Overview

The County Clerk handles almost all the local election administration in Nevada, except in Clark and Washoe, where it is the Registrar of Voters who assumes this role. The County Clerk’s role is all-encompassing and includes broad power to appoint individuals to help facilitate the operation of elections, including counting and certification. See generally Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 293.387(3).

Under Nevada state law, counties with a population of more than 100,000 can choose to create a position of Registrar of Voters to handle most election duties. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 244.164(1). The Registrar of Voters is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 244.164(1). The Registrar of Voters assumes all election duties from the County Clerk, except for the making of certificates of election. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 244.164(2). [1] The County Clerk in these counties retains other non-election related duties. The only counties where this applies currently are Clark and Washoe who both, as noted above, have created the Registrar of Voters position.

Duties

The key electoral duties of the County Clerk are:

  1. Certifying local canvassing results. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.387(3).
  2. Transmitting canvassing results to the Secretary of State. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.387(3)(b).
  3. Appointing Election Board Officers to polling places. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.217(1).
  4. Creating certificates of election for candidates who win local elections. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.393(3).
  5. Requesting deputies to be present at polling places. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.217(1)(a).
  6. Deputizing assistants to help in election duties. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.358(2).
  7. Appointing individuals to the Recount Board. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.404(1)(a)-(b).
  8. Serving as chair of the Recount Board. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.404(1)(a)-(b).
  9. Appointing individuals to the Mail Ballot Counting Board. “Election Procedures Manual” at 21.
  10. Appointing individuals to other various boards that assist in the tabulation process. “Election Procedures Manual” at 23.

Election and Vacancy Information