of a gross misdemeanor. 37 5. As used in this section, “electioneering” means campaigning 38 for or against a candidate, ballot question or political party by: 39 (a) Posting signs relating to the support of or opposition to a 40 candidate, ballot question or political party; 41 (b) Distributing literature relating to the support of or opposition 42 to a candidate, ballot question or political party; 43 – 50 – - *AB534* (c) Using loudspeakers to broadcast information relating to the 1 support of or opposition to a candidate, ballot question or political 2 party; 3 (d) Buying, selling, wearing or displaying any badge, button or 4 other insigne which expressly refers to any political party or a 5 candidate or ballot question to be voted upon at that election; or 6 (e) Soliciting signatures to any kind of petition. 7 Sec. 50. Chapter 293B of NRS is hereby amended by adding 8 thereto a new section to read as follows: 9 If the board of county commissioners of any county or the city 10 council or other governing body of any city terminates a contract 11 for the lease or use of a mechanical voting system or mechanical 12 recording device which is currently used in any election, that 13 termination is provisional and does not become final unless the 14 board of county commissioners, city council or other governing 15 body: 16 1. Submits to the Secretary of State a plan to transition to a 17 new mechanical voting system or mechanical recording device, as 18 applicable, which is approved by the Secretary of State; and 19 2. Submits to the Secretary of State proof of a signed contract 20 for purchase, lease or use of the new mechanical voting system or 21 mechanical recording device, as applicable. 22 Sec. 51. NRS 293B.050 is hereby amended to read as follows: 23 293B.050 At all statewide, county, city and district elections of 24 any kind held in this State, ballots or votes [may] : 25 1. May be cast, registered [,] and recorded [and counted] by 26 means of a mechanical voting system. 27 2. Must be counted by means of a mechanical voting system. 28 Sec. 52. NRS 293B.105 is hereby amended to read as follows: 29 293B.105 The board of county commissioners of any county or 30 the city council or other governing body of any city [may] : 31 1. May purchase and adopt for use at elections any mechanical 32 voting system and mechanical recording device [. The system or 33 device may be used at any or all elections held in the county or city,] 34 for voting [,] and registering [and counting] votes cast. 35 2. Must purchase and adopt for use at elections a mechanical 36 voting system for counting votes cast. 37 Sec. 53. NRS 293B.110 is hereby amended to read as follows: 38 293B.110 [A] Except as otherwise provided in NRS 39 293B.050, a mechanical voting system or mechanical recording 40 device may be adopted and used for some of the precincts or 41 districts in the same county or city, while the remainder of the 42 precincts or districts in that county or city may be furnished with 43 paper ballots or any other mechanical voting system or mechanical 44 recording device. 45 – 51 – - *AB534* Sec. 54. NRS 293B.130 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 293B.130 1. Before any election , [where a mechanical 2 voting system is to be used,] the county clerk shall prepare or cause 3 to be prepared a computer program on cards, tape or other material 4 suitable for use with the computer or counting device to be 5 employed for counting the votes cast. The program must cause the 6 computer or counting device to operate in the following manner: 7 (a) All lawful votes cast by each voter must be counted. 8 (b) All unlawful votes, including, without limitation, overvotes 9 or, in a primary election or presidential preference primary election, 10 votes cast for a candidate of a major political party other than the 11 party, if any, of the registration of the voter must not be counted. 12 (c) If the election is: 13 (1) A primary election held in an even-numbered year; 14 (2) A presidential preference primary election; or 15 (3) A general election, 16 the total votes, other than mail ballots, must be accumulated by 17 precinct. 18 (d) The computer or counting device must halt or indicate by 19 appropriate signal if a ballot is encountered which lacks a code 20 identifying the precinct in which it was voted and, in a primary 21 election or presidential preference primary election, identifying the 22 major political party of the voter. 23 2. The program must be prepared under the supervision of the 24 accuracy certification board appointed pursuant to the provisions of 25 NRS 293B.140. 