LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada lawmakers are proposing several bills that could change the way voters cast their ballot this upcoming election cycle.
Several bills — Assembly Bill 88, Senate Bill 230, Senate Bill 238, and Senate Bill 443 — have been proposed addressing voter identification.
The most comprehensive bill being proposed is Senate Bill 405, which was submitted on behalf of the Governor's Office. If passed, the bill would make changes to voter identification,
"We require people to have a valid form of identification to get on a plane, to operate a motor vehicle, or to purchase alcohol or cigarettes but not to cast a vote in an election. This is illogical," Governor Joe Lombardo said during his January State of the State address.
Under the existing law, active registered voters aren't required to provide identification. However, this bill would require people to present identification documents or cards before they are given a ballot.
Similar bills have been proposed in previous legislative sessions but did not pass.
According to the bill, if a registered voter doesn't have an acceptable ID and is going through financial hardships, they can apply to receive a voter identification card from the Department of Motor Vehicles for free.
SB405 also proposes that voters provide their driver's license number or the last four digits of the Social Security number on the ballot return envelope. The envelope would then be verified by a city or county clerk, which would have to match their voting records.
Additionally, SB405 would require a registered voter to request a mail-in ballot instead of receiving one automatically, per a 2021 state law passed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill details that a registered voter may request the ballot before 5 p.m. on the 14th calendar day preceding the election if they provide "sufficient written notice to the county clerk in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State."
During his State of the State address, Lombardo said, "Sending ballots to more than 1.9 million registered voters is inefficient and unnecessary. Not to mention, it's estimated to cost nearly $7 million in this budget and will increase to more than $11 million in future budgets."
Another requirement the new legislation could change is the deadline that mail-in ballots can be received and processed. Nevada law states ballots must be postmarked on or before the day of the election and received by 5 p.m. on the fourth day following the election.
SB405 is proposing ballots be received on or before the time set for closing polls on the day of the election.
"There are certain election reforms that are just common sense," Lombardo said during his January address. "Most notably, all mail-in ballots should be received by the time polls close on election day. This puts Nevada back in line with national norms and ensures our election reporting does not drag on for days when the balance of the nation has moved on."
According to the Nevada Secretary of State's Office, more than half of registered voters in the state submitted mail ballots during the 2022 election.
The bill was read on the Senate floor on Monday.
The matter was referred to the Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections.
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