Nevada Primaries Update
Nevada Primary Elections Draw Over 270,000 Voters; Mail Ballot Future Under Supreme Court Review
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More than 270,000 Nevadans cast ballots before Election Day in the state's 2026 primary, representing an 11% participation rate out of 2.4 million active and inactive registered voters, according to Kansas City Star. Of those, 181,139 returned mail ballots and 86,869 voted in person during the two-week early voting window that closed June 5.
Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar said the process went well. "Everything has gone very smoothly," he told reporters, adding that Nevada runs "some of the safest, most secure, and accessible elections in the country." Election Day itself falls on June 9, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Mail Ballots Dominate Early Voting Ahead of Election Day
Mail ballots made up roughly 67% of all early participation, Sacramento Bee reported. Nevada sends a mail ballot to every active registered voter automatically under a 2021 state law. Aguilar urged voters to return any outstanding mail ballots on Election Day rather than mailing them, to avoid postal delays.
In-person early voting drew 86,869 Nevadans between May 23 and June 5. Washoe County saw notably higher turnout than other parts of the state, driven by a competitive race in Congressional District 2, according to Miami Herald. Political analyst Paul Selberg noted that CD-2 turnout was up roughly 30% compared to the 2024 primary cycle.
11% Turnout Reflects Low Primary Enthusiasm Statewide
An 11% participation rate sounds low — and by historical standards, it is. Nevada's 2024 primary final turnout landed between 16% and 19%, Charlotte Observer reported. Analysts say closed primaries are partly to blame. Nonpartisan voters, now the fastest-growing bloc in Nevada, are largely shut out of the most competitive contests.
The state has 1,997,488 active registered voters and roughly 2.4 million total when inactive voters are included, according to Idaho Statesman. Primary turnout is historically soft when no high-profile statewide race — like a governor's seat — draws broad interest from both parties.
Supreme Court Could Wipe Out Nevada's Mail Ballot Grace Period
A much bigger threat looms after the primary. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule in late June on a case called Watson v. Republican National Committee. The case challenges Mississippi's five-day grace period for mail ballots postmarked by Election Day. Nevada has a similar four-day window, San Luis Obispo Tribune reported.
If the court strikes down such grace periods, Nevada's law would likely fall too — possibly before November's midterm elections. The Republican National Committee argues federal law requires all ballots to arrive by Election Day. Justice Brett Kavanaugh has questioned whether late ballot counting risks "undermining election confidence," while Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued that election rules belong to the states, according to Bradenton Herald.
Partisan Divide Over Mail Voting Sharpens Before November
The debate over mail ballots is splitting along party lines. Democrats point to the high volume of returned ballots as proof that Nevada's system expands access. Some Republican voters, however, want change. Donny Crandell, one Nevada voter, said he prefers "one day voting with real ballots on paper, hand counted" to restore what he sees as lost integrity, Star-Telegram reported.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford has joined legal coalitions defending the state's mail ballot laws. If the Supreme Court rules against grace periods, officials could face an emergency scramble to rewrite voter education materials and administrative procedures before November — leaving little time to adapt, according to Bellingham Herald.
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