Nevada Legislature Sends Several Pro-Voting Bills to Governor

By Caroline Sullivan

UPDATE: On Wednesday, June 14 and Thursday, June 15, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) also signed Assembly Bill 286, which improves ballot access for eligible, incarcerated voters by requiring jails to better provide voting materials, and Assembly Bill 192, which standardizes the design of mail-in ballot return envelopes and clarifies electioneering rules.

UPDATE: On Wednesday, June 14 and Thursday, June 15, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) signed two bills into law: Senate Bill 54, which requires the secretary of state to produce an election manual submitted for legislative approval and Senate Bill 327, which streamlines the establishment of polling places and drop boxes on Native American reservations. 

On Friday, June 16, Lombardo vetoed three pro-voting bills: Assembly Bill 242, which would have required two, rather than one accessible voting machine at each polling location and required the use of electronic tabulators, Assembly Bill 246, which would have expanded voting materials and assistance in languages other than English and Senate Bill 443, which would have expanded the types of identification accepted for same-day registration.

Two more election bills, Assembly Bill 192 and Assembly Bill 286, still await gubernatorial action.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, June 5, the Nevada Legislature adjourned its 2023 regular session after sending a dozen election reform bills to Gov. Joe Lombardo (R). The bills passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature that await gubernatorial action include:

  • Assembly Bill 246, which would expand voting materials and assistance in languages other than English,
  • Assembly Bill 286, which would improve ballot access for eligible, incarcerated voters by requiring jails to better provide voting materials,
  • Senate Bill 327, which would streamline the establishment of polling places and drop boxes on Native American reservations and
  • Senate Bill 443, which would expand the types of identification accepted for same-day registration.

Additionally, the Legislature passed Assembly Joint Resolution 6, a resolution not subject to gubernatorial veto, that would allow the state to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. The compact is an alternative to the Electoral College that would ensure that the winner of the national popular vote becomes president. The resolution seeks to amend the state constitution, so it must pass the Legislature again next session before heading to voters in November 2026.

Already, Lombardo has signed two pro-voting bills into law. Senate Bill 216, signed on June 9, will improve voting access for Native American voters. The law establishes meetings between election clerks and tribal leaders to coordinate voting locations and permits Native voters residing on reservations to utilize an electronic transmission system for voting typically reserved for overseas and military voters and voters with disabilities. 

Senate Bill 406, signed into law on May 30, creates new offenses designed to protect election officials from intimidation and election interference. “I want election workers to know that the secretary of state’s office has their back,” said Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar (D) at the bill signing ceremony.
Lombardo has also vetoed several election bills including legislation that would penalize fake electors, require the secretary of state to create a plan if the certification of election results are delayed and tweak the statute governing voter challenges. Given Lombardo’s mixed actions, it is unclear if he will sign these newest election reforms.