Washoe County Mail Ballots Arriving for 2026 General Election

Washoe County mail ballots for the 2026 general election are arriving in mailboxes across the region, triggering a push for early participation from local election officials.

Delivery Timelines for Washoe County Mail Ballots

Most voters should expect to receive their mail ballots by Saturday, Oct. 10, or Tuesday, Oct. 13. The U.S. Postal Service does not conduct regular mail delivery on Sundays and remains closed on Monday, Oct. 12, in observance of Columbus Day, creating a slight pause in the distribution window. Sample ballots were also mailed earlier in the week, containing every contest across Washoe County, including races that may not appear on individual ballots. Residents can view address-specific sample ballots online at washoecounty.gov/sampleballot.

Voters can track the real-time status of their mail ballot at washoecounty.gov/trackmyballot or sign up for USPS Informed Delivery. Anyone who has not received a mail ballot by Friday, Oct. 16, must contact the Registrar of Voters office at 775-328-3670 to request a replacement. The final deadline to request a replacement mail ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Washoe County Early Voting Begins Oct 17

In-person early voting begins next Saturday, Oct. 17, and runs through Friday, Oct. 30. Washoe County will operate 18 vote centers during this period, open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Election Day itself, Tuesday, Nov. 3, a total of 41 vote centers will open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Registered voters may cast their ballots at any vote center in Washoe County regardless of their residential district. A complete list of locations and an interactive map are available at washoecounty.gov/votecenters.

Although the deadline to register using a paper application passed on Oct. 6, eligible residents can still register online at vote.nv.gov or utilize same-day voter registration in person at any vote center during early voting and on Election Day.

Public Can Observe Ballot Processing in Reno

Ballot processing operations began today, Oct. 9, at Washoe County’s Central Counting Place located at 1001 E. Ninth St., Building A, Room 135, in Reno. Operations run daily from 8 a.m. starting with public observation. The counting process continues through the canvass of the vote on Friday, Nov. 13, incorporating weekends and holidays as operational needs dictate. Members of the public may observe processing in person or access a 24/7 livestream available at washoecounty.gov/voters/observation.

Registrar McDonald noted that returning mail ballots early helps avoid postal delays and postmark ambiguities, gives staff adequate time to resolve signature discrepancies, and allows election workers to process votes sooner. Returning ballots ahead of time directly contributes to more complete results on election night. Voters choosing the mail option are strongly advised to return their completed documents several days before Election Day because recent USPS operational adjustments mean postmarks may not reflect the exact day a ballot enters the mail stream.

Registrar of Voters Office Extends Service Hours

To assist the public with registration, replacement mail ballots, and general inquiries, the Registrar of Voters office has scheduled extended hours throughout the election cycle:

• October 17–30: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
• October 31–November 1: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
• November 3 (Election Day): 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with front desk assistance available until 10 p.m.
• November 7–8: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily

Normal operating hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. apply on all other regular business days. For additional details, voters can call the Registrar of Voters at 775-328-3670 or visit washoecounty.gov/voters.