Nevada Voting Guide: How to Vote and Where to Vote in Las Vegas

2020 has been a heck of a year so far, and if you haven’t noticed yet, it’s also a General Election year!  Listed below, you’ll find information about how to register to vote in Las Vegas and Henderson (Clark County), Nevada absentee voting by mail, early voting, and election info and resources.

We can’t emphasize enough how important it is for every American age 18 and over to cast an educated vote in our elections! Voting is one of our most basic and important rights, and it truly makes a difference on the way our local government, state government, and federal government is run.

We don’t care who you vote for, or how you choose to vote…just vote!

Let me mention as well, if you are a registered voter, you should have already received election information and your sample ballot in the mail.  If you have not, please check that you are registered to vote and that your address is correct.  Early voting begins Saturday.

Key Elections Dates for the General Election, November 2020
General election voter mail-in registration deadline: Oct. 6, 2020
Register to vote in-person:  Oct. 6, 2020
Register to vote online deadline: Oct. 29, 2020
Early voting and mail-in voting begins: Oct. 17, 2020
Early voting and mail-in voting ends: Oct. 30, 2020
Deadline to request absentee ballot: Oct.20, 2020
General election: November 3, 2020

*Absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 3, and same-day registration is available during Early Voting and on Election Day.

Register to Vote Las Vegas

You must be registered to vote in Nevada, and make sure your mailing address is correct.  If you aren’t sure if you are registered, you can check to see if you are registered here.   You will need a drivers license or ID card number and social security number to check.

If you are already a registered voter, your information will come up, so check to be sure your address is current, etc.  This page also allows you to check a box to be placed on a voluntary ‘do not call’ list as well.  If you need to make changes to your registration such as name or address changes, or party affiliation changes,  you must submit another voter application form.  To update your current voter registration information visit RegisterToVoteNV.gov.

Online Voter Registration
Online voter registration is now available for residents of all Nevada counties.  Eligible voters can register to vote and update their voter registration information online, including change of address and party affiliation.  A DMV issued Driver’s License or ID is required.

***VISIT RegisterToVoteNV.gov TO REGISTER TO VOTE OR UPDATE YOUR REGISTRATION ONLINE***

You can find more information on registering to vote in NV here, including Military & overseas registration, mail-in and in-person registration, and pre-registering for 17 year olds.

Nevada Elected Officials and Term Limits

Elected offices of government have different terms lengths, so there aren’t elections for every office each year. Many federal, state, and local offices are elected every four years, including the U.S. president, the Governor of Nevada, and Nevada mayors.  Nevada Supreme Court Justices are elected to six year terms.

U.S. Senate seats are elected every six years, while U.S. Representatives are every two years.

In the Nevada State legislature, Senators are elected every four years. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such that half of the seats are contested at each election.  Term limits, limiting senators to three 4-year terms (12 years), took effect in 2010.  Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms  with term limits of six terms (12 years).

How to Vote in Nevada

The 2020 general election, which will be held on Tuesday, November 3, will be a “hybrid” election.  All active registered voters will be sent a ballot in the mail, but voters can choose to vote in person instead of casting a mail ballot if they want to. The decision of how to vote will be up to each individual voter.  No voter will be forced to vote using a method with which they are not comfortable.

Even though all active registered voters will receive a blank ballot in the mail for the 2020 general election, voters can choose to vote in person at a polling place instead of voting by mail.  Voter who choose to vote in person will have two options, early voting dates and Election Day voting.

Absentee Voting

Any registered voter may request to vote by mail. To request an absentee ballot, you must complete and submit an Absent Ballot Request Form to the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters in the county where you are registered to vote. Residents of Las Vegas and Henderson, in Clark County, may obtain the form from their website at http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/vote.

If you need more information on absentee voting in Clark County, please see here.  This page will give you information on Permanent Absent Voting, all deadlines for absent ballots, and identity and residency requirements (with examples) for first time voters.

Benefits of Absentee Voting by mail

• Vote early
• Vote when it’s convenient and comfortable. You won’t feel rushed to finish your ballot and can take your time researching and making your selections
• Do not have to vote in public if you have illness or health risks
• Avoid the chance of lines at the polls on Election Day

Make sure your Absentee vote counts, please note:  Absent ballots must be dropped off by 7 p.m. on Election Day.  If returned by mail, absent ballots must be postmarked by Election Day.  Absent ballots that are postmarked by Election Day and received no later than 7 days after the election will be counted.

Nevada residents who are students in another state or are otherwise temporarily residing in another state may vote in the 2020 Nevada general election.  To ensure your ballot gets mailed to you at your out-of-state address, you will need to update the mailing address associated with your voter registration record.  This can be done online by visiting www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov.  This website can also be used to register to vote if you are not currently a registered voter in Nevada.  Mail ballots are non-forwardable, meaning they will not be forwarded even if a voter has a mail forwarding service.

If you decide to vote in-person instead of by mail, you will need to do one of the following:
• If you have your mail ballot, surrender your voted or unused mail ballot (preferably in the packet sent to you) to an election official at the voting site.
• If you do not have your mail ballot, you will sign an affirmation at the voting site swearing that you have not already voted in the current election and that you understand no one may attempt to vote or actually vote more than once in the same election.

