Existing law authorizes, under certain circumstances, a candidate defeated at certain elections to demand and receive a recount of the vote for the office for which he or she is a candidate if he or she deposits the estimated costs for the recount. (NRS 293.403) Section 1 of this bill instead: (1) authorizes a defeated candidate to demand a recount in certain elections if the difference between the highest number of votes cast for a candidate for the office and the number of votes cast for the defeated candidate who demands the recount is 5 percent or less; and (2) reorganizes the provisions of existing law that set forth how the estimated costs of the recount are determined. Section 1 additionally requires, with certain exceptions, a recount of the vote for an office to be conducted, at no cost to any candidate, if the difference between the highest number of votes cast for a candidate for the office and the next highest number of votes cast for a candidate for the office is 0.25 percent or less. Such a recount is not required to be conducted if the format of the ballot allowed a voter to select more than one candidate for the office, unless the difference between the number of votes cast in the election for the candidate with the lowest number of votes who won the election and the next highest number of votes cast for a candidate for the office is 0.25 percent or less. Existing law authorizes a voter at an election to demand and receive a recount of the vote for a ballot question if the registered voter deposits the estimated costs of the recount. (NRS 293.403) Section 1: (1) instead authorizes a voter to demand and receive a recount of the vote for a ballot question only if the difference between the results of the ballot question being approved or disapproved is 5 percent or less; and (2) additionally requires a recount of the vote for a ballot question to be conducted if the difference between the results of the ballot question being approved or disapproved is 0.25 percent or less. Sections 2-5 of this bill make conforming changes to account for the changes to the recount process made pursuant to section 1. Existing law: (1) requires, under certain circumstances, the State Board of Examiners to repay the allowable costs from the Reserve for Statutory Contingency Account to each county for a recount that concerns an office or ballot question for which voting is statewide; and (2) sets forth a process for the review, submission and approval of such costs. (NRS 293.405) If a recount of the vote for an office or ballot question for which voting is statewide is required pursuant to section 1, rather than demanded, section 3 requires: (1) the clerk of each county to submit a statement of its costs in the recount to the Secretary of State for review and approval; (2) the Secretary of State to submit such statements to the State Board of Examiners; and (3) the State Board of Examiners to repay the allowable costs from the Reserve for Statutory Contingency Account to the respective counties. Existing law requires the Secretary of State to serve as the Chief Officer of Elections for this State and to be responsible for the execution and enforcement of the provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes and all other provisions of state and federal law relating to elections. (NRS 293.124) Section 7 of this bill requires the Secretary of State to establish and administer the Voter Access Grant Program to provide grants of money from the Account for the Voter Access Grant Program created by section 8 of this bill to eligible entities to support the administration of elections and improve voter access. For the purpose of providing such grants, an “eligible entity” is defined by section 7 to mean a county, city or tribal government.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 293.403, 293.404, 293.405, 293.413, 293B.400
Reprint 1: 293.403, 293.404, 293.405, 293.413, 293B.400
BDR: 293.403, 293.404, 293.405, 293.413, 293B.400