What Is Mail Ballot Voting

Mail ballots accommodate voters who cannot or do not wish to vote in-person during early voting or on Election Day.  After the request is processed, the voter will be sent mail ballot voting materials, which include a paper ballot and voting instructions.  

Who May Vote by Mail

Any registered voter, for any reason, may request a mail ballot.  The request must be in WRITING.

First-Time Voters Who Did Not Provide Identification (I.D.) When They Registered May Be Required to Present I.D. When They Vote:  You may be required to present I.D. when you vote if you:  (a) Did not provide appropriate identification when you registered to vote in Clark County for the first time; and (b) Your registration data subsequently did not match DMV or Social Security Administration records (you will be notified by mail if this is the case); and (c) You have not yet voted in a Clark County election. 

You must provide a copy of appropriate I.D. when you request a mail ballot for the first time if ALL of the conditions above ((a), (b) and (c)) apply to you.  Acceptable forms of I.D. include:  (a)  Current and valid Nevada Driver's License or State I.D. Card (driver's licenses and I.D. cards from other states are NOT acceptable); or (b) Other current and valid identifying document, such as a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or document issued by a government entity such as a check with your name and residential address. 

If you do not include a copy of your I.D. with your mail ballot request, you may still submit it along with your voted mail ballot, inside the official return envelope.

If you still do not provide a copy of your I.D. along with your voted mail ballot, your ballot will become a provisional ballot.  Only your choices for federal offices, e.g., U.S. Senate and Congress, may be counted AND only if you submit a copy of your I.D. to the Election Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday after Election Day.

If you never provide required I.D., your ballot will not be counted.

When to Submit a Request

EACH CALENDAR YEAR, you must submit a properly completed mail ballot request to the Election Department in order to vote by mail that year.  Nevada does not provide for permanent mail ballot status.  This means you should submit your request for the 2010 elections no later than the deadlines listed below.  Certain exceptions apply to military and overseas voters (see below).  The Election Department must receive your request on or before the 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day:

Where to Get a Request for the 2010 Elections

The Election Department:

A printable request form for the 2010 elections is available by logging-in to the Registered Voter Services section of our home page and selecting the option Request a Mail Ballot from the dropdown menu.  If you are not registered or you incorrectly logged-in, you will receive the following message:  "No record found for your search criteria. You are either not registered to vote in Clark County, Nevada, or you incorrectly entered the required search information." 

Call 702-455-6552 to have a Mail Ballot Request Card sent to you.

Write Your Own Letter If You Do Not Have A Printer:  Click here for instructions.

How to Submit a Request

After properly completing your written request, mail, fax (702-455-2831) or hand deliver it to the Election Department by the deadline.

When to Expect Your Mail Ballot

In federal/state elections (even-numbered years), delivery of mail ballots begins 20 days before Election Day for in-state voters and 40-45 days before Election Day for out-of-state voters.  If you request a mail ballot and do not receive it at least 10 days before Election Day, IMMEDIATELY call 702-455-6552.  Do not delay as abbreviated timeframes make it difficult to receive, vote and return a mail ballot by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

How to Vote a Mail Ballot

Follow the Voting Instructions:  Carefully read and follow the instructions included with your mail ballot.  Return your voted mail ballot in the envelope provided for that purpose, whether you mail it or deliver it in-person.  You must also personally sign the outside of that envelope.  Accommodations are available for persons who cannot sign their name because of a disability.

When and How to Return a Voted Mail Ballot

Due Date and Time:  The Election Department must RECEIVE your voted mail ballot by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order for your ballot to be counted.

How to Send or Personally Deliver Your Voted Mail Ballot:

Postal Mail:  Use the pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided to you to mail your voted mail ballot.  Make sure you sign the outside of the envelope.

Personal Delivery:  You may deliver your voted mail ballot in-person. It must be inside of the envelope provided and you must sign the outside of the envelope.   The conditions below also apply: 

Who May Drop-Off Your Voted Mail Ballot:  Only the voter who requested the mail ballot or a family member may return the voted mail ballot.  If a family member returns it, he/she must sign a statement confirming he/she is a member of the voter’s family.  Call 702-455-6552 for more information.

Where to Drop-Off Your Voted Mail Ballot:  You may drop-off your voted mail ballot at the Election Department only, NOT at an early voting or Election Day polling place.  Per Nevada law, early voting and Election Day polling places cannot accept a voted mail ballot.

Voting In-Person Instead of by Mail

If you requested a mail ballot, you still have the option of voting on an electronic voting machine at an early voting site or at your Election Day polling place.  If you are in a mailing precinct (see section below on "Mailing Precincts"), you may vote in-person at any early vote site, but on Election Day in federal/state elections, you may vote in-person only at one of the Election Department's offices.

You will need to do one of the following when you vote in-person instead of by mail:

If You Have Your Mail Ballot:  Surrender your voted or unvoted mail ballot (preferably in the packet sent to you) to an election official at the voting site.  He/she will then process you to vote.

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.  An election official will verify your affirmation against Election Department records.

Mailing Precincts

Your Voter Registration Card will show if you are in a mailing precinct.  You may also call 455-VOTE (8683) or send an e-mail to elinfo@co.clark.nv.us to find out.  A precinct may be designated as a "mailing precinct" if it has 200 voters or less or if 200 voters or less voted in the last statewide general election.  Voters in mailing precincts:

Automatically Receive a Mail Ballot:  You do not have to request a mail ballot if you are registered in a mailing precinct, unless you want your ballot mailed to a different address.

May Vote In-Person During Early Voting:  You may vote at a polling site during the 14-day early voting period if you either surrender your mail ballot or sign an affirmation swearing you have not already voted in the current election.

In Federal/State Elections, May Vote In-Person on Election Day Only at the Election Department:  Per Nevada law, in federal/state elections, you may vote in-person on Election Day, but only at one of the Clark County Election Department's offices, and you must either surrender your mail ballot or sign an affirmation swearing you have not already voted in the current election.

Military and Overseas Residents

Registering and/or Voting by Mail:  To register and/or request a mail ballot, military personnel and their dependents temporarily living outside of the state of Nevada, and Clark County residents temporarily living overseas, should submit a “Registration and Absentee Ballot Request - Federal Post Card Application” (FPCA) instead of the standard Registration Application and/or Mail Ballot Request Card.  The FPCA mail ballot request is valid through the next two regularly scheduled general elections for federal offices (e.g., 2010 and 2012).

Obtaining and Completing an FPCA:  The FPCA is available through a variety of sources.  You may obtain it from Voting Officers at military bases, U.S. embassies or consulates.  It is also available from the Clark County Election Department and the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP).

Go to the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website for detailed information, as well as instructions for printing and completing the FPCA:

Sending Your Completed FPCA:  Send your properly completed FPCA DIRECTLY TO THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT.  You may either  fax it or mail it:

Questions:  If you have any questions, please contact the Election Department at 1-702-455-6552 or send an e-mail to elinfo@co.clark.nv.us.

Unlawful Acts

Fraudulently Requesting a Mail Ballot:  It is a felony for a person to fraudulently request a mail ballot in the name of another person or to induce or coerce another person to fraudulently request a mail ballot in the name of another person (NRS 293.313).

Voting More than Once:  It is a felony for an eligible voter to vote or attempt to vote more than once in the same election (NRS 293.780).

Bribery:  It is a felony to bribe, offer a bribe, or use any other corrupt means, directly or indirectly, to influence any voter in giving his vote or to deter him/her from giving it (NRS 293.700).