26 3. The county clerk shall take such measures as he or she 27 deems necessary to protect the program from being altered or 28 damaged. 29 Sec. 55. NRS 293B.150 is hereby amended to read as follows: 30 293B.150 Not earlier than [2] 6 weeks before and not later than 31 5 p.m. on the day before the first day of early voting, the county or 32 city clerk shall test: 33 1. The mechanical recording device which directly records 34 votes electronically, if any; or 35 2. The automatic tabulating equipment and programs, if any, 36 to ascertain that the device or equipment and programs will 37 correctly count the votes cast for all offices and on all measures. 38 Sec. 56. NRS 293B.170 is hereby amended to read as follows: 39 293B.170 1. After the completion of the last logic and 40 accuracy test, the programs used, if any, and the logic and accuracy 41 test ballots and the official ballots shall be sealed, retained and 42 disposed of in the manner provided in NRS 293.391 or 293C.390 43 for other ballots. 44 – 52 – - *AB534* 2. All of the materials preserved pursuant to subsection 1 1 which are deposited with the county clerk are subject to inspection 2 in an election accuracy audit that is conducted in accordance with 3 the regulations adopted pursuant to NRS 293.394. 4 Sec. 57. NRS 293B.175 is hereby amended to read as follows: 5 293B.175 In those districts or precincts in which a mechanical 6 voting system is used [,] for casting ballots, the list of offices and 7 candidates and the statements of measures appropriate for use with 8 [that] a mechanical voting system in combination with the device 9 upon which a vote is registered is an official ballot. 10 Sec. 58. NRS 293C.145 is hereby amended to read as follows: 11 293C.145 1. A general city election must be held in each city 12 of population category three on the first Tuesday after the first 13 Monday in November of the first even-numbered year after 14 incorporation, and at each successive interval of 2 years. 15 2. There must be one mayor and three or five council members, 16 as the city council shall provide by ordinance, for each city of 17 population category three. The terms of office of the mayor and the 18 council members are 4 years, which terms must be staggered. The 19 mayor and council members elected to office immediately after 20 incorporation shall decide, by lot, among themselves which two of 21 their offices expire at the next general city election, and thereafter 22 the terms of office must be 4 years. If a city council thereafter 23 increases the number of council members, it shall, by lot, stagger the 24 initial terms of the additional members. 25 3. A candidate for an office to be voted for at the general city 26 election must file a declaration of candidacy with the city clerk not 27 earlier than [: 28 (a) For the office of judge of a municipal court, the first Monday 29 in January of the year in which the applicable election is to be held 30 and not later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday 31 in January. 32 (b) For any other office,] the first Monday in [March] February 33 of the year in which the applicable election is to be held and not 34 later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday in 35 [March.] February. 36 4. At the time that a candidate files a declaration of candidacy, 37 the city clerk shall charge and collect from the candidate, and the 38 candidate must pay to the city clerk, a filing fee in an amount fixed 39 by the city council by ordinance or resolution. 40 5. Candidates for mayor must be voted upon by the electors of 41 the city at large. Candidates for the city council must be voted upon 42 by the electors of their respective wards to represent the wards in 43 which they reside or by the electors of the city at large in accordance 44 with the provisions of chapter 266 of NRS. 45 – 53 – - *AB534* Sec. 59. NRS 293C.175 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 293C.175 1. A primary city election must be held in each city 2 of population category one, and in each city of population category 3 two that has so provided by ordinance, on the second Tuesday in 4 June of each even-numbered year, at which time there must be 5 nominated candidates for offices to be voted for at the next general 6 city election. 7 2. A candidate for an office to be voted for at the primary or 8 general city election must file a declaration of candidacy with the 9 city clerk not earlier than [: 10 (a) For the office of judge of a municipal court, the first Monday 11 in January of the year in which the applicable election is to be held 12 and not later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday 13 in January. 