Assembly Bill No. 613–Committee on Elections,
Procedures, and Ethics

(On Behalf of Clark County)

March 18, 1999

____________

Referred to Committee on Elections, Procedures, and Ethics

 

SUMMARY—Makes various changes relating to elections. (BDR 24-575)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

~

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to elections; clarifying when a registered voter may sign certain petitions; revising the prohibition against a person being a candidate if he makes certain changes in his political party affiliation; changing the date by which candidates of minor political parties and independent candidates must file their petitions of candidacy with the county clerks for verification; clarifying that an elector who has moved from one congressional district to another may vote on election day under certain circumstances; shortening the time within which a registered voter may file a written challenge to a person’s right to vote; changing the date of the primary city election for certain cities; making various revisions concerning campaign disclosure reports; revising provisions concerning county initiatives and referendums; specifying the time within which a public officer who is subject to recall may resign without a special election being conducted; specifying the time within which a person who has signed a petition to recall a public officer may request that his name be stricken; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. Chapter 293 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

1-2 a new section to read as follows:

1-3 A person who is deemed to be a registered voter pursuant to the

1-4 provisions of NRS 293.501, 293.517, 293.5235 or 293.524 may, on or

1-5 after the date on which he is deemed to be a registered voter, sign any

1-6 petition that, pursuant to a provision of Title 24 of NRS, may only be

1-7 signed by a registered voter.

2-1 Sec. 2. NRS 293.172 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-2 293.172 1. A petition filed pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection 2

2-3 of NRS 293.1715 may consist of more than one document. Each document

2-4 of the petition must:

2-5 (a) Bear the name of the county in which it was circulated;

2-6 (b) Include the affidavit of the person who circulated the document

2-7 verifying that the signers are registered voters in the state according to his

2-8 best information and belief and that the signatures are genuine and were

2-9 signed in his presence; and

2-10 (c) Be submitted to the county clerk in the county in which it is

2-11 circulated for verification in the manner prescribed in NRS 293.1276 to

2-12 293.1279, inclusive, not later than [40] 25 days before the third Tuesday in

2-13 August. A challenge to the form of a petition filed pursuant to paragraph

2-14 (c) of subsection 2 of NRS 293.1715 must be made in a district court in the

2-15 county in which the petition was circulated.

2-16 2. A document which bears the name of a county may be signed only

2-17 by registered voters of that county.

2-18 3. Each person who signs a document shall also provide the address of

2-19 the place where he resides, the date that he signs and the name of the

2-20 county in which he is registered to vote.

2-21 4. The county clerk shall not disqualify the signature of a voter who

2-22 failed to provide all of the information required by this section if the voter

2-23 is registered in the county named on the document.

2-24 Sec. 3. NRS 293.176 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-25 293.176 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, no person

2-26 may be a candidate for a partisan office in any election if he has changed:

2-27 (a) The designation of his political party affiliation; or

2-28 (b) His designation of political party from nonpartisan to a designation

2-29 of a political party affiliation,

2-30 on an application to register to vote in the State of Nevada or in any other

2-31 state since the September 1 next preceding the closing filing date for the

2-32 election, whether or not his previous registration was still effective at the

2-33 time of the change in party designation.

2-34 2. The provisions of subsection 1 do not apply to any person who is a

2-35 candidate of a political party that was not qualified pursuant to NRS

2-36 293.171 on the September 1 next preceding the closing filing date for the

2-37 election.

2-38 Sec. 4. NRS 293.200 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-39 293.200 1. An independent candidate for partisan office must file

2-40 with the proper filing officer:

2-41 (a) A copy of the petition of candidacy that he intends to circulate for

2-42 signatures. The copy must be filed before the petition may be circulated.

3-1 (b) A petition of candidacy signed by a number of registered voters

3-2 equal to at least 1 percent of the total number of ballots cast in the state or

3-3 in the county or district electing that officer at the last preceding general

3-4 election in which a person was elected to that office.

3-5 2. The petition may consist of more than one document. Each

3-6 document must bear the name of the county in which it was circulated and

3-7 only registered voters of that county may sign the document. The person

3-8 who circulates the document must be a registered voter of that county. If

3-9 the office is a district office, only the registered voters of that district may

3-10 sign the document. The documents which are circulated for signature in a

3-11 county must be submitted to that county clerk for verification in the

3-12 manner prescribed in NRS 293.1276 to 293.1279, inclusive, not later than

3-13 [40] 25 days before filing the petition of candidacy with the proper filing

3-14 officer. Each signer shall add to his signature the address of the place at

3-15 which he actually resides, the date that he signs the petition and the name

3-16 of the county where he is registered to vote for the purpose of determining

3-17 whether he is a registered voter. The person who circulates each document

3-18 of the petition shall sign an affidavit attesting that the signatures on the

3-19 document are genuine to the best of his knowledge and belief and were

3-20 signed in his presence by persons registered to vote in that county.

