Early voting ended in Washoe County on Friday evening, with an in-person turnout of 90,712 voters and just over 105,000 mail-in ballots totaling around 59 percent of registered voters.
Those who still plan to vote in person can do so on Election Day at one of the 55 Vote Centers around the county. Vote Centers open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m., and every voter in line by closing time will be allowed to vote.
“We know that a lot of voters prefer to vote in person on Election Day, so we expect very long lines at some of our Vote Centers,” Deputy Registrar Andrew McDonald said. “Voters should plan ahead and check our wait-times map on our website to find a convenient location with the shortest lines.”
Vote Centers have digital voting booths as well as ballot drop-boxes for those who have already filled out their mail-in ballot and wish to drop it off. All locations can be found on our website or in the Sample Ballot that was mailed to every registered voter.
Washoe County has a convenient wait-time tracker on its website that shows how long a voter can expect to wait in line in real time. When voters arrive at a Vote Center, they will begin at the Intake Station, using new Poll Pads to confirm their information and sign in. These new Poll Pads provide real-time registration information so there is no delay in confirming valid registrations. Learn what they are and how to use them here.
Vote Centers in Washoe County are accessible. The voting machines can be adjusted to zoom or change the contrast of the screen. There are audio options for the sight-impaired. Voters can use the ATI controller in conjunction with the audio ballot; the ATI controller is available with headphones or voters may bring their own with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Other accessibility devices, like paddles and sip-and-puff devices, are also compatible with our voting machines, however, the voter will need to provide these devices.
Washoe County Security, Reno and Sparks police departments, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office are working together to ensure a peaceful process at the polls. Federal, state, and local regulations prohibit campaigning at polling locations. No campaigning or signs can be displayed within 100 feet of the Vote Centers, which includes talking to voters about candidates, distributing fliers, or using loudspeakers to broadcast information. Additionally, election-related clothing or accessories are also prohibited inside Vote Centers.
Washoe County’s Ballot Room has an observation booth to allow up to eight people at a time to observe ballot processing. Observers must sign up in the Registrar of Voters Office, and observers will be rotated out to maintain a balance of party representation.
The public can also watch the Ballot Room on the county’s livestream on YouTube. Four cameras are strategically placed to enhance observation of the mail ballot process.
The wait time, voter turnout reports, voting locations, regulations, and all other information is on the registrar’s website, www.washoecounty.gov/voters.
Mail-in ballots can be filled out and returned through the mail or dropped off at any of the county’s Vote Centers on Election Day. Mailed ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by the Registrar of Voters Office within four days – Saturday, November 9 – in order to be counted.
Learn more at our Frequently Asked Questions here.
