- Nevada
| Stress
Test «
Post-Election Developments in Nevada
POST-ELECTION DEVELOPMENTS IN NEVADA
The stage for the Trump
campaign and Republicans' charges of election
fraud was set in March 2020 when, in response
to the pandemic, Secretary of State Barbara
Cevagske, a Republican, announced active
registered voters in Nevada would be mailed an
absentee ballot for the June 9 state primary
election (+).
However,
in the primary, the limited
number of polling
places
led
to long lines for those who voted
in-person.
In response Democrats passed and on Aug. 3
Gov. Sisolak signed Assembly Bill No. 4, which
sought to forestall problems in November by
provisions such as setting minimum numbers of
vote centers per county based population and
providing additional funds for preparation and
distribution of mail ballots. Under the
legislation, all active registered voters were
to be sent a ballot in the mail, although they
could still vote in-person. Republicans
viewed the legislation as "a midnight push to
change election rules" and an effort to "steal
the election" and quickly filed a lawsuit but
their claims were dismissed in a Sept. 21
ruling (+).
On Oct. 23, the Trump campaign and the Nevada
GOP filed suit against election officials
demanding "transparency, accountability and
equal treatment under the law (+)."
In the post-election period the campaign and
state Republicans repeated and amplified many
of the claims made in this lawsuit.
PRESENTED BELOW AS A RESOURCE FOR READERS IS A COLLECTION OF SOURCE MATERIAL ARRANGED CHRONOLOGICALLY TO GIVE A SENSE OF HOW THE POST-ELECTION UNFOLDED IN ARIZONA. KEEP IN MIND THAT WHILE ELECTION OFFICIALS WERE DOING THEIR JOBS TO ENSURE AN ACCURATE TALLY OF THE VOTE, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND OTHER ACTORS WERE SPREADING DISINFORMATION. THE CHALLENGE AT THE TIME WAS TO SORT THROUGH IT ALL AND MAKE SENSE OF WHAT LATER CAME TO BE KNOWN AS "THE BIG LIE."
Nevada Secretary of State Barbara K. Cegavske
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer A. Russell
November 4, 2020
Secretary Cegavske Issues FAQ To Address Post-Election Questions
(Carson City, NV; November 4, 2020) – Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske has released the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers to address post-election process questions about the 2020 General Election.Why is it taking Nevada so long to count ballots?
The counting of ballots in Nevada is proceeding at the expected pace. The timeline for counting ballots in Nevada comes from the legislatively approved process, and this process dictates that all properly received ballots will continue to be counted for up to nine days after the election.
Why did Nevada election officials stop counting ballots at the end of election night?
We did not stop counting ballots. The counting of ballots is ongoing and will continue until every cast ballot is counted.
What ballots have been counted so far?
All in-person early votes, all in-person Election Day votes, and most of the mail ballots received before Election Day have been counted. Unofficial election results are available here: https://silverstateelection.nv.gov.
What ballots remain to be counted?
The remaining ballots that have not been counted include mail ballots received on or after Election Day and ballots cast by voters who registered to vote at the polling place (known as same-day voter registration).
How many ballots remain to be counted?
This number is unknown at this time. Many counties received a large volume of mail ballots on Election Day, either dropped off at a ballot drop-off location or delivered via USPS, and the ballots are being sorted and processed today. An update on ballots remaining to be counted will be provided when the information becomes available.
Why can’t the Secretary of State determine how many mail ballots are outstanding?
A mail ballot was automatically sent to all active registered voters in Nevada. Also, state law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be received and counted after Election Day. This combination means every registered voter who has not yet voted is a potential outstanding ballot.
When will the unofficial election results be updated?
Unofficial election results will be updated daily around 9:00 am starting on November 5. One-off updates may occur from time-to-time.
Why won’t unofficial election results be updated more frequently than once a day?
The processing and counting of mail ballots is labor intensive, and additional reporting requirements would reduce the efficiency of the county election boards.