Your Sample Ballot

Voting will be EASIER for you and FASTER for everyone if you study, mark, and bring your sample ballot with you when you vote. Sample ballots contain an early voting schedule, election day vote centers, a copy of your ballot to mark choices before you go, and detailed ballot question information including arguments for and against it.  It is invaluable information, please do not wait until you are in the voting booth to review it.

Sample ballots are now available in both electronic and paper form and will contain a bar code that you may scan to check in at your polling location.

Sample ballots will be mailed after the voter registration deadline, and electronic sample ballots will be available for online viewing beginning October 7th.  You must submit an online request to receive an electronic sample ballot.  You can log in to your Registered Voter Services on the Clark County elections webpage and choose from the drop-down menu to request an electronic ballot, or after Oct 6, you can view your electronic ballot.

Where to Vote in Clark County

Early Voting:

If you don’t choose to request an absentee ballot by mail, you can use early voting days and locations in order to cast your votes prior to Election Day.  Early voting typically allows for shorter lines to vote compared to Election Day.  More convenient to vote when it works for you, including some evenings and weekends.  Please plan ahead, even for early voting!  There are millions of residents in Clark County, so be prepared for possible lines and waiting even during early voting hours and days. 

Voters can vote at any location in their respective county where early voting is offered. Early voting offers the following benefits:

• Makes voting more accessible to more citizens;
• Increases voter participation rates;
• Allows more accurate and efficient ballot counts;
• Reduces administrative costs to the taxpayer; and
• Creates a more informed and thoughtful electorate.

Early voting in Nevada begins on October 17 and ends October 30.

Please visit the early voting link above and click on the Clark County link for early voting sites.  There is a short list already of early voting sites, and more will be added as the election nears.  Hours for All Long-Term Early Voting Sites Are October 17-29 (Saturday-Thursday), 9am-7pm, and October 30 (Last Friday), 9am-8pm.

During early voting, go to www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/Vote for a link to an interactive, mobile device enabled map for finding that day’s nearby sites and their approximate wait times.

Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay

Election Day voting in Las Vegas:

Election Day voting can be a longer experience than expected.  If you can early vote or choose to vote absentee,  it could save you lots of time.  If you choose to vote on Election Day, November 3, 2020, be as prepared as possible.

Polling locations open at 7:00 am on Election Day and remain open until 7:00 pm.  As long as you are in line by 7:00 pm, you will be allowed to vote.

Please visit this page for Election Day Voting Center Locations across Clark County.  This is an updated list, can tell you whether the location is in Henderson, LV or North LV, and if it’s held at a school, which grade level school it is at.  There is also an easy to follow map attached.  You no longer have to go to one specific “assigned” Election Day polling place. Instead, you may choose the most convenient Vote Center for you from among the 172 that are available.  It does not matter where you live in Clark County or what your precinct is.

If you plan on voting on Election Day, be prepared for long waiting times, probably in the sun.  Please remember, we will also be practicing social distancing, which will make lines appear much longer than they would normally.  Print out this map and take it with you, you don’t want to miss your chance to be heard.

Keep your place in line. As long as you are in line when the polls close, you are allowed to cast your ballot. If you leave the line, you may not be able to vote.

Voters with Disabilities

The Nevada Secretary of State’s Office is committed to improving the physical accessibility of all polling locations as well as ensuring an individual’s ability to vote with independence at any polling location.

In April 2020, they opened up Nevada’s Effective Absentee System for Elections, or EASE, to Nevada residents with disabilities. EASE is an online application that seamlessly integrates voter registration and electronic ballot delivery and marking. EASE allows further independence and enables covered voters to register, request, mark and return their ballots from the comforts of their own homes. EASE is available for elections with a federal contest on the ballot 45 days before Election Day at NVEASE.gov.

I Vote to Honor a Service Member

“I Vote to Honor a Service Member” is a program to recognize the service and dedication of the men and women who are or have served in our armed forces by encouraging voters to cast their ballot in the names of those who fight to defend our liberty and to protect our right to vote.

Nevadans can show their support for a family member, a friend, a neighbor or a military unit by submitting a personal message or tribute.  Participants will receive a pin to wear when they go to cast their ballot.

To participate in the program, you can complete an I Vote to Honor postcard and return it to the Secretary of State’s office, either by mail or in-person or you can complete an online form by clicking here.   Limit 1 pin per person.  You can sign up by visiting either link above.

Please be advised, there is a lot of misinformation circulating about the 2020 general election in Nevada. In order to educate voters and separate the facts from fiction, the Secretary of State in Nevada has prepared a helpful document titled “Facts vs Myths.”  If you have heard things about the election but you’re not sure if what you have heard is true, definitely check out this resource.

2020 General Election Facts vs Myths

For more information regarding the 2020 general election, including our ballot questions, see here.   If you have more questions, you can check out other Election FAQs here.

I hope this information has been helpful to you and that you are fully prepared to make an educated vote this November.  You can get daily email updates of all the free and cheap events, plus deals and discounts on entertainment and dining, by subscribing to our daily newsletter. For even more cheap fun, “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.