3-21 3. The petition of candidacy may state the principle, if any, which the

3-22 person qualified represents.

3-23 4. Petitions of candidacy must be filed not earlier than the first

3-24 Monday in May preceding the general election and not later than 5 p.m. on

3-25 the third Tuesday in August.

3-26 5. No petition of candidacy may contain the name of more than one

3-27 candidate for each office to be filled.

3-28 6. A person may not file as an independent candidate if he is

3-29 proposing to run as the candidate of a political party.

3-30 7. The names of independent candidates must be placed on the general

3-31 election ballot and must not appear on the primary election ballot.

3-32 8. If the candidacy of any person seeking to qualify pursuant to this

3-33 section is challenged, all affidavits and documents in support of the

3-34 challenge must be filed not later than 5 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday in

3-35 August. Any judicial proceeding resulting from the challenge must be set

3-36 for hearing not more than 5 days after the fourth Tuesday in August.

3-37 9. Any challenge pursuant to subsection 8 must be filed with:

3-38 (a) The first judicial district court if the petition of candidacy was filed

3-39 with the secretary of state.

3-40 (b) The district court for the county where the petition of candidacy was

3-41 filed if the petition was filed with a county clerk.

3-42 10. An independent candidate for partisan office must file a

3-43 declaration of candidacy with the proper filing officer and pay the fee

4-1 required by NRS 293.193 not earlier than the first Monday in May of the

4-2 year in which the election is held nor later than 5 p.m. of the first

4-3 Wednesday in July.

4-4 Sec. 5. NRS 293.202 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-5 293.202 A withdrawal of candidacy for office must be in writing and

4-6 must be presented by the candidate in person, within 7 days , excluding

4-7 Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after the last day for filing, to the

4-8 officer whose duty it is to receive filings for candidacy for that office.

4-9 Sec. 6. NRS 293.525 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-10 293.525 1. Any elector who is presently registered and has changed

4-11 his residence after the last preceding general election and who fails to

4-12 return or never receives a postcard mailed pursuant to NRS 293.5235,

4-13 293.530, or 293.535 who moved:

4-14 (a) From one precinct to another or from one congressional district to

4-15 another within the same county must be allowed to vote in the precinct

4-16 where he previously resided after he provides an oral or written affirmation

4-17 before an election board officer attesting to his new address.

4-18 (b) Within the same precinct must be allowed to vote after he provides

4-19 an oral or written affirmation before an election board officer attesting to

4-20 his new address.

4-21 2. If an elector alleges that the records in the registrar of voters’

4-22 register or the election board register incorrectly indicate that he has

4-23 changed his residence, he must be permitted to vote after he provides an

4-24 oral or written affirmation before an election board officer attesting that he

4-25 continues to reside at the same address.

4-26 3. If an elector refuses to provide an oral or written affirmation

4-27 attesting to his address as required by this section, he may only vote at the

4-28 special polling place in the county in the manner set forth in NRS 293.304.

4-29 4. The county clerk shall use any information regarding the current

4-30 address of an elector obtained pursuant to this section to correct

4-31 information in the registrar of voters’ register and the election board

4-32 register.

4-33 Sec. 7. NRS 293.547 is hereby amended to read as follows:

4-34 293.547 1. After the 30th day but not later than the [15th] 25th day

4-35 before any election, a written challenge may be filed with the county clerk.

4-36 2. A registered voter may file a written challenge if:

4-37 (a) He is registered to vote in the same precinct or district as the person

4-38 whose right to vote is challenged; or

4-39 (b) The challenge is based on the personal knowledge of the registered

4-40 voter.

4-41 3. The challenge must be signed and verified by the registered voter

4-42 and name the person whose right to vote is challenged and the ground of

4-43 the challenge.

5-1 4. A challenge filed pursuant to this section must not contain the name

5-2 of more than one person whose right to vote is challenged. The county

5-3 clerk shall not accept for filing any challenge which contains more than

5-4 one such name.

5-5 5. The county clerk shall file the challenge in the registrar of voters’

5-6 register and:

5-7 (a) In counties where records of registration are not kept by computer,

5-8 he shall attach a copy of the challenge to the challenged registration in the

5-9 election board register.

5-10 (b) In counties where records of registration are kept by computer, he

5-11 shall have the challenge printed on the computer entry for the challenged

5-12 registration and add a copy of it to the election board register.

5-13 6. The county clerk shall, within 5 days after a challenge is filed, mail

5-14 a notice to the person whose right to vote has been challenged pursuant to

5-15 this section informing him of the challenge. A copy of the challenge must

5-16 accompany the notice.