What is the last day a mail ballot can be received in the mail?
Mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day (November 3) and received no later than 5:00 pm on November 10 will be counted. This means election officials will not know the final number of mail ballots cast until 5:00 pm on November 10.
What is the deadline for voters to cure their signature?
Voters who require a signature cure have until 5 p.m. on November 12 to provide the required signature confirmation. Voters who successfully cure their signature by the deadline will have their ballot counted.
What is the deadline by which all mail ballots must be counted?
All mail ballots must be counted on or before November 12. This deadline ensures that other processes, such as the signature cure process and the receipt of mail ballots postmarked by Election Day, can be completed and that all validly cast ballots will be counted.
When will election results become official?
Election results become official upon the canvass of the vote by the county election official. The canvass of the vote must occur on or before November 16. Until the canvass of the voter occurs, reported election results are unofficial.
Why haven’t ballots cast by voters who registered to vote at the polling place (known as same-day voter registration) been counted?
In 2019, the Nevada Legislature authorized individuals to register to vote at a polling place, either during early voting or on Election Day, and then cast a ballot at the same time. Because the county voter registration systems do not communicate with each other in real time, an individual who registers to vote at a polling place cannot be verified in real time as not having already voted in the election. For this reason, state law allows for ballots cast be same-day registrants to be provisional ballots. These provisional ballots are only counted after it is verified post-election that the voter has not voted more than once in the election.
November 4, 2020
Nevada Republican Party and Trump Campaign update on the General Election
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
November 5, 2020
Trump Campaign to Make Major Announcement in Las Vegas, NV with Ric Grenell, Adam Laxalt, Matt Schlapp and Michael McDonald
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. will host a press conference in Las Vegas, Nevada at 8:30 am PST with former Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell, Former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, Chairman of the American Conservative Union Matt Schlapp and Nevada GOP Chair Michael McDonald.WHEN: Thursday, November 5 at 8:30 am PST
WHERE: Clark County Election Dept
965 Trade Dr, North Las Vegas, NV 89030
_____
C-SPAN
Nov. 5, 2020 Press Conference by Clark County Registrar of Voters Joseph Gloria - C-SPAN
Nevada State Democratic Party
November 5, 2020
NV DEMS RESPOND TO LAWSUIT THREAT, BASELESS CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD FROM TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND NV GOP
In response to the latest legal threat launched by the Trump campaign and NV GOP as they attempt to interfere with Nevada’s election, Nevada State Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II released the following statement:“The writing is on the wall for the Trump campaign. As the voices of Nevadans are finally heard, Trump and the Nevada GOP have no other recourse than scare tactics and baseless suits. Today, in a shameful display, partisan hacks attacked the integrity of Nevada’s voting system without evidence, threatening to disenfranchise the voices of their fellow Nevadans in the process. This is not the first time Republicans have filed suit in an attempt to suppress voters, nor is it the second or the third. Republicans want to circumvent democracy because things aren’t going in their favor. But the will of the people will not be ignored. Trump’s presidency was disastrous for Nevada, and now he is facing the consequences of leaving Nevada families behind. While the Trump campaign attempts to silence hardworking families, NV Dems will stand alongside them until every vote is counted.”
Nevada Secretary of State Barbara K. Cegavske
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer A. Russell
November 5, 2020
Secretary Cegavske Provides Update on Ballots Remaining to be Counted in Nevada
(Carson City, NV; November 5, 2020) – Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske releases the following statement regarding the number of ballots that remain to be counted:After this morning’s vote tally update, approximately 190,150 ballots statewide remain to be counted. Of this total, 123,554 are ballots that were either returned by mail or dropped of in person at a ballot drop-off location. The remaining 66,596 are ballots that were cast in person at a polling place, either during early voting or on Election Day, by voters who took advantage of Nevada’s new same-day voter registration law. Of the total ballots remaining to be counted, 90 percent are in Clark County.
