NRS293.1277. Verification of signatures by county clerks; regulations. [Effective January 1, 2014.]

      1.  If the Secretary of State finds that the total number of signatures submitted to all the county clerks is 100 percent or more of the number of registered voters needed to declare the petition sufficient, the Secretary of State shall immediately so notify the county clerks. Within 9 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, after notification, each of the county clerks shall determine the number of registered voters who have signed the documents submitted in the county clerk’s county and, in the case of a petition for initiative or referendum proposing a constitutional amendment or statewide measure, shall tally the number of signatures for each petition district contained or fully contained within the county clerk’s county. For the purpose of verification pursuant to this section, the county clerk shall not include in his or her tally of total signatures any signature included in the incorrect petition district.

      2.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, if more than 500 names have been signed on the documents submitted to a county clerk, the county clerk shall examine the signatures by sampling them at random for verification. The random sample of signatures to be verified must be drawn in such a manner that every signature which has been submitted to the county clerk is given an equal opportunity to be included in the sample. The sample must include an examination of at least 500 or 5 percent of the signatures, whichever is greater. If documents were submitted to the county clerk for more than one petition district wholly contained within that county, a separate random sample must be performed for each petition district.

      3.  If a petition district comprises more than one county and the petition is for an initiative or referendum proposing a constitutional amendment or a statewide measure, and if more than 500 names have been signed on the documents submitted for that petition district, the appropriate county clerks shall examine the signatures by sampling them at random for verification. The random sample of signatures to be verified must be drawn in such a manner that every signature which has been submitted to the county clerks within the petition district is given an equal opportunity to be included in the sample. The sample must include an examination of at least 500 or 5 percent of the signatures presented in the petition district, whichever is greater. The Secretary of State shall determine the number of signatures that must be verified by each county clerk within the petition district.

      4.  In determining from the records of registration the number of registered voters who signed the documents, the county clerk may use the signatures contained in the file of applications to register to vote. If the county clerk uses that file, the county clerk shall ensure that every application in the file is examined, including any application in his or her possession which may not yet be entered into the county clerk’s records. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, the county clerk shall rely only on the appearance of the signature and the address and date included with each signature in making his or her determination.

      5.  If:

      (a) Pursuant to NRS 293.506, a county clerk establishes a system to allow persons to register to vote by computer; or

      (b) A person registers to vote pursuant to NRS 293D.230 and signs his or her application to register to vote using a digital signature or an electronic signature,

Ê the county clerk may rely on such other indicia as prescribed by the Secretary of State in making his or her determination.

      6.  In the case of a petition for initiative or referendum proposing a constitutional amendment or statewide measure, when the county clerk is determining the number of registered voters who signed the documents from each petition district contained fully or partially within the county clerk’s county, he or she must use the statewide voter registration list available pursuant to NRS 293.675.

      7.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 9, upon completing the examination, the county clerk shall immediately attach to the documents a certificate properly dated, showing the result of the examination, including the tally of signatures by petition district, if required, and transmit the documents with the certificate to the Secretary of State. In the case of a petition for initiative or referendum proposing a constitutional amendment or statewide measure, if a petition district comprises more than one county, the appropriate county clerks shall comply with the regulations adopted by the Secretary of State pursuant to this section to complete the certificate. A copy of this certificate must be filed in the clerk’s office. When the county clerk transmits the certificate to the Secretary of State, the county clerk shall notify the Secretary of State of the number of requests to remove a name received by the county clerk pursuant to NRS 295.055 or 306.015.

      8.  A person who submits a petition to the county clerk which is required to be verified pursuant to NRS 293.128, 293.172, 293.200, 295.056, 298.109, 306.035 or 306.110 must be allowed to witness the verification of the signatures. A public officer who is the subject of a recall petition must also be allowed to witness the verification of the signatures on the petition.

      9.  For any petition containing signatures which are required to be verified pursuant to the provisions of NRS 293.200, 306.035 or 306.110 for any county, district or municipal office within one county, the county clerk shall not transmit to the Secretary of State the documents containing the signatures of the registered voters.

      10.  The Secretary of State shall by regulation establish further procedures for carrying out the provisions of this section.

      (Added to NRS by 1985, 1090; A 1987, 1361; 1993, 2665; 1995, 2257; 1997, 750; 1999, 2147; 2001, 641; 2009, 2588; 2011, 1784, 2083, 3271; 2013, 29, effective January 1, 2014)