Authorizes any county to create the office of registrar of voters. (BDR 20-363)

2025 Regular Session

Allows Nevada counties to create an appointed registrar of voters, taking elections powers from county clerks and removing the 100,000+ population threshold; vetoed, not enacted.

(No further action taken.)

Purpose / Intent

AB 237 would allow any Nevada county board of commissioners to create an appointed office of registrar of voters. The bill removes the current population threshold (100,000+) that limits that authority to only the State’s largest counties (Clark and Washoe). The intent is to give smaller counties the option to separate election administration from other county clerk duties and allow an appointed official to focus solely on elections.

Key provisions

Amends NRS 244.164 to remove the requirement that a county must have a population of 100,000 or more before the board of county commissioners may create the office of registrar of voters.

Authorizes each county board to:

Create the office of registrar of voters,
Prescribe the registrar’s qualifications, duties and compensation,
Appoint a registrar of voters.

Specifies that, upon appointment, the registrar assumes all powers and duties of the county clerk with respect to elections, except the statutory duty under NRS 293.393 to make out and deliver certificates of election.

Effective date: July 1, 2025 (per bill language).

Who would be affected

County governments and boards of county commissioners (gain new optional authority).

County clerks (potential loss or transfer of election-related duties in counties that create a registrar).

County election staff and budgets (possible creation of separate departments, staff reassignments, or new positions).

Voters and election stakeholders (potential changes in how local elections are administered and overseen).

Fiscal and administrative impact

Committee fiscal notes indicate "No effect on Local Government" and "No effect on the State."

However, testimony and analyses note potential administrative costs if counties choose to establish a new registrar office (staffing, budgets, departmental overhead) and the risk of reallocating existing clerk resources.

Support, opposition, and policy concerns

Supporters: civil liberties and voting groups argued the change would professionalize and prioritize election administration (e.g., ACLU of Nevada; Native Voters Alliance Nevada).

Opponents: several county clerks and local officials expressed opposition, raising concerns that appointment (rather than election) dilutes voter control and accountability, risks resource “cannibalization” of clerk offices, and could politicize administration of elections. Clerks also urged legislative attention to resourcing existing clerk offices instead of structural changes.

Procedural history and current status

Introduced/read Jan–Feb 2025; moved through committees; passed both legislative houses (Assembly and Senate).

Enrolled and delivered to the Governor (May 27, 2025).

Vetoed by the Governor (June 2, 2025); returned to the Assembly. Later recorded as having “no further action taken” and ordered to inactive file (Sept 13, 2025).

Result: Not enacted into law.

Bill