Nevada Voters to Decide on Voter ID, Abortion Rights, and Election Reforms in 2026
As Nevada’s 2026 general election approaches, voters will decide on several ballot initiatives addressing issues like voter-ID and abortion rights. Three measures are certified for the ballot, with two others nearing qualification. To qualify, initiatives must collect valid signatures totaling at least 10% of the votes cast in the previous general election, which must be distributed across petition districts. Once qualified, initiatives require voter approval in two consecutive general elections to take effect. Below is a summary of the measures confirmed for the 2026 ballot:
Two constitutional amendment initiatives, carried over from the 2024 election, require a second voter approval in 2026 to amend the Nevada Constitution. Question 6, the Right to Abortion Initiative, would establish a fundamental right to abortion, prohibiting state or local government interference when performed by a qualified healthcare professional until fetal viability or when necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant individual. It passed in 2024 with 64% of the vote. Question 7, the Require Voter Identification Initiative, would mandate a government-issued photo ID for in-person voting and the last four digits of a Social Security number or driver’s license number for mail-in voting. It passed in 2024 with 53% of the vote.
The third certified ballot measure, the Exempt Public School Teachers from Public Employee Strike Ban Initiative (Question 3), aimed to amend the Nevada Constitution to allow public school teachers to participate in strikes, which are currently prohibited for public employees under state law. The initiative was certified for the 2026 ballot but was withdrawn by its proponents shortly after certification and will no longer appear on the ballot.
Signatures for two additional initiative petitions aiming for the 2026 Nevada ballot are being collected by Vote Nevada PAC. The first, the Open Primaries Initiative, would amend the Nevada Constitution to allow all registered voters, including nonpartisan voters, to participate in state primary elections, regardless of party affiliation. The second, the Independent Redistricting Commission Initiative, would amend the Nevada Constitution to establish a seven-member commission, with equal representation from Democrats, Republicans, and non-major-party members, to draw legislative and congressional district maps every decade following the federal census. Previous attempts to place a similar redistricting initiative on the ballot in 2020, 2022, and 2024 failed due to legal challenges.
To qualify for the ballot, each initiative requires approximately 149K valid signatures from registered Nevada voters, including at approximately 38K signatures from each of the state's four congressional districts. The signature validation process is overseen by the Nevada Secretary of State’s office (NVSOS), which is led by an elected official affiliated with a political party. In the past, the NVSOS has been criticized for providing petitioners with inaccurate guidance. For instance, the Nevada Green Party was disqualified from the 2024 ballot after NVSOS staff advised it to use a specific petition form, which was later determined to be incorrect.
Ballot initiatives in Nevada significantly boost voter turnout and draw considerable funding from special interest groups, often mobilizing targeted voter demographics, especially during midterm elections. For instance, in 2006, the Regulation of Marijuana Initiative, which sought to legalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older, attracted intense engagement from both liberal and conservative organizations. This initiative contributed to an estimated 4% increase in voter turnout compared to previous midterm elections.
For the 2026 Nevada election, certified ballot measures on abortion rights (Question 6) and voter identification (Question 7), along with proposed initiatives from Vote Nevada PAC on open primaries and independent redistricting, are likely to draw substantial funding, including from out-of-state political action committees, as seen in past cycles with millions invested in signature drives and advertising campaigns. These initiatives could boost voter turnout, particularly among Nevada’s expanding independent voter base. As signature collection intensifies ahead of the June deadline, Nevada’s 2026 ballot initiative landscape is beginning to take shape.
