A Simple Reminder Card Could Cost Over a Million Dollars
Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar announced this week that his office is sending out postcards with a “voter checklist” to every active registered voter in the state. That’s about two million pieces of mail heading to Nevada mailboxes, all to remind folks about election dates and tell them to check their voter registration online.
The postcards list key dates for the 2026 primary and general elections. They remind voters to update their registration information. And they suggest people find their polling places ahead of time.
All good information, sure. But here’s what has some taxpayers scratching their heads: how much is this costing, and why can’t this information be included with the sample ballots that already go out before elections?
The Math Behind the Mailers
Let’s talk numbers. Nevada currently has about 2,105,361 active registered voters. The U.S. Postal Service charges different rates for bulk mail, but even with the best government discount, we’re looking at serious money.
For standard postcards sent through bulk mail, the cheapest rate runs about 35 to 43 cents per piece. That means postage alone could run between $737,000 and $905,000.
But wait, there’s more! The state has to pay for printing those two million postcards, which typically adds another 5 to 10 cents per card. Then there’s the cost of addressing and processing them.
All told, this friendly reminder could easily cost taxpayers well over a million dollars. And that’s using conservative estimates.
Universal Mail Ballot Budget
When the state passed its universal mail ballot law in 2021, Nevada budgeted $23 million dollars for the program. Adjusted for inflation and population growth, we estimate the cost amounted to ~$25.1 million last year.
Beyond the initial $12.2 million allocated for implementation, lawmakers later approved an additional $2.2 million in funding. Local expenses further illustrate the high cost of this system; for example, Carson City spent over $439,000 to conduct the 2024 General Election, with nearly $91,000 of that dedicated specifically to ballot printing, mailing, and legal advertising.
These significant investments are complicated by the fact that in the most recent general election, over 1.35 million mail ballots—roughly 67% of the total sent out—were never used by voters.
Despite spending tens of millions on a system where the majority of materials go to waste, the state is now moving forward with another expensive, universal postcard mailing to every active registered voter without disclosing the total cost to the public.
What the State Says
The postcards tell voters to visit vote.nv.gov to check their registration. They list early voting periods and election days. They even remind people to make sure their driver’s license is current.
Secretary Aguilar said in a statement:
“Whether it comes to updating voter registration, finding accurate information, or keeping the election dates on their fridges as a reminder going into 2026, this postcard is one way we can help ensure Nevadans receive reliable election details directly from election officials.”
Official election mail from the Secretary of State’s Office or local clerk/registrar will always display the ‘Official Election Mail’ logo, a registered trademark of the United States Postal Service.
Why Not Use Sample Ballots?
Here’s where taxpayers might reasonably ask some questions. Nevada already sends sample ballots to registered voters before elections. These mailings include polling locations, candidate information, and ballot questions. They’re going out anyway.
So why not include this “voter checklist” information in those sample ballot mailings? Adding an extra page or card to an existing mailing would cost far less than sending out two million separate postcards.
When government offices talk about helping voters, that’s great. But when they could accomplish the same goal for a fraction of the cost by piggybacking on existing mailings, taxpayers have every right to wonder about the real motivation.
A Pattern of Spending
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. Government at all levels seems increasingly eager to spend money on communications that duplicate existing efforts. We’ve seen it with COVID mailings, census reminders, and now election checklists.
Each individual mailing might seem reasonable on its own. But taken together, they represent a pattern of government spending that assumes taxpayers have bottomless pockets.
What Voters Really Need
Nevada voters already have multiple ways to get election information. The Secretary of State’s website is available 24/7. County clerks send out sample ballots. Local news media cover election dates extensively. Campaigns fill mailboxes with political mailers ahead of elelctions.
But at what cost? And couldn’t that same million-plus dollars be used for actual election security improvements, better voting equipment, or keeping our voter rolls clean and accurate?
Moving Forward
Conservatives who believe in limited government and fiscal responsibility should ask their elected officials some simple questions. How much exactly will this postcard campaign cost? Why wasn’t this information included in existing voter mailings? And what measurable benefit will taxpayers see from this expense?
Good intentions don’t justify wasteful spending. And reminding people to do something they already know they should do doesn’t require a million-dollar postcard campaign.
Nevada voters are smart enough to find election information when they need it. What they really need is a government that respects their tax dollars and looks for efficient ways to communicate rather than expensive ones.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