Under Nevada law, mail ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than 5:00 pm on November 10 will be counted. This means there is an unknown number of ballots currently in the U.S. Postal Service mail stream that contain a postmark dated November 3 or earlier that will ultimately be counted if they arrive by 5:00 pm on November 10. We cannot estimate with any degree of accuracy how many ballots might fall into this category.
In addition to the approximately 190,650 ballots remaining to be counted, there are two categories of ballots that are uncounted and will remain uncounted unless the voter takes the required action necessary for the ballot to be counted. First, there are approximately 2,500 provisional ballots that were cast under the requirements of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). These ballots will only be counted if the voter satisfies the required conditions by 5:00 pm on November 6. Second, there are approximately 3,500 mail ballots that require a signature cure. A signature cure is needed if the voter forgets to sign their ballot return envelope or if the signature on their ballot return envelope does not match the signature on file for the voter. Voters have until 5:00 pm on November 12 to successfully cure their signature.
Under state law, all ballots must be counted by the end of the day on November 12. This means complete unofficial election results will not be available until the morning of November 13. Election results do not become official until after certification. Certification must occur on or before November 16. For more information about the post-election processes in Nevada, see the FAQs posted on the Secretary of State’s website.
Contact: Jennifer A. Russell
November 5, 2020
Elections Divisions Clarifies How Vote Status and Vote History Works in Nevada
When using the voter service tools offered by the Elections Division, voters should be aware of the following information:
-
All voters who participated in the 2020 primary election in Nevada will see the method of voting for the primary election listed as “Mail Ballot Counted” when they login to the Registered Voter Services website. Although a small percentage of voters in the 2020 primary election cast a ballot in-person at a polling place, all ballots were tallied in the system as mail ballots for ease of reporting. If you voted at a polling place for the 2020 primary election and you see method of voting as “Mail Ballot Counted,” this is not an error.
-
If you voted by mail in the 2020 general election and you login to the Secretary of State’s Registered Voter Services website or the BallotTrax website and you see your ballot status as mail ballot received instead of counted, this is not a cause for concern. Although most mail ballots in Nevada have already been tabulated, election results are unofficial until certification. This means the ballot counted status code may not be applied to your record until after certification. Certification must take place no later than November 16, and the data transfer from the county to the Secretary of State occurs the day following certification. As long as your mail ballot has been received by the county and the county has not notified you that you need a signature cure, there is no cause for concern.
-
The Registered Voter Services website and BallotTrax consume data from various data sources, but not always at the same time. Accordingly, information available in Registered Voter Services might not always match up with information available in BallotTrax. Voters are encouraged to check both the Registered Voter Services website and the BallotTrax website for the most current information about ballot status.
###
November 7, 2020
NV DEMS CHAIR STATEMENT ON JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS’ VICTORY
Nevada State Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II released the following statement congratulating Joe Biden and Kamala Harris:“This election has been incredibly unique in a number of ways, but what will never leave me is the passion and dedication I witnessed among Nevadans to create change in their communities. Because of Nevada Democrats’ commitment to expanding access to the ballot box, every eligible voter had the opportunity to make their voice heard and the historic turnout we witnessed is a direct result of Assembly Bill 4. Make no mistake, we will continue the work to ensure every vote is counted.
“Nevada proved again we are a critical state–we are a state of diverse voices, union families, and caring neighbors. It’s no surprise we helped make history in electing the first Black woman Vice President. I couldn’t be more proud of our talented team who left everything on the field to elect Joe, Kamala and Democrats up and down the ballot. We put in the work for families across the state who deserve a better future and because of that work, we now have the allies we need in the White House to help our economy recover and build back better.”
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
November 8, 2020
Trump Campaign Announces Las Vegas Press Conference with Adam Laxalt and Matt Schlapp
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. will host a press conference in Las Vegas, Nevada with former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt and Chairman of the American Conservative Union Matt Schlapp at 2:00 pm PST.WHEN: Sunday, November 8 at 2:00 pm PST
WHERE: 965 Trade Dr.
