Last Updated on July 27, 2011

Campaigning / Electioneering               Public Observation of Voting               Posting Logs

Campaigning / Electioneering

Restrictions

The rules for electioneering and campaigning are in the Nevada Revised Statutes’ sections 293.3572, 293.361 and 293.740. The rules differ for early voting and election day electioneering:

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Early Voting:

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If the voting site is located on PRIVATE PROPERTY (mall, supermarket, etc.), no electioneering is allowed on the owner’s property without the owner’s permission (NRS 293.3572)

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If the voting site is located on PUBLIC PROPERTY, no one may electioneer within 100 feet of the voting area (NRS 293.361).

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Election Day:
No one may electioneer within 100 feet of the entrance to the building or structure in which a polling place is located (NRS 293.740).

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Public Observation:
Public observation rules also apply (see below).

Definition

NRS 293.740 defines electioneering as campaigning for or against a candidate, ballot question or political party by:

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Posting signs

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Distributing literature

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Using loudspeakers

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Buying, selling, wearing or displaying any badge, button or other insignia, except that a person may wear political insignia while voting only if he/she is reasonably unable to cover it

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Soliciting signatures of any kind

Signs

The Clark County Election Department has no jurisdiction regarding political signage. For information about signs on property under the jurisdiction of:

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Clark County
Contact the Public Response Office:

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Online Complaint Form

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E-mail

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Telephone:  (702) 455-4191

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Fax:  (702) 455-2080

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An Incorporated City
For Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite or North Las Vegas, contact the applicable City Clerk’s office.

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State Highways and Property
The Nevada Department of Transportation (N.D.O.T.) does not allow political signs on property under its control or adjacent to state highways.  Call Mr. Ryan Pretner at (702) 385-6540. 

Public Observation of Voting

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 and the observer must remain within this area at all times, including during the closing of the polls (NAC 293.245 (5), (6)). 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:

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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:

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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.

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

What Media Representatives with Proper Credential May Do

Media representatives MAY:

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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.

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

Posting Logs

What is a Posting Log

Posting Logs are public information about who voted in-person on Election Day and who voted before Election Day. ANYONE may examine completed Posting Logs at an Election Day polling place to see who did or did not vote at that polling place's precincts in-person on Election Day, or before Election Day at an early voting site or by mail/absentee ballot.

Nevada law (NRS 293.301) requires Posting Logs to be available as public information at every Election Day polling place. Posting Logs alphabetically list voters, by precinct at a particular polling place, and include the voters’ name, address and party. Posting Logs show who voted in-person on Election Day at the polling place during four specific time periods. Each precinct has one set of four Posting Logs so that information may be posted at four separate times during the day (9 a.m., 12 noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.). Election Clerks prepare Posting Logs by placing a check next to the name of each individual who signs the precinct register and votes in-person.  

In addition, Clark County provides a separate Posting Log for each precinct showing both who voted early and who voted by mail up to the Friday before Election Day. A blue cover will distinguish this Posting Log from the Election Day Posting Logs. The Early Voting / Mail Ballot Voting  Posting Log is available as soon as the polls open at 7 a.m. 

When and Where They are Posted

Polling place officials will place available Posting Logs at a table near the entrance to the polling area at the following times:

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7:00 a.m.
The EARLY VOTING / MAIL BALLOT VOTING Posting Log with a blue cover will show who voted early and who voted by mail up to the Friday before Election Day.

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9:00 a.m.
The FIRST COPY will show who signed the precinct register from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

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12 Noon
The SECOND COPY will show who signed the precinct register from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

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3:00 p.m.
The THIRD COPY will show who signed the precinct register from 12 noon to 3 p.m.

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5:00 p.m.
The FOURTH AND FINAL COPY will show who signed the precinct register from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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After 5:00 p.m.
NO POSTING LOGS are prepared or posted.

Unlawful Acts

NRS 293.301(2) makes it a misdemeanor to remove, tear, mark or deface a Posting Log with the intent to falsify or prevent others from readily ascertaining the name, address or political affiliation of any voter or the fact that a voter has or has not voted.