5-17 Sec. 8. NRS 293C.175 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-18 293C.175 1. A primary city election must be held in each city of the

5-19 first class, and in each city of the second class that has so provided by

5-20 ordinance, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in [May] April of

5-21 every year in which a general city election is to be held, at which time

5-22 there must be nominated candidates for offices to be voted for at the next

5-23 general city election.

5-24 2. A candidate for any office to be voted for at the primary city

5-25 election must file a declaration of candidacy with the city clerk not less

5-26 than 60 days nor more than 70 days before the date of the primary city

5-27 election. The city clerk shall charge and collect from the candidate and the

5-28 candidate must pay to the city clerk, at the time of filing the declaration of

5-29 candidacy, a filing fee in an amount fixed by the city council by ordinance.

5-30 The filing fees collected by the city clerk must be deposited to the credit of

5-31 the general fund of the city.

5-32 3. All candidates, except as otherwise provided in NRS 266.220, must

5-33 be voted upon by the electors of the city at large.

5-34 4. If, in a primary city election held in a city of the first or second

5-35 class, one candidate receives more than a majority of votes cast in that

5-36 election for the office for which he is a candidate, his name alone must be

5-37 placed on the ballot for the general city election. If, in the primary city

5-38 election, no candidate receives a majority of votes cast in that election for

5-39 the office for which he is a candidate, the names of the two candidates

5-40 receiving the highest number of votes must be placed on the ballot for the

5-41 general city election.

6-1 Sec. 9. NRS 293C.190 is hereby amended to read as follows:

6-2 293C.190 1. A vacancy occurring in a nomination for a city office

6-3 after the close of filing and before the first Tuesday after the first Monday

6-4 in [May] April in a year in which a general city election is held must be

6-5 filled by filing a nominating petition that is signed by at least 1 percent of

6-6 the persons who are registered to vote and who voted for that office at the

6-7 last preceding general city election. The petition must be filed not earlier

6-8 than 30 days before the date of the primary city election and not later than

6-9 the third Tuesday after the third Monday in [May.] April. A candidate

6-10 nominated pursuant to the provisions of this subsection may be elected

6-11 only at a general city election and his name must not appear on the ballot

6-12 for a primary city election.

6-13 2. A vacancy occurring in a nomination for a city office after a

6-14 primary city election and before the second Tuesday after the second

6-15 Monday in [May] April must be filled by the person who received the next

6-16 highest vote for the nomination in the primary city election.

6-17 3. Except to place a candidate nominated pursuant to subsection 1 on

6-18 the ballot, no change may be made on the ballot after the second Tuesday

6-19 after the second Monday in [May] April of the year in which the general

6-20 city election is held. If a nominee dies after that date, his name must

6-21 remain on the ballot and, if elected, a vacancy exists.

6-22 4. All designations provided for in this section must be filed before 5

6-23 p.m. on the second Tuesday after the second Monday in [May] April of the

6-24 year in which the general city election is held. The filing fee must be paid

6-25 and an acceptance of the designation must be filed before 5 p.m. on that

6-26 date.

6-27 Sec. 10. NRS 293C.195 is hereby amended to read as follows:

6-28 293C.195 A withdrawal of candidacy for a city office must be in

6-29 writing and presented to the city clerk by the candidate in person within 2

6-30 days , excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after the last day for

6-31 filing a declaration of candidacy or an acceptance of candidacy.

6-32 Sec. 11. NRS 293C.345 is hereby amended to read as follows:

6-33 293C.345 The city clerk shall mail to each registered voter in each

6-34 mailing precinct and in each absent ballot mailing precinct, before 5 p.m.

6-35 on the third Thursday in [April] March and before 5 p.m. on the fourth

6-36 Tuesday in May of any year in which a general city election is held, an

6-37 official mailing ballot to be voted by him at the election.

6-38 Sec. 12. NRS 293C.370 is hereby amended to read as follows:

6-39 293C.370 1. Whenever a candidate whose name appears upon the

6-40 ballot at a general city election dies after 5 p.m. of the third Tuesday after

6-41 the third Monday in [May] April and before the time of the closing of the

6-42 polls on the day of the election, the votes cast for the deceased candidate

7-1 must be counted in determining the results of the election for the office for

7-2 which the decedent was a candidate.

7-3 2. If the deceased candidate receives the majority of the votes cast for

7-4 the office, he shall be deemed elected and the office to which he was

7-5 elected shall be deemed vacant at the beginning of the term for which he

7-6 was elected. The vacancy created must be filled in the same manner as if

7-7 the candidate had died after taking office for that term.

