Nevada’s Universal Vote-by-Mail System to Continue

Nevada’s universal vote-by-mail system, established in 2021 under a Democrat-controlled Legislature and signed into law by then-Governor Steve Sisolak, automatically sends ballots to every active registered voter for each election.

The system covers 2.13 million active voters. Every registered voter in Nevada automatically receives a ballot in the mail.

In the 2024 general election, the state sent 2.07 million mail ballots, with 669,334 returned, a 32% return rate. While Nevada does not release ballot return rates by party, estimates based on historical patterns suggest Democrats returned about 78% of their mail ballots, Republicans around 75%, and nonpartisan voters roughly 65%. Many voters who did not return mail ballots instead voted in person or abstained altogether.

The cost of Nevada’s universal mail ballot program is borne largely at the county level, with prepaid postage and administration funded through state and local budgets. Ballot mailing costs, including outbound postage, prepaid return envelopes, printing, envelopes and assembly, and handling, are estimated at $10 million to $12 million for the 2024 general election.

The system has become a focus of federal legislative debate. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, passed by the House in February 2026 but stalled in the Senate, would end automatic mailings in universal vote-by-mail states, require voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship for each election, and mandate identification for ballot requests and returns.

Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar has criticized the bill as unnecessary and potentially disruptive, noting the state already employs strong safeguards, including signature verification and proof of citizenship at registration. Governor Joe Lombardo has supported targeted reforms, such as voter ID requirements, while maintaining the universal vote-by-mail system and emphasizing measures to build voter confidence.

Ahead of the 2026 midterms, Nevada officials have approved new regulations improving mail ballot tracking, voter roll maintenance, and post-election processes.