14 (b) For any other office,] the first Monday in [March] February 15 of the year in which the applicable election is to be held and not 16 later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday in 17 [March.] February. 18 3. At the time that a candidate files a declaration of candidacy, 19 the city clerk shall charge and collect from the candidate, and the 20 candidate must pay to the city clerk, a filing fee in an amount fixed 21 by the governing body of the city by ordinance or resolution. The 22 filing fees collected by the city clerk must be deposited to the credit 23 of the general fund of the city. 24 4. All candidates, except as otherwise provided in NRS 25 266.220, must be voted upon by the electors of the city at large. 26 5. If, in a primary city election held in a city of population 27 category one or two, one candidate receives a majority of votes cast 28 in that election for the office for which he or she is a candidate, the 29 candidate must be declared elected to the office and the candidate’s 30 name must not be placed on the ballot for the general city election. 31 If, in the primary city election, no candidate receives a majority of 32 votes cast in that election for the office for which he or she is a 33 candidate, the names of the two candidates receiving the highest 34 number of votes must be placed on the ballot for the general city 35 election. 36 Sec. 60. NRS 293C.26325 is hereby amended to read as 37 follows: 38 293C.26325 1. The [city clerk] Secretary of State shall 39 establish procedures for the processing and counting of mail ballots. 40 2. The procedures established pursuant to subsection 1: 41 (a) May authorize mail ballots to be processed, verified and 42 counted by computer or other electronic means; and 43 (b) Must not conflict with the provisions of NRS 293C.263 to 44 293C.26337, inclusive. 45 – 54 – - *AB534* Sec. 61. NRS 293C.26331 is hereby amended to read as 1 follows: 2 293C.26331 1. The mail ballot central counting board [may] 3 shall begin counting the received mail ballots 15 days before the 4 day of the election [.] and must process each mail ballot pursuant 5 to NRS 293C.26333 on the day that the mail ballot is received. The 6 board must complete the count of all mail ballots on or before the 7 seventh day following the election. The counting procedure must be 8 public. 9 2. If two or more mail ballots are found folded together to 10 present the appearance of a single ballot, the mail ballots must be 11 rejected and placed in an envelope, upon which must be written the 12 reason for their rejection. The envelope must be signed by an 13 election board officer and placed in the container or ballot box after 14 the count is completed. 15 Sec. 62. NRS 293C.527 is hereby amended to read as follows: 16 293C.527 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 293.502, 17 293.5772 to 293.5887, inclusive, 293D.230 and 293D.300: 18 (a) For a primary city election or general city election, or a recall 19 or special city election that is held on the same day as a primary city 20 election or general city election, the last day to register to vote: 21 (1) By mail is the fourth Tuesday preceding the primary city 22 election or general city election. 23 (2) By appearing in person at the office of the city clerk or, if 24 open, a municipal facility designated pursuant to NRS 293C.520, is 25 : 26 (I) If there is a period for early voting for the primary 27 city election or general city election, the day before the first day of 28 the period for early voting by personal appearance for the primary 29 city election or general city election; or 30 (II) If there is not a period for early voting for the 31 primary city election or general city election, the fourth Tuesday 32 preceding the primary city election or general city election. 33 (3) By computer using the system established by the 34 Secretary of State pursuant to NRS 293.671, is the day of the 35 primary city election or general city election. 36 (b) If a recall or special city election is not held on the same day 37 as a primary city election or general city election, the last day to 38 register to vote for the recall or special city election [by any method 39 of registration] : 40 (1) By mail is the second Tuesday preceding the recall or 41 special city election. 