Voter Registration

Automatic Voter Registration

The Secretary of State, County Clerks and DMV operate an Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) system in accordance with a ballot initiative approved by voters in 2018 and the subsequent enabling legislation and regulations.

Who is submitted for registration?

DMV customers are submitted for AVR if they:

• are U.S. citizens, and
• are age 18 and older, and
• are completing a transaction related to a Nevada driver's license or identification card, and
• do not affirmatively decline Automatic Voter Registration

Citizens age 17 may preregister to become eligible when they turn 18.

See the license application for more information:

Application for Driving Privileges or ID Card (DMV 002)
    Applications are also available in Spanish and Tagalog

AVR is available for both in-person transactions at DMV offices and online transactions completed through MyDMV.

Customers who qualify for AVR are given an opportunity to choose a political party or opt-out. At DMV offices, the customer is given a separate sheet of paper which is completed after the DMV transaction and deposited in a secure "red box" at the office.

Who is NOT submitted for registration?

Customers will not be processed through the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) system if they:

• indicate they are not a U.S. citizen, or
• indicate they were born outside the U.S., or
• present immigration documents as proof of identity, or
• are applying for a Driver Authorization Card, or
• are under 17 years of age, or
• decline to apply in writing (opt-out), or
• are completing a vehicle registration or other transaction not related to a driver's license or ID card

Customers who are not submitted through AVR receive a printout explaining how to register to vote if they believe they are eligible.

How it works

The License/ID Transaction

The DMV is required to notify each person who submits an application for the issuance or renewal of, or change of address for, any type of driver’s license or identification card issued by the DMV of the following information:

• The qualifications to vote in Nevada;
• That the person will be automatically registered to vote unless he or she affirmatively declines in writing;
• That the person may indicate a political party affiliation;
• That indicating a political party affiliation or no political party affiliation is voluntary;
• That the person will not be able to vote at a primary election for candidates for partisan offices of a major political party unless the person indicates a major political party affiliation;
• That the decision of whether to register to vote or not will not affect the person’s transactions with the DMV or the DMV’s services;
• That the person’s decision regarding whether to register to vote or not cannot legally be disclosed to the public; and
• That any information collected by the DMV for automatic voter registration cannot be used for any purpose other than voter registration.

Customers at DMV offices are given a data review sheet which contains all of the information on the driver's license or ID card plus an indication of whether the customer is eligible for AVR. The customer must review and sign this to complete the license/ID transaction.

Choose a Party or Opt Out

At the conclusion of the driver's license/ID card transaction, customers at offices are given one of two paper forms:

• If eligible for AVR, a form to choose a political party, register as nonpartisan or opt-out of AVR
• If not eligible for AVR, a form which explains how to register to vote if the customer believes they are eligible

The form to choose a party or opt-out is completed away from the DMV window after the license/ID transaction.

DMV offices have a secure "red box" container for these forms.

Customers completing a transaction through MyDMV are given the same options through online forms.

What if I don't complete the form?

• Your information will be submitted for Automatic Voter Registration if you are otherwise qualified
• Your political party information will be submitted as "Customer Left Blank." If you have an existing Nevada voter registration, your party affiliation will not change.

What Happens Next?

The appropriate County Clerk/Registrar of Voters office will determine if the application to register to vote is complete. The county election official must notify the person if the application is incomplete and additional information is required.

Once you are registered to vote, you will receive a voter registration card by mail as well as a sample ballot prior to the Primary or General Elections.

You may update or view your registration through the Secretary of State Online Voter Registration using your Nevada driver's license or ID. 

AVR Laws & Resources

Automatic Voter Registration in Nevada began January 1, 2020. Here are the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) and Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) which govern AVR:

• NRS 293.5732 - 293.5767
• NAC 293.407 - 293.409

These laws were created by a voter-approved ballot initiative in 2018 and subsequent legislation:

• 2018 Ballot Question No. 5
• 2019 Assembly Bill 345 (Sections 12 & 13)
• 2021 Assembly Bill 432

See also Voters on the Nevada Secretary of State website.