Mail Ballots in Nevada: A Look at History, Usage, and Integrity
Mail-in voting in the U.S. began in the 1980s to accommodate absent voters, but Nevada expanded its use in 2020 by mailing ballots to all active registered voters for the general election due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This temporary measure was made permanent in 2021 through state legislation, placing Nevada among eight states conducting all-mail elections.
Mail ballot usage in Nevada has fluctuated across recent election cycles. In 2020, approximately 51% of votes were cast by mail, with a voter turnout of 77%. In 2022, Nevada’s first full all-mail election cycle, mail ballots accounted for roughly 52% of votes, with a turnout of 63%. In the 2024 general election, about 45% of votes were cast by mail. Out of 2,069,339 mail ballots sent, 669,445 were returned, yielding a 32.4% return rate, with 299,601 submitted via drop boxes. The rejection rate was approximately 1.9% (13,030 ballots).
Nevada's mail-in voting system, governed by Chapter 293 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, mandates that ballots be mailed to all active registered voters at least 20 days before Election Day. Voters can return ballots via mail—postmarked by Election Day and received within seven days—or through secure drop boxes. A 2024 Nevada Supreme Court ruling also permits non-postmarked ballots to be counted if received within three days after Election Day. Security measures include signature verification against voter registration records, bipartisan ballot processing, and strict chain-of-custody protocols. First-time voters may be required to provide identification, and a ballot-curing process helps address discrepancies, contributing to an acceptance rate of approximately 98%.
Nevada’s mail-in voting system has shown minimal fraud, with no systemic issues reported by the Secretary of State’s office in the 2020, 2022, or 2024 elections. Post-2024 investigations identified over 300 potential cases, mostly double voting, building on nearly 200 prior cases, but prosecutions remain limited to isolated acts like signature forgery or noncitizen voting. The Heritage Foundation notes only a few proven Nevada cases, none linked to 2024 mail ballots as of mid-2025. National data from 2000-2012 shows just 491 absentee fraud cases among billions of votes, highlighting its rarity.
Nevada's mail ballot system has significantly boosted voter participation, especially among seniors and rural communities, achieving acceptance rates exceeding 98% with minimal rejections due to correctable errors. Despite unproven claims of ballot filling or stuffing during the 2020 election, legal challenges to the system's extensions have consistently been dismissed, reinforcing its balance of accessibility and integrity. While some conservatives express ongoing concerns about election fraud, comprehensive audits and verified data demonstrate the robustness of Nevada's election system. Continued vigilance and strong safeguards are essential to maintaining public trust in the integrity of the electoral process.
