Vote Centers in Washoe County will open at 7 a.m. tomorrow, February 6, for the Presidential Preference Primary.
Who can vote?
This primary election is only open to registered Republicans and Democrats to cast their vote for the presidential candidate of their party. Nonpartisan and minor party members are not eligible to vote in this election; though you may pursue Same Day Registration at any Vote Center to change to either major party and participate in the PPP. The Republican Party will assign its election delegates to the winner of the Caucus on February 8. Only candidates who filed with the Secretary of State’s office to participate in this election are on the ballot.
When voters arrive at a Vote Center, they will begin at the Intake Station, where they will be asked for their name, registered party affiliation, signature, and in some rare cases when verification cannot be completed, a form of identification.
Where do you vote?
There will be 17 Vote Centers throughout Washoe County, open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters may vote at any location that is most convenient to them. Washoe County does not vote by assigned precinct.
Voters may drop off their mail-in ballot or vote in person. Mail ballots returned through the mail must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the Registrar of Voters within four days after the election.
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.
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.
What is a challenged ballot?
If a mail-in ballot has a mismatched signature or is damaged or defaced, it will be challenged. The voter will be notified to “cure” their ballot. This can often be done over the phone. The deadline to cure ballots is February 12.
When will results be available?
Per Nevada law, results cannot be published until the last Vote Center in the state has closed. Once the Secretary of State notifies the Registrar that all Vote Centers have closed, Washoe County will be able to post preliminary results on its Results Dashboard. The dashboard will be displayed on the Registrar of Voters website.
All results should be considered preliminary until the Canvass of the Vote on February 16. As mail-in ballots can continue to arrive for four days after Election Day, and signature curing can occur for six days after the election, results can change from day to day.
Are Vote Centers safe and secure?
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. If you are wearing an election-related hat, you will be asked to remove it, and election-related shirts will need to be covered.
Learn more about the Presidential Preference Primary here.
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