NRS293C.385. Withdrawal of absent ballots from ballot boxes after initial withdrawal; verification of proper number and counting of absent ballots; reporting results of count; disseminating information about count before polls close prohibited; penalty.

      1.  Each day after the initial withdrawal of the ballots pursuant to NRS 293C.382 and before the day of the election, the counting board, if it is responsible for counting absent ballots, or the absent ballot central counting board shall withdraw from the appropriate ballot boxes or containers all the ballots received the previous day and determine whether each box or container has the required number of ballots according to the city clerk’s absent voters’ ballot record.

      2.  If any absent ballots are received by the city clerk on election day pursuant to NRS 293C.317, the city clerk shall deposit the absent ballots in the appropriate ballot boxes or containers.

      3.  Not earlier than 4 working days before the election, the appropriate board shall, in public, count the votes cast on the absent ballots.

      4.  If paper ballots are used, the results of the absent ballot vote in each precinct must be certified and submitted to the city clerk, who shall have the results added to the regular votes of the precinct. The returns of absent ballots must be reported separately from the regular votes of the precinct, unless reporting the returns separately would violate the secrecy of a voter’s ballot. The city clerks shall develop a procedure to ensure that each ballot is kept secret.

      5.  Any person who disseminates to the public information relating to the count of absent ballots before the polls close is guilty of a misdemeanor.

      (Added to NRS by 1997, 3438; A 2001, 2040; 2007, 1182, 2619)