Nevada Secretary of State Barbara K. Cegavske
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer A. Russell
November 9, 2020
Secretary of State Cegavske Issues Statement on Complaints of Voter Fraud
The Secretary of State’s office, in conjunction with members of the Election Integrity Task Force, continues to investigate all creditable allegations of fraud related to the 2020 general election. The Secretary of State has a sworn duty to ensure all election laws, both federal and state, are enforced. When someone is found to have violated any of these laws, they will be referred to the appropriate agency for prosecution.It is difficult for the Secretary of State’s office to quantify how many voter fraud investigations are ongoing or how many voter fraud complaints have been received. There are three reasons for this.
- The term voter fraud
is extremely broad and potentially includes
illegal activities beyond what the public
normally thinks about when referring to voter
fraud. Absent a standard, universally
recognized definition of voter fraud, it is
difficult for the Secretary of State’s office
to release a number that doesn’t run the risk
of being misinterpreted.
- A single complaint or
single investigation may include multiple
allegations of fraud or multiple suspects. A
focus simply on the number of complaints
received or active investigations runs the
risk of masking the true scope of a complaint
or investigation.
- Many voter fraud complaints lack any evidence and are more complaints about process or policy. Including these complaints in the number of voter fraud complaints runs the risk of overstating the prevalence of creditable voter fraud complaints.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer A. Russell
November 12, 2020
Secretary Cegavske Announces Update Regarding the Counting of Provisional Ballots
(Carson City, NV; November 12, 2020) - Although Nevada’s county election officials have completed the count of mail-in ballots for the 2020 general election, they have not yet completed the count of in-person provisional ballots cast by same-day registrants. Following the passage of Assembly Bill 345 (AB 345) in 2019, the Office of the Secretary of the State worked closely with the county clerks and registrars to prepare for the implementation of same-day voter registration.Same-day registration allows a person with a Nevada driver’s license to register to vote during early voting or on Election Day and cast a provisional ballot at that time. A provisional ballot is not counted until it is compared against a state database of voter information. This comparison is done to ensure that same-day registrants have not cast more than one ballot in the election.
With a decentralized voter registration system, it is extremely important that we take appropriate and necessary time to verify all provisional ballots. While mail ballots were required to be tabulated today per statute, provisional ballots are not subject to the same requirement and are still being processed.
Nevada Republican Party
November 13, 2020
NEVADA GOP CHAIRMAN MICHAEL J. MCDONALD’S STATEMENT ON DISTURBING 8 NEWS NOW REPORT ON DECEASED VOTER
Last night, 8 News Now reported on a vote cast in November’s election by Rosemarie Hartle, a Las Vegan who passed away from breast cancer in 2017. Rosemarie’s husband, Kirk, told David Charns he was in “disbelief” and found it “sickening” that someone could cast a vote in his late wife’s name.Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael J. McDonald released the following statement regarding the disturbing report:
“I want to send my deepest condolences to Kirk and the entire Hartle family for having to relive the pain of losing Rosemarie. We warned Nevada was not prepared to do mail ballots. We were dismissed, mocked, and attacked yet here we are – a vote for a deceased Nevadan was counted because of the low standards Clark County put in place, and elected officials allowed, for its signature matching process. Experimenting with a new way of voting during a presidential election was irresponsible and should have been stopped. Nevada Democrats’ disregard for the integrity of our state’s election results should never be forgotten.”