7-8 Sec. 13. Chapter 294A of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

7-9 new section to read as follows:

7-10 For any report required to be filed pursuant to a provision of this

7-11 chapter, an amendment to that report may be filed with the same officer

7-12 with whom the original report is required to be filed within 5 days after

7-13 the date by which the original report is required to be filed. The

7-14 amendatory information must be:

7-15 1. Reported on a form provided by the secretary of state that must

7-16 include the phrase "Amended" on the top of the form; and

7-17 2. Signed, under penalty of perjury, by the candidate, person or

7-18 representative of the group that is required to file the original report.

7-19 If filed within 5 days after the date by which the original report was

7-20 required to be filed, the date of filing the amendment to the report shall

7-21 be deemed to be the date the original report was filed.

7-22 Sec. 14. NRS 294A.120 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-23 294A.120 1. Every candidate for state, district, county or township

7-24 office at a primary or general election shall, not later than:

7-25 (a) Seven days before the primary election, for the period from 30 days

7-26 before the regular session of the legislature after the last election for that

7-27 office up to 12 days before the primary election;

7-28 (b) Seven days before the general election, whether or not the candidate

7-29 won the primary election, for the period from 12 days before the primary

7-30 election up to 12 days before the general election; and

7-31 (c) The 15th day of the second month after the general election, for the

7-32 remaining period up to 30 days before the next regular session of the

7-33 legislature,

7-34 report the total amount of his campaign contributions on forms designed

7-35 and provided by the secretary of state and signed by the candidate under

7-36 penalty of perjury.

7-37 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, every candidate for a

7-38 district office at a special election shall, not later than:

7-39 (a) Seven days before the special election, for the period from his

7-40 nomination up to 12 days before the special election; and

7-41 (b) Thirty days after the special election, for the remaining period up to

7-42 the special election,

8-1 report the total amount of his campaign contributions on forms designed

8-2 and provided by the secretary of state and signed by the candidate under

8-3 penalty of perjury.

8-4 3. Every candidate for state, district, county, municipal or township

8-5 office at a special election to determine whether a public officer will be

8-6 recalled shall report the total amount of his campaign contributions on

8-7 forms designed and provided by the secretary of state and signed by the

8-8 candidate under penalty of perjury, 30 days after [the] :

8-9 (a) The special election, for the period from the filing of the notice of

8-10 intent to circulate the petition for recall up to the special election [.] ; or

8-11 (b) A district court determines that the petition for recall is legally

8-12 insufficient pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 306.040, for the period from

8-13 the filing of the notice of intent to circulate the petition for recall up to

8-14 the date of the district court’s decision.

8-15 4. Reports of campaign contributions must be filed with the officer

8-16 with whom the candidate filed the declaration of candidacy or acceptance

8-17 of candidacy. A candidate may mail the report to that officer by certified

8-18 mail. If certified mail is used, the date of mailing shall be deemed the date

8-19 of filing.

8-20 5. Every county clerk who receives from candidates for legislative or

8-21 judicial office, except the office of justice of the peace or municipal judge,

8-22 reports of campaign contributions pursuant to subsection 4 shall file a copy

8-23 of each report with the secretary of state within 10 working days after he

8-24 receives the report.

8-25 6. Each contribution in excess of $100 and contributions which a

8-26 contributor has made cumulatively in excess of that amount since the

8-27 beginning of the first reporting period must be separately identified with

8-28 the name and address of the contributor and the date of the contribution,

8-29 tabulated and reported on the form provided by the secretary of state.

8-30 Sec. 15. NRS 294A.200 is hereby amended to read as follows:

8-31 294A.200 1. Every candidate for state, district, county or township

8-32 office at a primary or general election shall, not later than:

8-33 (a) Seven days before the primary election, for the period from 30 days

8-34 before the regular session of the legislature after the last election for that

8-35 office up to 12 days before the primary election;

8-36 (b) Seven days before the general election, whether or not the candidate

8-37 won the primary election, for the period from 12 days before the primary

8-38 election up to 12 days before the general election; and

8-39 (c) The 15th day of the second month after the general election, for the

8-40 remaining period up to 30 days before the next regular session of the

8-41 legislature,

8-42 report his campaign expenses on forms designed and provided by the

8-43 secretary of state and signed by the candidate under penalty of perjury.

9-1 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, every candidate for a

9-2 district office at a special election shall, not later than:

9-3 (a) Seven days before the special election, for the period from his

9-4 nomination up to 12 days before the special election; and

9-5 (b) Sixty days after the special election, for the remaining period up to

9-6 30 days after the special election,

9-7 report his campaign expenses on forms designed and provided by the

9-8 secretary of state and signed by the candidate under penalty of perjury.

