The Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that an initiative to amend the Nevada Constitution to require voters to show photo identification at the polls can appear on the 2024 ballot, as long as organizers collect enough signatures. The initiative also calls for an extra layer of verification for mail ballots, such as providing the last four digits of a driver’s license or Social Security number. Organizers must gather over 100,000 valid signatures by June 26 for the initiative to be eligible, and it would need to be passed by voters in 2024 and again in 2026 to take effect. The high court’s decision upheld a lower court ruling that the ballot measure does not have an unfunded mandate and is descriptive enough to inform voters of its effect.
Voter ID has been a contentious issue in Nevada, with Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo outlining it as one of his main priorities last year. However, Democrats who control the Legislature refused to give it a hearing. Lombardo applauded the Supreme Court’s ruling, and the political action committee Repair the Vote, which is behind the initiative, stated that organizers have continued gathering signatures with the expectation of meeting the deadline. The signature drive has involved outreach efforts by going door-to-door and attending large GOP events, such as the Republican presidential caucuses in February.
The initiative has sparked debate among Nevada residents, with some supporting the requirement for voter ID as a way to ensure election integrity and prevent fraud, while others argue that it could disenfranchise certain groups of voters who may not have access to photo identification. Despite the controversy, organizers are confident that they will be able to gather enough signatures to get the initiative on the 2024 ballot. Advocacy groups, such as Make the Road Nevada, have raised concerns about the potential impact of the voter ID requirement on immigrant communities and other marginalized groups, leading to legal challenges to block the initiative.
The Supreme Court’s decision sets the stage for a potential showdown in 2024, as Nevada voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the contentious issue of voter ID. The initiative’s supporters believe that it is necessary to protect the integrity of elections and ensure that only eligible voters are participating, while opponents argue that it could disproportionately impact certain communities and create barriers to voting. As the signature deadline approaches, organizers are ramping up their efforts to collect the required number of signatures and push for voter ID requirements to be enshrined in the state constitution. The outcome of this initiative could have far-reaching implications for future elections in Nevada and beyond.