42 (2) By appearing in person at the office of the city clerk or, 43 if open, a municipal facility designated pursuant to NRS 293C.520 44 is : 45 – 55 – - *AB534* (I) If there is a period for early voting for the recall or 1 special city election, the day before the first day of the period for 2 early voting by personal appearance for the recall or special city 3 election; or 4 (II) If there is not a period for early voting for the recall 5 or special city election, the third Saturday preceding the recall or 6 special city election. 7 (3) By computer using the system established by the 8 Secretary of State pursuant to NRS 293.671 is the day of the recall 9 or special city election. 10 2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 293.5772 to 293.5887, 11 inclusive, after the deadlines for the close of registration for a 12 primary city election or general city election set forth in subsection 13 1, no person may register to vote for the election. 14 3. Except for a recall or special city election held pursuant to 15 chapter 306 or 350 of NRS: 16 (a) The city clerk of each city shall cause a notice signed by him 17 or her to be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in 18 the city indicating: 19 (1) The day and time that each method of registration for the 20 election, as set forth in subsection 1, will be closed; and 21 (2) If the city clerk has designated a municipal facility 22 pursuant to NRS 293C.520, the location of that facility. 23 If no newspaper is of general circulation in that city, the 24 publication may be made in a newspaper of general circulation in 25 the nearest city in this State. 26 (b) The notice must be published once each week for 4 27 consecutive weeks next preceding the day on which the last method 28 of registration for the election, as set forth in subsection 1, will be 29 closed. 30 4. A municipal facility designated pursuant to NRS 293C.520 31 may be open during the periods described in this section for such 32 hours of operation as the city clerk may determine, as set forth in 33 subsection 3 of NRS 293C.520. 34 Sec. 63. NRS 293C.600 is hereby amended to read as follows: 35 293C.600 1. Before any election where a mechanical voting 36 system will be used [,] for casting ballots, the city clerk shall 37 prepare or cause to be prepared a computer program on cards, tape 38 or other material suitable for use with the computer or counting 39 device to be employed for counting the votes cast. The program 40 must cause the computer or counting device to operate in the 41 following manner: 42 (a) All lawful votes cast by each voter must be counted. 43 (b) All unlawful votes, including, but not limited to, overvotes 44 must not be counted. 45 – 56 – - *AB534* (c) The computer or counting device must halt or indicate by 1 appropriate signal if a ballot is encountered that lacks a code 2 identifying the precinct in which it was voted. 3 2. The program must be prepared under the supervision of the 4 accuracy certification board appointed pursuant to the provisions of 5 NRS 293B.140. 6 3. The city clerk shall take such measures as he or she deems 7 necessary to protect the program from being altered or damaged. 8 Sec. 64. NRS 295.045 is hereby amended to read as follows: 9 295.045 1. A petition for referendum must be filed with the 10 Secretary of State not less than 120 days before the date of the next 11 succeeding general election. 12 2. The Secretary of State shall certify the questions to the 13 county clerks. 14 3. The title of the statute or resolution must be set out on the 15 ballot, and the question printed upon the ballot for the information 16 of the voters must be as follows: “Shall the statute (setting out its 17 title) be approved?” 18 4. Where a mechanical voting system is used [,] for casting 19 ballots, the title of the statute must appear on the list of offices and 20 candidates and the statements of measures to be voted on and may 21 be condensed to no more than 25 words. 22 5. The votes cast upon the question must be counted and 23 canvassed as the votes for state officers are counted and canvassed. 24 Sec. 65. NRS 295.056 is hereby amended to read as follows: 25 295.056 1. Before a petition for initiative or referendum is 26 filed with the Secretary of State, the petitioners must submit to each 27 county clerk for verification pursuant to NRS 293.1276 to 293.1279, 28 inclusive, the document or documents which were circulated for 29 signature within the clerk’s county. The clerks shall give the person 30 submitting a document or documents a receipt stating the number of 31 documents and pages and the person’s statement of the number of 32 signatures contained therein. 