9-9 3. Every candidate for state, district, county, municipal or township

9-10 office at a special election to determine whether a public officer will be

9-11 recalled shall report his campaign expenses on forms designed and

9-12 provided by the secretary of state and signed by the candidate under

9-13 penalty of perjury, 60 days after [the] :

9-14 (a) The special election, for the period from the filing of the notice of

9-15 intent to circulate the petition for recall up to 30 days after the special

9-16 election [.] ; or

9-17 (b) A district court determines that the petition for recall is legally

9-18 insufficient pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 306.040, for the period from

9-19 the filing of the notice of intent to circulate the petition for recall up to

9-20 the date of the district court’s decision.

9-21 4. Reports of campaign expenses must be filed with the officer with

9-22 whom the candidate filed the declaration of candidacy or acceptance of

9-23 candidacy. A candidate may mail the report to that officer by certified

9-24 mail. If certified mail is used, the date of mailing shall be deemed the date

9-25 of filing.

9-26 5. County clerks who receive from candidates for legislative or

9-27 judicial office, except the office of justice of the peace or municipal judge,

9-28 reports of campaign expenses pursuant to subsection 4 shall file a copy of

9-29 each report with the secretary of state within 10 working days after he

9-30 receives the report.

9-31 Sec. 16. NRS 295.095 is hereby amended to read as follows:

9-32 295.095 1. Any five registered voters of the county may commence

9-33 initiative or referendum proceedings by filing with the county clerk an

9-34 affidavit stating they will constitute the petitioners’ committee and be

9-35 responsible for circulating the petition and filing it in proper form, stating

9-36 their names and addresses and specifying the address to which all notices

9-37 to the committee are to be sent, and setting out in full the proposed

9-38 initiative ordinance or citing the ordinance sought to be reconsidered.

9-39 2. Initiative petitions must be signed by a number of registered voters

9-40 of the county equal to 15 percent or more of the number of voters who

9-41 voted at the last preceding general election in the county.

10-1 3. Referendum petitions must be signed by a number of registered

10-2 voters of the county equal to 10 percent or more of the number of voters

10-3 who voted at the last preceding general election in the county.

10-4 4. A petition must be filed not later than:

10-5 (a) One hundred and eighty days after the date that the affidavit

10-6 required by subsection 1 is filed with the county clerk; or

10-7 (b) [One hundred days before] To be placed on the ballot for the

10-8 primary election, the first Monday in March of the year in which a

10-9 primary election will be held or, to be placed on the ballot for the general

10-10 election, the first Monday in May of the year in which a general election

10-11 will held,

10-12 whichever is earlier.

10-13 5. A petition may consist of more than one document, but all

10-14 documents of a petition must be uniform in size and style, numbered and

10-15 assembled as one instrument for filing. Each signature must be executed in

10-16 ink or indelible pencil and followed by the address of the person signing

10-17 and the date on which he signed the petition. All signatures on a petition

10-18 must be obtained within the period specified in paragraph (a) of subsection

10-19 4. Each document must contain or have attached thereto throughout its

10-20 circulation the full text of the ordinance proposed or sought to be

10-21 reconsidered.

10-22 6. Each document of a petition must have attached to it when filed an

10-23 affidavit executed by the circulator thereof stating:

10-24 (a) That he personally circulated the document;

10-25 (b) The number of signatures thereon;

10-26 (c) That all the signatures were affixed in his presence;

10-27 (d) That he believes them to be genuine signatures of the persons whose

10-28 names they purport to be; and

10-29 (e) That each signer had an opportunity before signing to read the full

10-30 text of the ordinance proposed or sought to be reconsidered.

10-31 7. The county clerk shall issue a receipt to any person who submits a

10-32 petition pursuant to this section. The receipt must set forth the number of:

10-33 (a) Documents included in the petition;

10-34 (b) Pages in each document; and

10-35 (c) Signatures that the person declares are included in the petition.

10-36 Sec. 17. NRS 295.115 is hereby amended to read as follows:

10-37 295.115 1. When an initiative or referendum petition has been

10-38 finally determined sufficient, the board shall promptly consider the

10-39 proposed initiative ordinance in the manner provided by law for the

10-40 consideration of ordinances generally or reconsider the referred ordinance

10-41 by voting its repeal. If the board fails to adopt a proposed initiative

10-42 ordinance without any change in substance within 60 days or fails to repeal

10-43 the referred ordinance within 30 days after the date the petition was finally

11-1 determined sufficient, it shall submit the proposed or referred ordinance to

11-2 the registered voters of the county.

11-3 2. The vote of the county on a proposed or referred ordinance must be

11-4 held at the next primary or general election. Copies of the proposed or

11-5 referred ordinance must be made available at the polls. If the proposed or

11-6 referred ordinance will be submitted to the voters of the county:

11-7 (a) At a primary election, the board shall provide a copy of the

11-8 question as to whether the ordinance should be adopted, including an

11-9 explanation of and arguments for and against the question, to the county

11-10 clerk on or before the third Monday in July preceding the election.

