Nevada Lawmakers Approve Constitutional Amendment Guaranteeing mail Ballots in Surprise Vote
CARSON CITY, NV – Nevada lawmakers on Wednesday night advanced a constitutional amendment that would guarantee mail ballot access to all active registered voters, a move that circumvented potential opposition from Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. The resolution, SJR1, passed the Assembly 25-8 and the Senate 12-4, both along party lines.
The amendment would enshrine existing state law regarding mail ballots – including provisions allowing voters to opt-out of receiving them – into the Nevada Constitution, making future changes more difficult. unlike traditional bills,the resolution does not require the governor’s signature and can pass with a simple majority in the Legislature.
The proposal’s late introduction and swift passage drew scrutiny.It did not receive a committee hearing before the vote, and its existence was publicly revealed shortly beforehand. Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas), who introduced the resolution, explained that lawmakers were focused on prioritizing committee business and that the resolution was “ready to go.” She added, “We had a lot of business to do here at the Legislature, a lot of pieces of legislation that had to be moved. Resolutions do not require committee hearings.”
The measure also includes provisions to expand access to mail ballot drop boxes,a proposal Lombardo vetoed earlier in 2025,citing concerns over oversight. The drop box expansion had been part of a potential deal with Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas) to enact voter ID requirements, but negotiations stalled when Lombardo deemed the proposed ID rules insufficient.
This action follows the failure of other progressive election reforms during the 2025 legislative session, including a measure to allow non-partisan voters to participate in primary elections.
Cannizzaro stated the amendment would “ensure access to fair and safe elections” in Nevada.
If approved again by the Legislature in the 2027 session, the measure will be sent to voters for ratification on the 2028 ballot. The governor’s office declined to comment on Wednesday.