Nov. 16, 2020 Clark County Commission Election Certification Special Meeting - @ClarkCountyNV
Nevada Secretary of State Barbara K. Cegavske
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer A. Russell
November 17, 2020
Secretary of State Cegavske Issues Statement Regarding Post-Election Certification Process
(Carson City, NV; November 17, 2020) - Secretary of State Cegavske issues the following statement regarding Nevada's post-election certification process:“I have not spoken with Senator Lindsey Graham or any other members of Congress regarding the 2020 general election in Nevada or my role in the post-election certification process. Under Nevada law (NRS 293.395), the Secretary of State plays only a ministerial role in the process of certifying election returns. Nevada’s election returns are certified by the county commissioners in each of Nevada’s seventeen counties. The returns are then summarized in an abstract of votes, at which point the abstracts of votes are certified by the seventeen county election officials and transmitted to my office. I then present the abstracts to the members of the Nevada Supreme Court who canvass the votes for federal, statewide, and legislative offices. At no point do I, as Secretary of State, have the authority to certify or not certify election results. Ultimately, it is the Governor who declares the outcomes and issues certificates of election.”
Nevada State Democratic Party
November 17, 2020
NV DEMS CHAIR STATEMENT ON CLARK COUNTY CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION RESULTS AND LEGAL CHALLENGES
Nevada State Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II released the following statement regarding the election results:“I want to thank Nevada’s election officials who, despite facing relentless threats and protests on a daily basis, did their job to ensure our election was free and fair. Yesterday, the Clark County Commission certified the results of all but one contest within the county that was separated by 10 votes. Attempts to challenge those results based on voter fraud lack standing and should be regarded as attempts to discredit the electoral process. As our Secretary of State and Attorney General have stated many times, there have been no instances of widespread voter fraud in this election. If we want to see our state and our country recover from this pandemic and prosper once again, we must come together. As for this election, it’s time to move on.”
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
November 17, 2020
Trump Electoral College Candidates in Nevada File Election Contest
Nevada’s electoral college candidates pledged to President Donald J. Trump today filed an election contest under Nevada’s election code, citing substantial irregularities, improprieties, and fraud that occurred in Nevada’s 2020 presidential election. The suit details the unreliability of the Agilis ballot processing and signature scanning machine used in Clark County, and the electronic voting machines used throughout the state. It also argues that the denial of observer access to the duplication process, and the impropriety of some Native American outreach programs that resulted in apparent vote-buying, cast substantial doubt on the results of the election. No less than 40,000 votes, and possibly more, were impacted by these various defects. This margin is greater than the margin between President Trump and Joe Biden in Nevada."We believe the discrepancies discovered in the days following Nevada's election and invited by the Democrat’s last-minute changes to the law monumentally influenced this presidential election to benefit Joe Biden, and as a result, these irregularities have deprived Nevadans of their right to a free and fair election," said Jenna Ellis, Trump Campaign Senior Legal Advisor. "These malicious actions, which have impacted more than 40,000 ballots, cannot be overlooked, and President Trump will continue battling for justice and seeking to restore Americans' faith in our electoral process."
The contest was filed in the First Judicial District Court in Carson City, Nevada, on behalf of six Nevada citizens and voters who were candidates for presidential electors in Nevada.
The contest filings are available here.
November 18, 2020
2020 GENERAL ELECTION CANVASS OF VOTES BY THE
JUSTICES OF THE NEVADA SUPREME COURT
AGENDA Date/Time: Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
Location:
Carson City (No public access) Nevada Supreme Court 201 S. Carson Street Carson City, Nevada 89701
Las Vegas (No public access) Supreme Court Building 408 East Clark Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89101
This meeting can be viewed live over the internet at: https://nvcourts.gov/Supreme/ or www.nvsos.gov
I. Call to Order – Nevada Secretary of State Barbara K. Cegavske
II. Presentation of 2020 General Election Results – Nevada Secretary of State Barbara K. Cegavske
III. Canvass of the Votes – Justices of Nevada Supreme Court
IV. Adjourn
Note: The official canvass before the Supreme Court is mandated by NRS 293.395
Nov. 24, 2020 Canvass of Nevada Results Completed - C-SPAN
Nevada Secretary of State Barbara K. Cegavske
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer A. Russell
November 24, 2020
Secretary of State Announces Completion of 2020 General Election Canvass
(Carson City, NV; November 24, 2020) - Secretary of State Cegavske announces that the official canvass of the 2020 general election has been completed and the Governor’s office has been notified to prepare the Certificates of Election.“I’d like to thank Nevada’s election officials for their dedication to providing a transparent and fair election” said Secretary Cegavske. “I am also thankful to the Supreme Court for allowing us the use of their chambers today and to the Justices for taking the time to participate in the canvass.”
