Download a printer-friendly PDF
Here's what you need to know if you're voting in Nevada in 2012:
VOTER REGISTRATION
You may register to vote at any Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles office, at your county clerk or registrar's office, at various social service agencies and on college campuses.
Clark County residents who are first-time registrants may register to vote online at https://nvsos.gov/sosvoterservices/Registration/step1.aspx. Please note, you only can use the online system if you have a Nevada-issued photo ID card or driver's license.
Nevada residents living outside of Clark County may use an online voter registration form that you can fill in online, but you will not be able to submit it online. Go to: https://nvsos.gov/sosvoterservices/Registration/step1.aspx. You will have to print the form and mail or deliver it in person to the county clerk or registrar in your county. You can find a list of county clerks at: http://nvsos.gov/index.aspx?page=81 or by calling the secretary of state's office at 775-684-5705.
The voter registration deadline for the primary is May 22, 2012. The voter registration deadline for the November general election is Oct. 16, 2012.
VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS
ID may be required to vote under certain circumstances. If a person's name appears in the election board register or if the person provides an affirmation pursuant to statute, the person is entitled to vote and must sign his or her name in the election board register when he or she appears at the polling place to vote. The signature must be compared by an election board officer with the signature or a facsimile on the person's original application to register to vote or one of the following forms of identification:
- The card issued to the voter at the time he or she registered to vote;
- A driver's license;
- An identification card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles;
- A military identification card; or
- Any other form of identification issued by a governmental agency that contains the voter's signature and physical description or picture.
If you are a first-time voter and are voting by absentee ballot, you must provide an acceptable form of identification with your completed Absentee Ballot Request Form. Acceptable forms of identification may include:
- Current Nevada drivers' license;
- Current Nevada State Identification Card;
- Rent receipt with preprinted address;
- Bank statement or preprinted check;
- Credit card statement;
- Vehicle registration or proof of insurance;
- Government document (tax bill, income information); or current utility bill.
If you have questions about whether you'll need ID, please contact your local county or city clerk. A list of county clerks can be found at: http://nvsos.gov/index.aspx?page=81. A list of city clerks can be found at: http://nvsos.gov/index.aspx?page=82. You also can call the secretary of state's office at 775-684-5705.
ABSENTEE VOTING
Any registered voter may request to vote by mail. To request an absentee ballot, you must complete and submit an Absentee Ballot Request Form, which may be obtained from your local county clerk/registrar of voters office.
The Absentee Ballot Request Form must be primary received by your local county election official by the appropriate deadline. For registered voters, your absentee ballot request must be received no later than June 5, 2012, for the primary election and Oct. 30, 2012, for the general election. All absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
EARLY VOTING
If you cannot make it to the polls on Election Day, you also can vote early in person. Early voting begins the third Saturday before the election and goes through Friday before Election Day. For the 2012 primary election, early voting will take place May 26 through June 8. For the 2012 general election, early voting will take place Oct. 20 through Nov. 2.
Voters can vote at any location in their respective county where early voting is offered. Please check with your county or city clerk for specific information about where and when early voting will take place in your area.
If you have any questions about voting in Nevada, please contact the secretary of state's office at 775-684-5705 or contact your local county/city clerk.