Procedures

Description:  NRS 293.274 and 293.700 - 293.840 set out the rules for observation of voting by the public at polling places.  Anyone may observe voting at a polling place, i.e., no credentials are required.  An observer should ask for the polling place "Team Leader" when he/she arrives.  The Team Leader will direct the observer to a designated location within the polling place.  The observer must remain within this area at all times.  Limited special provisions are made for the media.

Required Form:  NAC 293.245 requires observers to sign a form at the polling place before beginning observation. The form is confirmation that the observer will:  (a) Not talk to voters within the polling place; (b) Not use a mobile telephone within the polling place; (c) Not advocate for or against a candidate, political party or ballot question; (d) Not argue for or against or challenge any decisions of county or city election personnel; (e) Not interfere with the conduct of voting; and (f) May be removed from the polling place by the county or city clerk for violating any state laws or regulations.

What Public Observers May Not Do

Public may NOT:

Disrupt Voting or Election Workers:  No one may disrupt the voting process or the work of polling place staff, e.g., observers must keep conversation with election workers to a minimum.

Converse with Voters:  Conversation with voters in the voting area is not allowed.

Electioneer/Campaign:  No one may electioneer/campaign inside the polling place, i.e., wearing or bringing any campaign item into the voting area is not allowed.

Use Electronic Communication Devices:  Observers and voters must turn off two-way radios and cell phones inside the voting area.

Photograph, Videotape or Sound Record Voting:  A member of the general public may not make a visual or audio reproduction of the conduct of voting at a polling place.  Cameras, audio recorders, video cameras, etc., must be deposited with the Team Leader.  Owners may retrieve their property when they leave the voting area.

What Public Observers May Do

Public observers MAY:

Sit or Stand in the Public Viewing Area: The Team Leader will designate the location and observers may view election activities from this area as long as they do not disrupt the election process.

Examine Completed Posting Logs:  ANYONE may view the completed Posting Logs.

What Media Representatives with 

Proper Credential May Do

Media representatives MAY:

Film Willing Persons Inside the Voting Area:  Filming must not violate the secrecy of a voter’s ballot, e.g., no direct or clear shots of a voter’s ballot, and must not disrupt the election process.

Interview Willing Persons:  Media representatives may interview willing persons outside of the polling place.