May 24th, 2016
The deadline to register to vote online at RegisterToVoteNV.gov or in-person at your local election office for the June Primary Election is this coming Tuesday, May 24th. Existing voter registration information can be viewed on the Secretary of State’s website at NVSOS.gov/VoterSearch or the Washoe County of Registrar’s website at WashoeCounty.us/Voters.
Please note that the deadline to register to vote by mail has passed. Registering to vote by mail includes submitting an application with a voter registration drive, third-party, or a State voter registration agency (DMV, Department of Health and Human Services, etc.).
Sample Ballots
Nevada law requires local election officials to provide all active registered voters with a sample ballot. All sample ballots have been distributed for the June 14th Primary Election – if you did not receive your sample ballot it is a good idea to check the status of your voter registration using the methods mentioned above to ensure you are still registered to vote and that you record has not been changed or removed due to state and federal maintenance procedures. Again, registrants can check their registration online at My Voter File (NVSOS.gov/VoterSearch) or on the Washoe County Registrar of Voters’ website (WashoeCounty.us/Voters).
Challenging a Voter Registration
Ever wonder why the list of registered voters is public information or published in the newspaper? An obvious reason is to provide registered voters with the ability to see that they are still registered. At the same time it also allows the public to check the name of those who might not be eligible to vote. During a period that begins on 5/16 and ends on 5/20 written challenges regarding a voter registration can be filed with the county election official. If you have questions about a voter registration contact the Washoe County Registrar of Voters at WashoeCounty.us/Voters.
Voting System Testing
During the two weeks prior to the first ballot being cast, Nevada’s local election officials are hard at work performing rigorous Logic and Accuracy Testing (Pre-LAT) on each component of the voting system. Testing includes a dry-run of county-made test ballots to certify whether each component is functioning correctly as well as reviewing the Hash Value (software’s digital fingerprint). These tests and tabulation documentation are open for public observation. For more information about the tests being conducted or to observe contact your local election official or me by clicking my name below.
Justus Wendland is a member of the Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network and works for the Nevada Secretary of State’s office. Before moving to Nevada in 2012, Justus worked in the same capacity in the Montana Secretary of State’s office to ensure state election and voting laws and procedures are compliant with Federal regulations, including the Help America Vote Act (the federal law formed to, among other things, ensure there are no more hanging, swinging ballot chads).