33 2. If a petition for initiative proposes a statute or an amendment 34 to a statute, the document or documents must be submitted not 35 earlier than the 13th day and not later than the 15th day following 36 the general election. 37 3. If a petition for initiative proposes an amendment to the 38 Constitution, the document or documents must be submitted not 39 earlier than the 13th day and not later than the 15th day following 40 the primary election. 41 4. If the petition is for referendum, the document or documents 42 must be submitted not earlier than the 13th day and not later than 43 the 15th day following the primary election. 44 – 57 – - *AB534* 5. All documents which are submitted to a county clerk for 1 verification must be submitted at the same time. If documents 2 concerning the same petition are submitted for verification to more 3 than one county clerk, the documents must be submitted to each 4 county clerk on the same day. At the time that the petition is 5 submitted to a county clerk for verification, the petitioners may 6 designate a contact person who is authorized by the petitioners to 7 address questions or issues relating to the petition. 8 Sec. 66. NRS 295.170 is hereby amended to read as follows: 9 295.170 1. The subject matter of such questions must be 10 stated concisely on the ballot, and the question printed upon the 11 ballot for the information of the voter must be as follows: “Shall the 12 act (setting out the title thereof) be approved?” 13 2. Where a mechanical voting system is used [,] for casting 14 ballots, the title of the act must appear on the list of offices and 15 candidates and the statements of measures to be voted on and may 16 be condensed by the district attorney to 20 words. 17 3. The district attorney shall prepare an explanation of each 18 such question, which must be placed on the ballot or the list of 19 offices and candidates and the statements of measures to be voted 20 on, or posted in the polling place. 21 4. The votes cast upon such question must be counted and 22 canvassed as the votes for county officers are counted and 23 canvassed. 24 Sec. 67. NRS 298.650 is hereby amended to read as follows: 25 298.650 1. Except as otherwise provided in [subsection 2,] 26 this section, a presidential preference primary election must be held 27 for all major political parties on the first Tuesday in February of 28 each presidential election year. 29 2. The Secretary of State may, with the approval of the 30 Legislative Commission, adjust the date of the presidential 31 preference primary election set forth in subsection 1. 32 3. A presidential preference primary election must not be held 33 for a major political party if only one qualified candidate or no 34 qualified candidate of the major political party files a declaration of 35 candidacy pursuant to NRS 298.660. If only one qualified candidate 36 of the major political party files a declaration of candidacy, the 37 Secretary of State must certify the name of the qualified candidate to 38 the state central committee and the national committee of the major 39 political party. 40 Sec. 68. NRS 298.670 is hereby amended to read as follows: 41 298.670 1. The Secretary of State shall forward to each 42 county clerk the name, party affiliation and mailing address of each 43 qualified candidate whose name must appear on the ballot for the 44 presidential preference primary election. 45 – 58 – - *AB534* 2. Immediately upon receipt by the county clerk of the list of 1 qualified candidates, the county clerk shall publish a notice of the 2 presidential preference primary election once a week for 2 3 successive weeks in such manner as the county clerk deems proper 4 which may include, without limitation, publication in a newspaper 5 of general circulation in the county [once a week for 2 successive 6 weeks. If no such newspaper is published in the county, the 7 publication may be made in a newspaper of general circulation 8 published in] or the nearest Nevada county [.] , on the Internet 9 website of the county clerk or on the social media account of the 10 county clerk. The notice must contain: 11 (a) The date of the presidential preference primary election; 12 (b) The major political parties that have qualified candidates 13 who will be on the ballot at the presidential preference primary 14 election; 15 (c) The location of the polling places in the county, including, 16 without limitation, polling places for early voting by personal 17 appearance; and 18 (d) The hours during which the polling places in the county will 19 be open for voting during the period for early voting and the day of 20 the presidential preference primary election. 