(Iris Stone) – Nevada lawmakers will soon be considering big changes to the state’s election system. Here are several proposed reforms aimed at improving transparency, security, and efficiency.
These changes will help restore trust in the system.
Key Proposals
- Independent Voter Roll Audits
Right now, the Secretary of State’s (SoS) office and county clerks audit voter rolls. The proposal suggests having an independent third party conduct these audits instead. This change, similar to what North Carolina recently adopted, aims to provide more transparency and prevent potential conflicts of interest.
- Regular Voter Roll Updates
The plan calls for a dedicated team to monitor and update voter rolls monthly. They would track new registrations, people moving out of state, and those who have passed away. Keeping the rolls clean could save money and reduce errors. This team would publish monthly or quarterly progress reports.
- Stricter Voter ID Requirements
A major part of the proposal focuses on voter ID. New rules would require documents proving identity, including photo, residency, and U.S. citizenship. To prevent falsification, it should be recognizable using certain colors, watermarks and/or symbols. Some forms of ID, like student or tribal IDs, would no longer be accepted.
- Replacing Signature Verification with Photo Proof
Once we have a trustworthy Voter ID, as outlined above, signature verification would no longer be required. Supporters say this would speed up election results and represent significant savings.
- Changes to Mail-in Voting
The proposal suggests eliminating universal mail ballots and returning to an “opt-in” system for absentee ballots. If mail voting stays, ballots would need to be received by 7 PM on Election Day, with results published the next morning.
- Ballot Harvesting Limits
Under the new plan, only household members could collect ballots, with a limit of five ballots per person. This rule aims to prevent fraud.
- Ending Automatic DMV Voter Registration
Nevada’s current system automatically registers people to vote when they get a driver’s license. The new proposal would end this practice to prevent bloated voter rolls and reduce costs.
- Publishing Voter Data
The plan requires the state to publish a list of eligible voters before voting begins and another list of who actually voted within 36 hours after the election. This will boost transparency.
- Prohibiting Outside Election Funding
Private organizations, such as the Center for Tech and Civic Life, have provided millions of dollars to local election offices. The proposal would ban such funding to prevent outside influence.
- Online Electronic Voting.
The NV SoS proposes to implement online voting for NV residents. He proposes the use of existing federal Military and Overseas Voting Act and related processes, where limited online voting is permitted.
In May 2020, the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) along with 3 other agencies (CISA, EAC and FBI) have published studies on the cyber security risks associated with electronic online Ballot Delivery, Ballot Marking and Ballot Return and strongly recommended against this approach.
Current technologies are not robust enough and put the trustworthiness of the ballots in question.
What Critics Say
Critics argue that some of these changes could make it harder for people to vote, especially those in rural areas or without easy access to government offices.
They also worry about removing automatic voter registration and restricting mail-in ballots, which many Nevadans rely on.
But these changes are necessary to ensure fair and accurate elections and address the growing concern among citizens about election integrity.
Lawmakers will debate the details in the coming months. Voters should stay informed and engaged, as these decisions will impact how elections are run in Nevada for years to come.
Stay tuned for updates as this proposal moves through the legislative process.
Ms. Stone is director of Citizen Outreaach’s “Pigpen Project” to clean up Nevada’s voter rolls. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