11-11 (b) At a general election, the board shall provide a copy of the

11-12 question as to whether the ordinance should be adopted, including an

11-13 explanation of and arguments for and against the question, to the county

11-14 clerk on or before the third Monday in May preceding the election.

11-15 3. An initiative or referendum petition may be withdrawn at any time

11-16 before the 30th day preceding the day scheduled for a vote of the county or

11-17 the deadline for placing questions on the ballot, whichever is earlier, by

11-18 filing with the county clerk a request for withdrawal signed by at least four

11-19 members of the petitioners’ original committee. Upon the filing of that

11-20 request, the petition has no further effect and all proceedings thereon must

11-21 be terminated.

11-22 Sec. 18. Chapter 306 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a

11-23 new section to read as follows:

11-24 If a public officer who is subject to a recall petition resigns his office:

11-25 1. Before the call for a special election is issued:

11-26 (a) The official with whom the petition to recall is filed shall cease any

11-27 further proceedings regarding the petition;

11-28 (b) A vacancy occurs in that office; and

11-29 (c) The vacancy thereby created must be filled in the manner provided

11-30 by law.

11-31 2. After the call for a special election is issued, the special election

11-32 must be conducted.

11-33 Sec. 19. NRS 306.040 is hereby amended to read as follows:

11-34 306.040 1. Upon determining that the number of signatures on a

11-35 petition to recall is sufficient pursuant to NRS 293.1276 to 293.1279,

11-36 inclusive, the secretary of state shall notify the county clerk, the officer

11-37 with whom the petition is to be filed pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS

11-38 306.015 and the public officer who is the subject of the petition.

11-39 2. Any person who signs a petition to recall may request the secretary

11-40 of state to strike his name from the petition after the verification of

11-41 signatures is complete and before [the date the] :

12-1 (a) The call for a special election is issued [. If the person demonstrates

12-2 good cause therefor, the] ; or

12-3 (b) If a complaint is filed pursuant to subsection 4 challenging the

12-4 legal sufficiency of the petition, the date the complaint was filed.

12-5 The secretary of state shall strike [his] the name of a person who makes a

12-6 timely request and demonstrates good cause therefor from the petition.

12-7 3. Not sooner than 10 days nor more than 20 days after the secretary of

12-8 state completes the notification required by subsection 1, the officer with

12-9 whom the petition is filed shall issue a call for a special election in the

12-10 jurisdiction in which the public officer was elected to determine whether

12-11 the people will recall him. The call must include, without limitation:

12-12 (a) The last day on which a person may register to vote to qualify to

12-13 vote in the special election; and

12-14 (b) The last day on which a petition to nominate other candidates for the

12-15 office may be filed.

12-16 4. The legal sufficiency of the petition may be challenged by filing a

12-17 complaint in district court not later than 5 days, Saturdays , [and] Sundays

12-18 and holidays excluded, after the secretary of state completes the

12-19 notification required by subsection 1. All affidavits and documents in

12-20 support of the challenge must be filed with the complaint. The court shall

12-21 set the matter for hearing not later than 30 days after the complaint is filed

12-22 and shall give priority to such a complaint over all other matters pending

12-23 with the court, except for criminal proceedings.

12-24 5. Upon the conclusion of the hearing, if the court determines that the

12-25 petition is sufficient, it shall order the officer with whom the petition is

12-26 filed to issue a call for a special election to determine whether the people

12-27 will recall the public officer who is the subject of the petition. If the court

12-28 determines that the petition is not sufficient, it shall order the officer with

12-29 whom the petition is filed to cease any further proceedings regarding the

12-30 petition.

12-31 Sec. 20. Section 96 of the charter of Boulder City is hereby amended

12-32 to read as follows:

12-33 Section 96. Conduct of city elections.

12-34 1. All City elections [shall] must be nonpartisan in character

12-35 and [shall] must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of

12-36 the general election laws of the State of Nevada and any ordinance

12-37 regulations as adopted by the City Council which are consistent

12-38 with law and this Charter. (1959 Charter)

12-39 2. All full terms of office in the City Council [shall be] are

12-40 four years, and Councilmen [shall] must be elected at large without

12-41 regard to precinct residency. Two full-term Councilmen and the

12-42 Mayor are to be elected in each year immediately preceding a

12-43 Federal presidential election, and two full-term Councilmen are to

13-1 be elected in each year immediately following a Federal

13-2 presidential election. In each election, the candidates receiving the

13-3 greatest number of votes [shall] must be declared elected to the

13-4 vacant full-term positions. (Add. 17; Amd. 1; 11-5-96)

