How to Vote in Nevada’s 2022 Elections

En español | Nevada’s Nov. 8 general election will determine races for the U.S. Senate and House, the state legislature, governor and other state offices. The primary was June 14. 

Essential info:

• Ballot-by-mail voting: All registered Nevada voters will receive a ballot in the mail, as stipulated by the new voting law. 

• Early in-person voting: This option begins on Saturday, Oct. 22, for the general election and runs through Friday, Nov. 4.
  
• In-person voting on Election Day: The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

What's new this year?

A state voting law passed in 2021 made changes, including the creation of a universal ballot-by-mail process and changed ballot deadlines. A redistricting plan may impact the boundaries of your district and which candidates run there. 

What races are on the ballot and who's running?

• Governor: incumbent Steve Sisolak (D), Joe Lombardo (R)
• U.S. Senate: incumbent Catherine Cortez Masto (D), Adam Laxalt (R)
• U.S. House: all 4 seats 
• State Senate: 11 of 21 seats 
• State Assembly: all 42 seats 
  

How do I register to vote?

• Online: Eligible voters with a current driver’s license or ID card issued by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles can register by visiting www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov on the secretary of state’s website. If you’re a member of a tribal nation, your tribal ID card works the same way as any government ID card. You can also go to the Nevada voter registration page to check your registration information, to update your name and address, and to change your party affiliation. The deadline to register online is Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 6:59 p.m.

• By mail: Download and complete the voter registration form. You should print two copies of the application. One you will sign and mail to your county clerk or registrar of voters’ office. The other copy you should keep as a receipt. If you have questions about completing the form, call the secretary of state’s office at 775-684-5705 or email the office at nvelect@sos.nv.gov. You can also call or email your county clerk or registrar of voters’ office with questions or to ask for the registration form to be mailed to you. 

• In person: Visit your county clerk or registrar of voters’ office. Eligible voters can also register to vote at any Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles office, military recruitment office or Nevada voter registration agency, as listed by the secretary of state’s office.  

To receive a ballot by mail, you must register to vote or update your voter registration information no later than Tuesday, Oct. 25. 

Same-day registration is also an option, allowing first-time voters or those who need to update their registration information to register on the day they vote, whether they vote early or on Election Day. To do this you must vote in person at a polling location and have a valid Nevada driver’s license, ID card or tribal ID card. If your license or ID card does not include your address, you’ll need to provide proof of residence, too, with a utility bill, paycheck, bank statement or other acceptable document listed on the secretary of state’s website.   

Verify your voter registration information on the registered voter services page of the secretary of state’s website. 
 

How does the universal ballot-by-mail process work?

All registered voters are sent a ballot by mail. You should receive yours around the end of September for the general election.  

You can return your signed and completed ballot in the following ways: 

• By mail: Your ballot will arrive with a prepaid, pre-addressed return envelope. As long as your completed ballot is postmarked by Election Day, your vote will count.   

• In person: Bring your completed ballot to a drop box, which can be found at your county clerk or registrar of voters’ office, or to polling locations in your county during the early-voting period and on Election Day. Detailed information about drop-off options will appear on the secretary of state’s website by the time early voting begins. Ballots must be dropped off by 7 p.m. on Election Day. 

Note that Nevada law gives clerks seven days to finish counting mail ballots, so election results will not be determined until at least seven days after an election. If you have any questions about this process, call the secretary of state’s office at 775-684-5705. 

Can I track my ballot?

Yes. You can sign up with BallotTrax to receive updates about your ballot by text, email, phone or all three. You can also contact your county clerk or registrar of voters’ office to check on your ballot’s status.  

What if I don't want a mail ballot?

If you want to opt out of automatically receiving a ballot by mail because you’d prefer to vote in person or for another reason, you can submit a form in English, Spanish or Tagalog to your county clerk or registrar of voters’ office.  Or you can fill out an online opt-out application through the registered voter services page. The deadline to opt out is Friday, Sept. 9.

If you do not opt out, you can still vote in person, as long as you have not submitted your mail ballot. Or, if you opt out but then decide you’d like to receive an absentee ballot, which is the same as a mail-in ballot, you can request one through the registered voter services page.  

Can I vote in person before Election Day?

Yes. Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 22, and runs through Friday, Nov. 4.

Details about where and when you can vote early will be posted on the secretary of state’s website or available from your county clerk or registrar of voters’ office before early voting starts.  

When is Election Day? When are polls open?

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

You can cast your ballot at any voting center or polling location in your county. To find your county’s polling locations, log in to the secretary of state’s registered voter services page.  

If you’re in line to vote when the polls close, you should be permitted to cast your ballot.  

Do I need identification to vote?

No, unless you did not show identification when you registered. 

Every person who registers to vote in Nevada must provide one of the following:  

• Nevada driver’s license or state ID number 
• The last four digits of a Social Security number 
• A tribal ID number   

Registration applications are run through the system to confirm a match. If your application matches, even if you’re a first-time voter, you will not need to provide ID at a polling location or when you vote by mail. 

If, however, your application comes up as “no match” or your mailed voter registration card bounces back as undeliverable and you fail to respond to a letter alerting you to this discrepancy, you will need to show an acceptable ID (listed above) when you vote or include a copy of an acceptable ID with your mail ballot.  

If you do not have an acceptable form of ID, contact your county clerk or registrar of voters’ office, which can assign you a unique number to use to vote.  

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on June 26, 2022, with information about the general election. The guide was first published on Aug. 5, 2020. 
 
Also of Interest: 

• Follow AARP's political coverage at aarp.org/elections.   
• Keep up with local events and AARP advocacy efforts at aarp.org/nv.