Senate Bill No. 27–Senator Wiener

Prefiled January 19, 2001

____________

Referred to Committee on Government Affairs

SUMMARY—Establishes minimum size for print on sample ballots. (BDR 24‑504)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: Yes.

Effect on the State: 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; requiring that certain sample ballots be printed in at least a certain minimum size print; 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. NRS 293.565 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2 293.565 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, sample

1-3 ballots must include:

1-4 (a) The fiscal note, as provided pursuant to NRS 218.443 or 293.250,

1-5 for each proposed constitutional amendment or statewide measure;

1-6 (b) An explanation, as provided pursuant to NRS 218.443, of each

1-7 proposed constitutional amendment or statewide measure, including

1-8 arguments for and against it; and

1-9 (c) The full text of each proposed constitutional amendment.

1-10 2. Sample ballots that are mailed to registered voters may be printed

1-11 without the full text of each proposed constitutional amendment if:

1-12 (a) The cost of printing the sample ballots would be significantly

1-13 reduced if the full text of each proposed constitutional amendment were

1-14 not included;

1-15 (b) The county clerk ensures that a sample ballot that includes the full

1-16 text of each proposed constitutional amendment is provided at no charge to

1-17 each registered voter who requests such a sample ballot; and

1-18 (c) The sample ballots provided to each polling place include the full

1-19 text of each proposed constitutional amendment.

1-20 3. At least 10 days before any election, the county clerk shall cause to

1-21 be mailed to each registered voter in the county a sample ballot for his

1-22 precinct with a notice informing the voter of the location of his polling

2-1 place. If the location of the polling place has changed since the last

2-2 election:

2-3 (a) The county clerk shall mail a notice of the change to each registered

2-4 voter in the county not sooner than 10 days before mailing the sample

2-5 ballots; or

2-6 (b) The sample ballot must also include a notice in [at least 10-point]

2-7 bold type immediately above the location which states:

2-8 NOTICE: THE LOCATION OF YOUR POLLING PLACE

2-9 HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LAST ELECTION

2-10 4. A sample ballot required to be mailed pursuant to this section

2-11 must be printed in at least 14-point type.

2-12 5. The county clerk shall include in each sample ballot for a primary

2-13 election, a separate page on which is printed a list of the offices and

2-14 candidates for those offices for which there is no opposition.

2-15 [5.] 6. The cost of mailing sample ballots for any election other than a

2-16 primary or general election must be borne by the political subdivision

2-17 holding the election.

2-18 Sec. 2. NRS 293C.530 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-19 293C.530 1. At least 10 days before an election, the city clerk shall

2-20 cause to be mailed to each registered voter in the city a sample ballot for

2-21 his precinct with a notice informing the voter of the location of his polling

2-22 place. If the location of the polling place has changed since the last

2-23 election:

2-24 (a) The city clerk shall mail a notice of the change to each registered

2-25 voter in the city not sooner than 10 days before mailing the sample ballots;

2-26 or

2-27 (b) The sample ballot must also include a notice in [at least 10-point]

2-28 bold type immediately above the location which states:

2-29 NOTICE: THE LOCATION OF YOUR POLLING PLACE

2-30 HAS CHANGED SINCE THE LAST ELECTION

2-31 2. A sample ballot required to be mailed pursuant to this section

2-32 must be printed in at least 14-point type.

2-33 3. The city clerk shall include in each sample ballot for a primary city

2-34 election, a separate page on which is printed a list of the offices and

2-35 candidates for those offices for which there is no opposition.

2-36 [3.] 4. The cost of mailing sample ballots for a city election must be

2-37 borne by the city holding the election.

2-38 Sec. 3. NRS 266.0325 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-39 266.0325 1. At least 10 days before an election held pursuant to NRS

2-40 266.029, the county clerk or registrar of voters shall cause to be mailed to

2-41 each qualified elector a sample ballot for his precinct with a notice

2-42 informing the elector of the location of his polling place.

2-43 2. The sample ballot must:

2-44 (a) Be in the form required by NRS 266.032.

2-45 (b) Include the information required by NRS 266.032.

2-46 (c) Be printed in at least 14-point type.

2-47 (d) Describe the area proposed to be incorporated by assessor’s parcel

2-48 maps, existing boundaries of subdivision or parcel maps, identifying

2-49 visible ground features, extensions of the visible ground features, or by any

3-1 boundary that coincides with the official boundary of the state, a county, a

3-2 city, a township, a section or any combination thereof.

3-3 [(d)] (e) Contain a copy of the map or plat that was submitted with the

3-4 petition pursuant to NRS 266.019 and depicts the existing dedicated streets,

3-5 sewer interceptors and outfalls and their proposed extensions.

~