Nevada Resources for Voters with Disabilities

U.S. Vote Foundation's Nevada Voters with Disabilities Guide provides valuable resources including information on accessible voting options, voter rights, and guidance on the voting process. This essential Nevada guide empowers individuals to exercise their right to vote in a private, independent, and accessible way.

What are my rights as a voter with a disability in Nevada?

In Nevada, you have the right to the following as protected by federal law. Election staff must respect these rights:

  • Accessible voter registration
  • Accessible polling places
  • Policies and procedures that do not discriminate against you based on your disability
  • Accessible, available, and operational voting systems, features
  • Your service animal to accompany you inside the polling place
  • The right to vote privately and independently or with assistance, if needed
  • Assistance from a person of choice, who can be a friend, family member, or poll worker (but not your boss, union agent, or a candidate unless this person is your family member)
  • Election Staff trained to understand the rights above.

Nevada also has a Voter’s Bill of Rights, which reads as follows:

  1. Each voter has the right to receive and cast a ballot that is written in a format that allows the clear identification of candidates, and accurately records the voter's preference in the selection of candidates.
  2. Each voter has the right to have his or her questions concerning voting procedures answered and to have an explanation of the procedures for voting posted in a conspicuous place at the polling place. 
  3. Each voter has the right to vote without being intimidated, threatened or coerced.
  4. Each voter has the right to vote on Election Day if the voter is waiting in line at his or her polling place to vote before 7:00 PM.
  5. Each voter has the right to return a spoiled ballot and is entitled to receive another ballot in its place. 
  6. Each voter has the right to request assistance in voting, if necessary.
  7. Each voter has the right to a sample ballot which is accurate, informative and delivered in a timely manner.
  8. Each voter has the right to receive instruction in the use of the equipment for voting during early voting or on Election Day.
  9. Each voter has the right to have nondiscriminatory equal access to the elections system, including, without limitation, a voter who is elderly, disabled, a member of a minority group, employed by the military, or a citizen who is overseas.
  10. Each voter has the right to have a uniform, statewide standard for counting and recounting all votes accurately. 
  11. Each voter has the right to have complaints about election contests resolved fairly, accurately and efficiently.

 

 

Federal law requires assistance in registering to vote from offices that provide public assistance or state-funded programs serving people with disabilities. Responsibilities of that office include:

  • Providing voter registration forms
  • Assisting voters in completing the forms
  • Transmitting completed forms to the appropriate election official
  • All aspects of voter registration must be accessible
What are the rules of assistance for disabled voters in Nevada?
  • You may request assistance from a poll worker or receive assistance from a person of your choice with the following exceptions:  
    • your employer, an agent of your employer
    • an officer or agent of your union
    • a candidate on the ballot
       
  • A poll worker cannot force you to accept assistance.
What are the ways to request an Absentee Ballot in Nevada?
  • All registered voters in Nevada automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot
     
  • Nevada's Effective Absentee System for Elections, or EASE, to Nevada residents with disabilities. 
    • EASE is an online application that allows 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.
       
  • Requesting Emergency Absentee Status after Statutory Request Date Has Elapsed
    • Nevada has an emergency absentee voting program. An absentee ballot can be brought to you at a hospital or other medical facility in certain emergency circumstances.
    • Requests for an emergency absentee ballot must be made in writing and submitted any time before 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election. 
    • Such requests must be due to an illness or disability resulting in confinement to a medical facility (including nursing homes), sudden hospitalization, serious illness, or being called away from home after the time has elapsed for requesting a standard absentee ballot. 
    • Please contact your county clerk/registrar for more information.
How is the Nevada mail-in or absentee ballot process made accessible for voters with print disabilities?

Nevada's Effective Absentee System for Elections, or EASE, is available to Nevada residents with disabilities. EASE is an online application that seamlessly integrates voter registration and electronic ballot delivery and marking.

You can also contact your local election official for more information or assistance.

What accommodations are available for voters with disabilities at polling locations in Nevada?

Federal law requires polling places to meet minimum compliance standards for individuals with special needs. 

Every polling location in Nevada is required to have at least one designated voting booth that is accessible for elderly persons or persons with a disability. 

  • This includes ample room for wheelchair access as well as voting equipment that ensures maximum privacy and the right of all citizens to vote with independence and dignity. 
     
  • Nevada's ADA compliant voting machines are 
    • equipped with mechanical audio units as well as "sip and puff" capabilities
    • have large print/zoom capabilities and alternatively each polling place has screen magnifiers for those who would prefer to use the magnifiers versus the built in zoom function.

When you arrive at your polling location, please let a poll worker know if you would like use the ADA compliant voting booth and voting machine. You have the right to use an accessible voting machine and poll workers should be trained on how to use it. Please allow for extra time because while these machines allow a person to vote independently, they may require additional set-up time. 

Nye County has switched to a paper ballot system, but they should still have an accessible electronic voting machine for anyone who requests them.

To find out more about accessible voting and your polling location, please contact your local election official prior to visiting your polling location.

How can I prepare to use accessible voting equipment in Nevada prior to Election Day?

You should be able to access a sample ballot and practice with equipment. Contact your local election official for information on how to prepare to use accessible voting equipment prior to Election Day.

Who do I contact if I have problems when voting in Nevada?
  • Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center (NDALC) is the state's designated Protection & Advocacy agency.
    • NDALC advocates for accessibility for all people with disabilities in the election and the voting process
    • If you have a concern about voting access or your right to vote
  • If you'd like to file a complaint:
     
    • You can fill-out and submit a Complaint Form to the Nevada Secretary of State office. This form should be submitted by mail, email, or fax along with supporting documents to:
      • Mail:    State of Nevada 
                      Secretary of State 
                      101 North Carson Street 
                      Carson City, NV  89701  
      • Email:  nvelect@sos.nv.gov
      • Fax:  775-684-5718

You can alternatively fill out a Violation of Civil Rights Complaint Form and submit it to the US Department of Justice by one of the following methods:

  • Online, through the form’s submission process - this is the fastest method.
     
  • By fax at (202) 616-9881. You MUST include “ATTN: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Complaints" at the top of your fax submission for it to be processed correctly.
     
  • By mailing your form to: 
         U.S. Department of Justice
         Office of the Inspector General
         Investigations Division
         ATTN: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Complaints
         950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
         Washington, DC 20530
Additional Resources
State-specific Resources Guide for Voters With Disabilities
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