Information for Voters with Disabilities

Registration Accommodations

If You are not able to sign your Name on Your Voter Registration Application:  If you cannot sign your name because of a physical disability, you may: (1) use a signature stamp that meets the standards of the Office of Disability Services, per NRS 426.257; or (2) register in-person at the Registrar of Voters Department; or (3) if you cannot appear in-person at the Registrar of Voters Department, we will send an official to you.

   Voting Accommodations

Polling Places:  Voters with disabilities are accommodated inside of polling places on election day and during early voting.  All polling places in Washoe County are accessible to voters with disabilities.

Inside Polling Places:  If you are a voter with disabilities, you may request to have priority in voting.  Election officials will take you to the front of the line for processing at the precinct table.  You may then have first preference in voting on the priority voting machine designated for voters with disabilities.

Signing the Precinct Register:  If you cannot sign your name in the precinct register because of  a physical disability, you may still vote.  Election officials will identify you by asking you questions about personal data from your voter registration record.

Inside the Voting Machine Booth:  You have several options for casting your ballot inside the voting booth:

 A large magnifying sheet is available at each polling place to aid in reading the ballot.
Just ask a pollworker! 

 Audio voting is available at all early voting sites and all election day polling places to permit voting in        complete privacy without assistance from another person.

 Another individual may assist you in casting your ballot, as long as you and your assistant meet the   requirements described below.

ASSISTANCE BY ANOTHER PERSON:  NRS 293.296 allows another person to assist you in voting inside the booth if you:

Have a physical disability and/or
Have a have an inability to read or write English

However, you may NOT be assisted by:
       Your employer or employer's agent or
      An officer or agent of your labor organization.

WHEELCHAIR & MOTORIZED SCOOTER VOTERS:  The screen of the Touch Screen voting unit can be adjusted to permit a voter who is sitting to view his/her ballot and interact with the unit while casting a ballot.

Mail/Absent Ballots:  Reasonable accommodations are made for the use of mail/absent ballots by voters with disabilities as well as elderly IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SIGN YOUR NAME:  If you are unable to sign your name because of a physical disability, you can still receive a ballot by mail for all elections (in that calendar year) by submitting :

1) A statement from a physician licensed in Nevada attesting to your physical disability and;

2) The name, address and signature of the person who will be assisting you .

For additional details see NRS 293.3165 or call the Registrar of Voters at (775) 328-3683.

Emergency Voting:  You may apply for an emergency ballot beginning the sixth day before an election through 5:00 p.m. on election day if  you are hospitalized, become seriously ill or are called away from home unexpectedly.  See NRS 293.316 for further information.

Additional Information

You may call the Registrar of Voters Office at (775) 328-3670 for
more information on accommodation of voters with disabilities or elderly
voters.  You may also contact the Registrar of Voters Office by
mail (Registrar of Voters,  P O Box 11130, Reno NV  89520
or e-mail electionsdepartment@washoecounty.us

You can also view the Nevada Secretary of State's website http://nvsos.gov/index.aspx?page=79 for further information.