The Repair the Vote political action committee recently submitted approximately 179,000 signatures for a constitutional amendment that would require voters to show photo identification at the polls. In order to get the proposal on the 2024 ballot, over 100,000 of these signatures must be deemed valid. The initiative also includes an additional verification requirement for mail ballots, such as providing the last four digits of a driver’s license or Social Security number. The goal of the proposal is to enhance the integrity of elections and ensure that every vote is counted, according to David Gibbs, the chairman of the PAC.
The issue of voter ID has been a source of contention in Nevada, especially given its split-party government. While Republican Governor Joe Lombardo prioritized this issue last year, Democrats who control the state Legislature declined to address it. However, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled unanimously last month that signatures could be collected for the ballot initiative. This decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by a member of the progressive immigrant advocacy group Make the Road Nevada, who sought to block the initiative. The court found that the proposal did not constitute an unfunded mandate and provided enough information to inform voters of its potential impact.
If the constitutional amendment is approved by voters in November and again in 2026, it would amend the Nevada Constitution to include the voter ID requirement and additional verification for mail ballots. Proponents of the initiative argue that these measures are necessary to strengthen the integrity of elections and prevent voter fraud. However, opponents have raised concerns about potential barriers that voter ID laws could pose, particularly for marginalized communities who may face challenges in obtaining the required identification.
Supporters of the proposal are hopeful that it will ultimately make it to the ballot and receive voter approval. They believe that implementing voter ID requirements and additional verification measures will help safeguard the electoral process and ensure that only eligible individuals are able to cast their votes. As the debate over voter ID continues to unfold in Nevada and across the country, it remains to be seen how this proposed constitutional amendment will fare and what impact it could have on future elections in the state.