21 Sec. 69. NRS 306.060 is hereby amended to read as follows: 22 306.060 1. If the officer against whom the petition is filed 23 furnishes no justification of the officer’s course in office, none need 24 appear on the ballot at the election upon the officer’s recall. 25 2. Where a mechanical voting system is used [,] for casting 26 ballots, the reason for demanding the recall of the officer and the 27 officer’s justification need not be printed on the ballot, but must be 28 printed on sample ballots, which must be presented to registered 29 voters upon their application to vote. 30 Sec. 70. Section 5.090 of the Charter of the City of Caliente, 31 being chapter 31, Statutes of Nevada 1971, at page 67, is hereby 32 amended to read as follows: 33 Sec. 5.090 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 34 systems. 35 1. The City Council [may] shall provide for the use of 36 mechanical or other devices for [voting or] counting the votes 37 [not inconsistent] in accordance with [law or] the election 38 laws of this State and any regulations of the Secretary of 39 State. 40 2. If the City Council provides for the use of 41 mechanical or other devices for voting, such provision must 42 be in accordance with the election laws of this State and any 43 regulations of the Secretary of State. 44 – 59 – - *AB534* Sec. 71. Section 5.080 of the Charter of the City of Carlin, 1 being chapter 344, Statutes of Nevada 1971, at page 616, is hereby 2 amended to read as follows: 3 Sec. 5.080 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 4 systems. 5 1. The Board of Council Members [may] shall provide 6 for the use of mechanical or other devices for [voting or] 7 counting the votes [not inconsistent] in accordance with [law 8 or] the election laws of this State and any regulations of the 9 Secretary of State. 10 2. If the Board of Council Members provides for the 11 use of mechanical or other devices for voting, such 12 provision must be in accordance with the election laws of 13 this State and any regulations of the Secretary of State. 14 Sec. 72. Section 5.090 of the Charter of Carson City, being 15 chapter 213, Statutes of Nevada 1969, at page 306, is hereby 16 amended to read as follows: 17 Sec. 5.090 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 18 systems. 19 1. The Board [may] shall provide for the use of 20 mechanical or other devices for [voting or] counting the votes 21 [not inconsistent] in accordance with [law or] the election 22 laws of this State and any regulations of the Secretary of 23 State. 24 2. If the Board provides for the use of mechanical or 25 other devices for voting, such provision must be in 26 accordance with the election laws of this State and any 27 regulations of the Secretary of State. 28 Sec. 73. Section 5.080 of the Charter of the City of Elko, 29 being chapter 276, Statutes of Nevada 1971, as amended by chapter 30 51, Statutes of Nevada 2001, at page 464, is hereby amended to read 31 as follows: 32 Sec. 5.080 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 33 systems. 34 1. The City Council [may] shall provide for the use of 35 mechanical or other devices for [voting or] counting votes 36 [that is not inconsistent] in accordance with [law or] the 37 election laws of this State and any regulations of the 38 Secretary of State. 39 2. If the City Council provides for the use of 40 mechanical or other devices for voting, such provision must 41 be in accordance with the election laws of this State and any 42 regulations of the Secretary of State. 43 – 60 – - *AB534* Sec. 74. Section 5.090 of the Charter of the City of Henderson, 1 being chapter 266, Statutes of Nevada 1971, at page 417, is hereby 2 amended to read as follows: 3 Sec. 5.090 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 4 systems. 5 1. The City Council [may] shall provide for the use of 6 mechanical or other devices for [voting or] counting the votes 7 [not inconsistent] in accordance with [law or] the election 8 laws of this State and any regulations of the Secretary of 9 State. 10 2. If the City Council provides for the use of 11 mechanical or other devices for voting, such provision must 12 be in accordance with the election laws of this State and any 13 regulations of the Secretary of State. 14 Sec. 75. Section 5.090 of the Charter of the City of Las Vegas, 15 being chapter 517, Statutes of Nevada 1983, at page 1416, is hereby 16 amended to read as follows: 17 Sec. 5.090 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 18 systems. 