Vetoed election measure would change voting and ballot rules

County clerks would treat an active voter’s move to another county as an update to voter registration, rather than a new registration, in the stated circumstances. The rule covers active registered voters who move to another county and register there, including through an automatic voter registration agency. Except for an exception in NRS 293.5832, the voter could not be required to cast a provisional or conditional ballot solely because of the address update. The provision would apply upon the act’s general effective date, July 1, 2025, if approved and enacted.

Mail-ballot counting boards would have to begin counting received mail ballots 15 days before an election and process each ballot within 24 hours after receiving it. The rules would apply to county and city mail-ballot central counting boards. The Secretary of State could grant a waiver when a board cannot meet the 24-hour processing deadline. A waiver could not allow the board to finish counting after the deadline for completing the full count. The counting process would remain public. The 15-day counting period would begin before each election, and the 24-hour processing period would start when each mail ballot is received.

State election rules would require votes to be counted by mechanical voting systems, while the Secretary of State would run a grant program for election administration and voter access. The counting rule would cover statewide, county, city, and district elections; grants could go to counties, cities, and tribal governments. Local governments ending a contract for a currently used voting system would need an approved transition plan and a signed contract for a replacement system. Grants could support election equipment, election workers, voter education, outreach, and other approved expenses. Grant money would depend on money deposited in the new account, and grants would be subject to program rules and application approval. The measure would take effect for preparatory work upon passage and approval and for other purposes on July 1, 2025, if approved and enacted.