Election issues are heating up again in the Silver State.
Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and Attorney General Aaron Ford have joined a lawsuit with officials from other Democrat-run states to block President Trump’s executive order on elections. This move puts them at odds with many Nevada voters who have been calling for stronger election safeguards.
What’s Happening?
On March 25, President Trump signed an executive order on election administration that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and demands all mail ballots be received by Election Day. Attorney General Ford and Secretary of State Aguilar claim this is an “unlawful federal overreach” on election administration.
Aguilar has called the order “an unlawful attempt to grab power from both the states and Congress,” arguing that “states have primary responsibility for the administration of elections” under the Constitution.
But many Nevadans see things differently. The executive order tackles two major concerns that conservatives have raised for years: making sure only citizens vote and ending the drawn-out vote counting that has plagued our state.
Why the Order Makes Sense
Governor Joe Lombardo addressed these exact concerns in his January 2025 State of the State address. “It makes zero sense to keep counting ballots four days after an election,” he said. “We can be proud that Nevada is one of the easiest places to cast a vote but it’s time we make sure the votes are in and counted by Election Day.”
The governor is right. When votes keep coming in days after the polls close, it creates confusion and suspicion. President Trump’s order would fix this problem by requiring all mail ballots to be received by Election Day – just like Lombardo proposed.
As the Nevada Globe recently pointed out, Nevada’s “drawn-out process left everyone waiting, with final calls delayed in tight races.” This uncertainty isn’t good for anyone. Requiring ballots to arrive by Election Day would allow officials to announce results much faster, building more trust in our elections.
The Lawsuit’s Problems
Ford and Aguilar claim they’re protecting state sovereignty, but their lawsuit actually works against election reforms that Nevadans want. In November 2024, voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question requiring voter ID, showing strong support for election integrity measures.
Governor Lombardo highlighted this victory in his State of the State address while pushing for more reforms, including changing the deadline to count mail ballots – a change that would align perfectly with Trump’s executive order.
These officials seem more interested in fighting the Trump administration than listening to Nevada voters who are tired of mail ballot chaos and late vote counting.
What This Means for Conservatives
For those who value election integrity, this lawsuit is deeply concerning. Instead of working with the federal government to ensure only citizens vote and results are known on election night, our state officials are fighting to preserve a system that many Nevadans distrust.
This isn’t the first time concerns have been raised about Nevada’s election administration. Earlier this year, the Republican National Committee filed a lawsuit against Secretary Aguilar alleging failures to properly maintain voter rolls, with the RNC claiming that some counties have inflated voter rolls that don’t comply with federal law.
The Trump executive order would help address these concerns by requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and ending the practice of counting ballots that arrive after Election Day.
The fight for election integrity is just beginning. As conservatives, we need to stand firm in supporting common-sense measures that ensure our elections are fair, transparent, and decided on Election Day – not days or weeks later.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