13-5 A. In the event one or more two-year term positions on the

13-6 Council will be available at the time of a municipal election as

13-7 provided in Section 12, candidates [shall] must file specifically for

13-8 such position(s). Candidates receiving the greatest respective

13-9 number of votes [shall] must be declared elected to the respective

13-10 available two-year positions. (Add. 15; Amd. 2; 6-4-91)

13-11 3. A city primary election [shall] must be held on the [1st] first

13-12 Tuesday after the [1st] first Monday in [May] April of each odd-

13-13 numbered year and a City general election [shall] must be held on

13-14 the [1st] first Tuesday after the [1st] first Monday in June of each

13-15 odd-numbered year.

13-16 A. [No primary shall] A primary election must not be held if

13-17 no more than double the number of Councilmen to be elected file

13-18 as candidates. [No primary shall] A primary election must not be

13-19 held for the office of Mayor if no more than two candidates file for

13-20 that position. The primary election [shall] must be held for the

13-21 purpose of eliminating candidates in excess of a figure double the

13-22 number of Councilmen to be elected. (Add. 17; Amd. 1; 11-5-96)

13-23 B. If, in the primary City election, a candidate receives votes

13-24 equal to a majority of voters casting ballots in that election, he shall

13-25 be considered elected to one of the vacancies and his name shall

13-26 not be placed on the ballot for the general City election. (Add. 10;

13-27 Amd. 7; 6-2-81)

13-28 C.  In each primary and general election, voters shall be entitled

13-29 to cast ballots for candidates in a number equal to the number of

13-30 seats to be filled in the City elections. (Add. 11, Amd. 5; 6-7-83)

13-31 Sec. 21. Section 5.010 of the charter of the city of Henderson, being

13-32 chapter 266, Statutes of Nevada 1971, as last amended by chapter 686,

13-33 Statutes of Nevada 1997, at page 3480, is hereby amended to read as

13-34 follows:

13-35 Sec. 5.010 Primary election.

13-36 1. A primary election must be held on the Tuesday after the

13-37 first Monday in [May] April of each odd-numbered year, at which

13-38 time there must be nominated candidates for offices to be voted for

13-39 at the next general municipal election.

13-40 2. A candidate for any office to be voted for at any primary

13-41 municipal election must file a declaration of candidacy as provided

13-42 by the election laws of this state.

14-1 3. A candidate for mayor, councilman, municipal judge or any

14-2 other office not otherwise provided for by law must pay to the city

14-3 clerk, at the time of filing the declaration of candidacy, the filing

14-4 fee in the amount fixed by the city council.

14-5 4. All candidates for elective office must be voted upon by the

14-6 registered voters of the city at large.

14-7 5. If in the primary election no candidate receives a majority of

14-8 votes cast in that election for the office for which he is a candidate,

14-9 the names of the two candidates receiving the highest number of

14-10 votes must be placed on the ballot for the general election. If in the

14-11 primary election, regardless of the number of candidates for an

14-12 office, one candidate receives a majority of votes cast in that

14-13 election for the office for which he is a candidate, he must be

14-14 declared elected and no general election need be held for that

14-15 office.

14-16 6. If at 5 p.m. on the last day for filing a declaration of

14-17 candidacy, there is only one candidate for nomination for any

14-18 office, that candidate must be declared elected and no election may

14-19 be held for that office.

14-20 Sec. 22. Section 5.010 of the charter of the city of Las Vegas, being

14-21 chapter 517, Statutes of Nevada 1983, as last amended by chapter 570,

14-22 Statutes of Nevada 1997, at page 2790, is hereby amended to read as

14-23 follows:

14-24 Sec. 5.010 Primary municipal elections.

14-25 1. On the Tuesday after the [1st] first Monday in [May] April

14-26 1985, and at each successive interval of 4 years, a primary

14-27 municipal election must be held in the city at which time candidates

14-28 for two offices of councilman and for municipal judge, department

14-29 2, must be nominated.

14-30 2. On the Tuesday after the [1st] first Monday in [May] April

14-31 1987, and at each successive interval of 4 years, a primary

14-32 municipal election must be held in the city at which time candidates

14-33 for mayor, for two offices of councilman and for municipal judge,

14-34 department 1, must be nominated.

14-35 3. The candidates for councilman who are to be nominated as

14-36 provided in subsections 1 and 2 must be nominated and voted for

14-37 separately according to the respective wards. The candidates from

14-38 wards 2 and 4 must be nominated as provided in subsection 1, and

14-39 the candidates from wards 1 and 3 must be nominated as provided

14-40 in subsection 2.