The meeting of the Presidential Electors is scheduled for December 14, 2020.
November 25, 2020
Governor Sisolak signs Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of electors for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court canvassed and declared the results in Nevada final, paving the way for the Governor to submit a Certificate of Ascertainment to the Federal Government certifying that the presidential electors in Nevada for President-Elect Joe Biden received the highest number of votes cast for Electors for President of the United States of America.
“I want to thank all the election officials and poll workers who helped facilitate this process in our State,” said Governor Steve Sisolak. “And I want to thank Nevadans for ensuring they made their voices heard during this election cycle. I am honored to complete this Certificate of Ascertainment to the Federal Government on behalf of the State of Nevada, and I want to congratulate all those who participated in the democratic process.”
Similar to standard timelines completed by previous administrations, the Governor will be issuing certificates of election for and commissioning the winning individual candidates as required by NRS 293.395(3) in the coming weeks.
Nevada Republican Party
December 2, 2020
NEVADA GOP CHAIRMAN MICHAEL J. MCDONALD’S STATEMENT ON THE COURT ORDERED INSPECTION OF VOTING MACHINES
Dec. 3, 2020 Hearing on Voter Fraud, First Judicial District Court in Carson City - NTD +
Dec. 4, 2020 District Judge James T. Russell - Order Granting Motion to Dismiss Statement of Contest
Theme: "Contestants did not prove under any standard of proof..."
Nevada State Democratic Party
December 4, 2020
NV DEMS CHAIR STATEMENT ON LATEST FAILED TRUMP LAWSUIT
Nevada State Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II released the following statement regarding Judge James Russell’s ruling denying the Trump campaign’s latest lawsuit:“I, like the vast majority of Americans, have long since moved on from this election. With this latest ruling denying the Trump campaign’s attempt to reverse the results of this election, I sincerely hope Republicans can finally do the same. As I said weeks ago, if we truly intend to do right by Nevada families during a global health crisis, we will come together to put in the necessary work and keep the past in the past. These continued attacks are not only preventing us from getting through this pandemic, they are dangerous and, if continued, will result in long term damage to our democracy. I hope this is the last time a court has to deny Republicans’ attempts to overturn the will of Nevadans–it’s what our state and country deserve.”
Nevada Republican Party
December 7, 2020
NEVADA GOP’S STATEMENT ON THE ELECTION CONTEST APPEAL TO THE NEVADA SUPREME COURT
Dec. 8, 2020 - Appellants' Supplemental Briefing, Supreme Court of Nevada
Nevada Republican Party
December 8, 2020
NEVADA GOP’S STATEMENT ON THE NEVADA SUPREME COURT’S RULING
Nevada Secretary of State
NOTICE OF: 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL COLLEGE MEETING
Date/Time: Monday, December 14, 2020, at 8:30 a.m.Location: The meeting will be held via Zoom
Link to Video Feed: www.nvsos.gov
Pursuant to 3 U.S.C. § 7 and NRS 298.065, Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske will preside at Nevada’s electoral college meeting where the state’s presidential electors will officially cast their ballots for U.S. President and Vice President.
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call and Introductions
III. Explanation of Procedures for Electoral College Meeting
IV. Administration of Oath to the Presidential Electors
V. Casting of Ballots for U.S. President and Vice President
VI. Concluding Remarks
VII. Adjournment
Dec. 14, 2020 Nevada's 2020 Electoral College Meeting - NVSOS
meanwhile...