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AB 228

Revises provisions relating to elections. (BDR 24-100)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jill Dickman

AB 228 overhauls Nevada absentee voting and ID rules, tightening in-person IDs, restricting who can return ballots, and requires no-cost DMV IDs for eligible voters.

(Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed.)
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Bill Summary · AB 228

AB 228 — Revises provisions relating to elections (BDR 24-100) — Summary

Note: the packet provided includes text from an unrelated California bill (the “Zacky’s FAST Act”) concerning epinephrine delivery systems in schools. This summary focuses on the AB 228 election bill (as introduced Feb. 6, 2025 — Assemblymember Dickman), which aligns with the bill title and BDR number.

Main purpose

AB 228 restructures Nevada’s procedures for absentee voting and in-person voting identification. It repeals portions of the current “mail ballot” framework and reestablishes a detailed statutory scheme governing “absent ballots,” tightens proof-of-identity requirements for in-person voting, restricts who may return another voter’s absent ballot, and requires the DMV to issue no‑cost identification cards to eligible voters experiencing financial hardship.

Key provisions (high level)

  • Defines “absent ballot” and “absent voter” and replaces prior mail‑ballot statutes with a new absent‑ballot process (multiple sections, modeled on pre‑existing earlier law).
  • Proof of identity required for in‑person voting (with certain exceptions). Acceptable photo IDs include:
    • Driver’s license or DMV identification card
    • State/federal employee ID, passport, military ID
    • College/university or public technical school ID
    • Federally recognized tribal ID
    • Concealed carry permit (current or recently expired as specified)
  • Polling places must post instructions about required proof of identity.
  • Provisional ballots:
    • Voters unable to show ID may cast provisional ballots in some circumstances.
    • A provisional ballot cast for failure to provide ID must be cured by providing proof to the county/city clerk by 5 p.m. on the Friday following Election Day in order to be counted.
  • Absent ballot return rules:
    • Absent ballots mailed to election offices must be postmarked at least 3 days before election day.
    • Generally only the voter or an immediate family member (with authorization) may return an absent ballot on the voter’s behalf.
    • Limits a person to returning no more than two absent ballots on behalf of immediate family members.
    • Returning another person’s absent ballot without authorization is criminalized; voting another’s absent ballot is clarified as a category D felony.
  • Administrative changes:
    • Enables counties to appoint an “absent ballot central counting board” and establishes related procedures.
    • DMV must issue an identification card at no charge to a registered voter who lacks acceptable ID and demonstrates financial hardship; applicants must submit specified information.

Who is affected

  • Nevada registered voters (in‑person voters, absent/absentee voters)
  • Immediate family members who may return ballots
  • County and city clerks, election officers, and central counting boards
  • Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (administration of no‑cost IDs)
  • Law enforcement/prosecutors (new/enforced ballot‑return/ballot fraud penalties)

Procedural/timeline and status

  • Introduced Feb. 6, 2025; referred to Legislative Operations and Elections.
  • Committee activity: set for hearings, re‑referrals, and eventual placement on Appropriations suspense file; hearing later postponed.
  • Current status shown as: “Pursuant to Joint Standing Rule No. 14.3.1, no further action allowed.” (bill did not advance further in the session under that rule)

Fiscal and legal notes

  • Fiscal note: may have impacts on state and local government (DMV issuance of free IDs; election administration changes).
  • Substantive effect: significant changes to Nevada election administration, ballot return rules, voter ID and provisional ballot cure processes, and criminal penalties related to absent ballots.

If you’d like, I can produce a side‑by‑side comparison of current law vs. the bill’s changes (by specific statute numbers) or extract the bill’s exact list of acceptable IDs and the precise cure and postmark deadlines as drafted.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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