15-1 4. If the city council has established an additional department

15-2 or departments of the municipal court pursuant to section 4.010 of

15-3 this charter, and, as a result, more than one office of municipal

15-4 judge is to be filled at any election, the candidates for those offices

15-5 must be nominated and voted upon separately according to the

15-6 respective departments.

15-7 5. Each candidate for the municipal offices which are provided

15-8 for in subsections 1, 2 and 4 must file a declaration of candidacy

15-9 with the city clerk. The city clerk shall collect from each candidate,

15-10 at the time of filing that candidate’s declaration of candidacy, the

15-11 filing fee which is prescribed by ordinance for that office. All of

15-12 the filing fees which are collected by the city clerk must be paid

15-13 into the city treasury.

15-14 6. If, at 5 p.m. on the last day for filing a declaration of

15-15 candidacy, there is only one candidate for nomination for any

15-16 office, that candidate must be declared elected for the term which

15-17 commences on the day of the first regular meeting of the city

15-18 council next succeeding the meeting at which the canvass of the

15-19 returns is made, and no primary or general election need be held for

15-20 that office.

15-21 7. If, in the primary election, regardless of the number of

15-22 candidates for an office, one candidate receives a majority of votes

15-23 which are cast in that election for the office for which he is a

15-24 candidate, he must be declared elected for the term which

15-25 commences on the day of the first regular meeting of the city

15-26 council next succeeding the meeting at which the canvass of the

15-27 returns is made, and no general election need be held for that

15-28 office. If, in the primary election, no candidate receives a majority

15-29 of votes which are cast in that election for the office for which he is

15-30 a candidate, the names of the two candidates who receive the

15-31 highest number of votes must be placed on the ballot for the

15-32 general election.

15-33 Sec. 23. Section 5.020 of the charter of the city of North Las Vegas,

15-34 being chapter 573, Statutes of Nevada 1971, as last amended by chapter

15-35 215, Statutes of Nevada 1997, at page 748, is hereby amended to read as

15-36 follows:

15-37 Sec. 5.020 Primary municipal elections; declaration of

15-38 candidacy.

15-39 1. The city council shall provide by ordinance for candidates

15-40 for elective office to declare their candidacy and file the necessary

15-41 documents.

15-42 2. If for any general municipal election there are three or more

15-43 candidates for the offices of mayor or municipal judge, or five or

16-1 more candidates for the office of councilman, a primary election

16-2 for any such office must be held on the Tuesday following the first

16-3 Monday in [May] April preceding the general election.

16-4 3. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 4 and 5, after

16-5 the primary election, the names of the two candidates for mayor

16-6 and municipal judge and the names of the four candidates for city

16-7 councilman who receive the highest number of votes must be

16-8 placed on the ballot for the general election.

16-9 4. If one of the candidates for mayor or municipal judge

16-10 receives a majority of the total votes cast for that office in the

16-11 primary election, he shall be declared elected to office and his

16-12 name must not appear on the ballot for the general election.

16-13 5. If a candidate for city council receives votes equal to a

16-14 majority of voters casting ballots in the primary election:

16-15 (a) He shall be declared elected to one of the open seats on the

16-16 city council and his name must not appear on the ballot for the

16-17 general election.

16-18 (b) Unless all the open seats were filled pursuant to paragraph

16-19 (a), the names of those candidates who received the highest number

16-20 of votes but did not receive a number of votes equal to a majority

16-21 of the voters casting ballots in the primary election, not to exceed

16-22 twice the number of candidates remaining to be elected, must be

16-23 placed on the ballot for the general election.

16-24 Sec. 24. Section 5.020 of the charter of the city of Sparks, being

16-25 chapter 470, Statutes of Nevada 1975, as last amended by chapter 686,

16-26 Statutes of Nevada 1997, at page 3482, is hereby amended to read as

16-27 follows:

16-28 Sec. 5.020 Primary municipal elections: Declaration of

16-29 candidacy.

16-30 1. If for any general municipal election there are three or more

16-31 candidates for the offices of mayor, city attorney or municipal

16-32 judge or three or more candidates from each ward to represent the

16-33 ward as a member of the city council, a primary election for that

16-34 office must be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in

16-35 [May] April preceding the general election.

16-36 2. Candidates for the offices of mayor, city attorney and

16-37 municipal judge must be voted upon by the registered voters of the

16-38 city at large. Candidates to represent a ward as a member of the city

16-39 council must be voted upon by the registered voters of the ward to

16-40 be represented by them.

17-1 3. The names of the two candidates for mayor, city attorney

17-2 and municipal judge and the names of the two candidates to

17-3 represent the ward as a member of the city council from each ward

17-4 who receive the highest number of votes at the primary election

17-5 must be placed on the ballot for the general election.

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