Audit Laws
State Summary
Nevada’s audit law that had been in effect since 2004 was replaced by a new risk-limiting audit law effective January 1, 2022. NV Rev. Stat. §293.394 states that “each county clerk shall conduct a risk-limiting audit of the results of an election prior to the certification of the results” and the Secretary of State is required to adopt regulations on procedures and scope of the risk-limiting audit.
NV Rev. Stat. §293.247 requires the Secretary of State to adopt regulations that specify “the procedures to be used for the testing, use and auditing of a mechanical voting system which directly records the votes electronically and which creates a paper record when a voter casts a ballot on the system.”
Unless otherwise specified, statutory references are to NV Rev. Stat. §293.394.
Voting Systems Used
All Nevada counties use touchscreen DRE voting machines with VVPAT for all polling place voters, while Carson City and Lander County fields ballot marking devices for all polling place voters. For the most up to date information please visit Verified Voting’s Verifier.
For an explanation on the types of voting equipment used, click here.
Audit Comprehensiveness
The Secretary of State adopts regulations on procedures and scope of the risk-limiting audit.
Transparency
The Secretary of State adopts regulations on procedures and scope of the risk-limiting audit.
Audit Counting Method
Risk-limiting audits are conducted by hand.
Type Of Audit Units
The Secretary of State adopts regulations on procedures and scope of the risk-limiting audit.
Contests & Issues Audited
The Secretary of State adopts regulations on procedures and scope of the risk-limiting audit.
Addressing Discrepancies
NV Rev. Stat. §293.394 requires an audit protocol “designed to limit the risk of certifying an incorrect election outcome.” However, no specific guidance on implementation has been published to date.
For recount laws, see Citizens for Election Integrity Minnesota website.
Timeline
Statute specifies that “each county clerk shall conduct a risk-limiting audit of the results of an election prior to the certification of the results.”
Binding On Official Outcomes
Statute specifies that “each county clerk shall conduct a risk-limiting audit of the results of an election prior to the certification of the results.” Additionally, statute requires an audit protocol that is “designed to limit the risk of certifying an incorrect election outcome.”
Oversight & Conduct
The Secretary of State adopts regulations on procedures and scope of the risk-limiting audit.
Ballot Protection
Per NV Rev. Statute 293B.330 and NV Rev. Stat. 293B.335, upon the closing of the polls, the election board secures all voting machines from further voting, accounts for all ballots at the polling location and seals the ballots to be delivered to the central counting place. The central ballot inspection board shall then move forward with their respective procedure. For more information on that procedure see, NV Rev. Stat. 293B.365.
Additional Targeted Samples
Statute does not provide for targeted samples.