Nevada enacts voter ID law requiring photo ID for in-person voting

The Senate Committee on Finance convened on June 1, 2025, to discuss significant amendments to voting procedures in Nevada, particularly focusing on voter identification requirements and mail-in voting protocols.

The meeting began with a detailed overview of an amendment mandating that all voters casting their ballots in person, whether during early voting or on election day, must present photo identification. Accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, passports, military IDs, or digital IDs issued by the Secretary of State. Voters without these forms of identification can still participate by using a provisional ballot, provided they present a valid ID by 5 PM on the Friday following the election for their vote to be counted.

To address concerns about accessibility for low-income voters who may lack ID, the amendment stipulates that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will issue free state ID cards to registered voters experiencing financial hardship. Additionally, the Secretary of State is tasked with providing free digital ID cards upon request, with a deadline set for 2028 to implement this service. An aggressive outreach program will be necessary to inform voters lacking ID about these changes.

The committee also discussed modifications to mail-in voting procedures. Voters will now be required to include an identifying number—either the last four digits of their driver's license, Social Security number, or voter registration number—on their mail ballot return envelopes, alongside their signature. This requirement aligns with the language specified in the proposed constitutional amendment known as Question 7.

In cases where a voter's signature or ID cannot be verified, election officials are mandated to contact the voter to rectify the issue, similar to current practices for signature mismatches.

Further, Assembly Bill 499 introduces new regulations for ballot drop boxes, particularly in populous counties like Clark and Washoe. These counties must provide a minimum number of secure, monitored drop box locations during the final weekend of early voting and election day, ensuring they are accessible for at least seven hours each day.

The amendment also establishes a statewide voter services portal, managed by the Secretary of State, which will allow voters to check their registration status, view sample ballots, locate polling places, and eventually obtain their digital IDs. County clerks are required to include QR codes in all mailings that link directly to this portal.

Finally, the bill allocates $548,528 to the DMV to facilitate the provision of free state IDs to those in need, ensuring that the new identification requirements do not disenfranchise eligible voters.

The committee's discussions highlighted the importance of balancing voter security with accessibility, setting the stage for further legislative actions in the coming months.