Nevada governor Joe Lombardo recognizes the issues with election laws in Nevada. He just introduced SB 405, which addresses a number of issues regarding election integrity. You can view the entire Senate Bill here, however, here are the highlights:
- Requiring, with certain exceptions, proof of identity for voting in person;
- Requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles, under certain circumstances, to issue a voter identification card at no charge;
- Eliminating the requirement that a county or city clerk send a mail ballot to each registered voter;
- Authorizing a voter to request a mail ballot;
- Establishing procedures relating to requesting a mail ballot;
- Revising provisions relating to mail ballots;
- Requiring a voter to include certain personal identifying information with his or her mail ballot;
- Revising the deadline by which a mail ballot must be received;
- Establishing certain requirements for a person who returns a mail ballot on behalf of a voter;
- Providing penalties; and
- Providing other matters properly relating thereto.
The bill – which was introduced to the legislature on Monday – would repeal the measure passed in the last legislative session that requires mail-in ballots to be sent to all active registered voters in the state unless they opt out of receiving one.
SB 405 would also require that people must provide proof of ID, residency or personal information to vote in person, and to write either the last four digits of their social security number or state-issued ID card number on a mail-in ballot. The Nevada DMV would be able to issue a voter ID card to those who cannot afford a state-issued ID.
Under current Nevada law, active registered voters are not required to provide identification. Elections workers are supposed to compare signatures from voters as they cast a ballot to the signature on file from registration. If the signatures are not believed to match, a ballot isn’t counted until the voter verifies their signature.
The bill also states mail-in ballots would also have to be received by an elections office before polls close on Election Day. Currently, ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and can arrive at an elections office up to four days later to be counted.
The bad news, however, is that with Democratic lawmakers making up the majority of both houses of the state legislature, Lombardo’s bill is not likely to pass. But it should – that’s the point! If you care about election integrity, make your voice heard and make sure bills like this do!