19 1. The City Council [may] shall provide for the use of 20 mechanical or other devices for [voting or for] counting the 21 votes [, or both, which are not inconsistent] in accordance 22 with the [law or the] election laws of this State and any 23 regulations of the Secretary of State. 24 2. If the City Council provides for the use of 25 mechanical or other devices for voting, such provision must 26 be in accordance with the election laws of this State and any 27 regulations of the Secretary of State. 28 Sec. 76. Section 5.090 of the Charter of the City of Mesquite, 29 being chapter 325, Statutes of Nevada 2017, at page 1887, is hereby 30 amended to read as follows: 31 Sec. 5.090 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 32 systems. 33 1. The City Council [may] shall provide for the use of 34 mechanical or other devices for [voting or] counting the votes 35 [not inconsistent] in accordance with [law or] the election 36 laws of this State and any regulations of the Secretary of 37 State. 38 2. If the City Council provides for the use of 39 mechanical or other devices for voting, such provision must 40 be in accordance with the election laws of this State and any 41 regulations of the Secretary of State. 42 – 61 – - *AB534* Sec. 77. Section 5.090 of the Charter of the City of Reno, 1 being chapter 662, Statutes of Nevada 1971, at page 1979, is hereby 2 amended to read as follows: 3 Sec. 5.090 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 4 systems. 5 1. The City Council [may] shall provide for the use of 6 mechanical or other devices for [voting or] counting the votes 7 [not inconsistent] in accordance with [law or] the election 8 laws of this State and any regulations of the Secretary of 9 State. 10 2. If the City Council provides for the use of 11 mechanical or other devices for voting, such provision must 12 be in accordance with the election laws of this State and any 13 regulations of the Secretary of State. 14 Sec. 78. Section 5.090 of the Charter of the City of Sparks, 15 being chapter 470, Statutes of Nevada 1975, at page 737, is hereby 16 amended to read as follows: 17 Sec. 5.090 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 18 systems. 19 1. The City Council [may] shall provide for the use of 20 mechanical or other devices for [voting or] counting the votes 21 [not inconsistent] in accordance with [law or] the election 22 laws of this State and any regulations of the Secretary of 23 State. 24 2. If the City Council provides for the use of 25 mechanical or other devices for voting, such provision must 26 be in accordance with the election laws of this State and any 27 regulations of the Secretary of State. 28 Sec. 79. Section 5.080 of the Charter of the City of Wells, 29 being chapter 275, Statutes of Nevada 1971, at page 470, is hereby 30 amended to read as follows: 31 Sec. 5.080 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 32 systems. 33 1. The Board of Council Members [may] shall provide 34 for the use of mechanical or other devices for [voting or] 35 counting the votes [not inconsistent] in accordance with [law 36 or] the election laws of this State and any regulations of the 37 Secretary of State. 38 2. If the Board of Council Members provides for the 39 use of mechanical or other devices for voting, such 40 provision must be in accordance with the election laws of 41 this State and any regulations of the Secretary of State. 42 – 62 – - *AB534* Sec. 80. Section 5.080 of the Charter of the City of Yerington, 1 being chapter 465, Statutes of Nevada 1971, at page 913, is hereby 2 amended to read as follows: 3 Sec. 5.080 [Voting machines.] Mechanical voting 4 systems. 5 1. The City Council [may] shall provide for the use of 6 mechanical or other devices for [voting or] counting the votes 7 [not inconsistent] in accordance with [law or] the election 8 laws of this State and any regulations of the Secretary of 9 State. 10 2. If the City Council provides for the use of 11 mechanical or other devices for voting, such provision must 12 be in accordance with the election laws of this State and any 13 regulations of the Secretary of State. 14 Sec. 81. The provisions of NRS 354.599 do not apply to any 15 additional expenses of a local government that are related to the 16 provisions of this act. 17 Sec. 82. 1. This section and section 81 of this act become 18 effective upon passage and approval. 19 2. Sections 1 to 80, inclusive, of this act become effective: 20 (a) Upon passage and approval for the purpose of adopting any 21 regulations and performing any other preparatory administrative 22 tasks that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this act; and 23 (b) On July 1, 2025, for all other purposes. 24 H