Nevada stands at a precipice. This Tuesday, May 6, 2025, our legislators will vote on Senate Bill 100 (SB 100), a proposal that cloaks itself in election efficiency but reeks of a blatant power grab by the Secretary of State. This bill, with its hollow Amendment 345, assaults the autonomy of our county clerks, the sovereignty of our counties, and transparent governance. It must be stopped.

SB 100 reshapes Nevada’s election landscape by centralizing unprecedented authority in the Secretary of State. It strips county clerks, city councils, and commissioners of their constitutional and statutory rights to manage elections, as enshrined in the Nevada Constitution (Art. 4 § 20) and Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS 293B). Counties and cities currently have the freedom to adopt and manage voting systems (NRS 293B.105, 293B.110, 293B.115). SB 100 obliterates these powers, mandating that the Secretary of State approve voting systems and their vendors, turning local officials into puppets of a single state authority.

The bill’s provisions are draconian. Section 1 empowers the Secretary of State to set regulations dictating election duties, with strict timelines enforced by prosecution. Fail to comply? You face a category E felony, up to four years in prison, and a $5,000

fine (NRS 293.800). Public officers questioning election processes or missing deadlines could face criminal charges, prosecuted by the Attorney General with taxpayer dollars. This isn’t reform, it’s intimidation to silence dissent and crush local control.

SB 100 also turns certifying election results into a “ministerial, non-discretionary” task, stripping commissioners of deliberative authority. This contradicts the Nevada Constitution’s grant of county election governance. By concentrating power in one office, the bill invites abuse and undermines checks and balances. The Secretary of State, with a history of opposing election transparency, could wield this authority to stifle inquiries into electoral irregularities.

Amendment 345 does nothing to mitigate the bill’s damage. It’s a hollow gesture, leaving centralized control untouched and counties at the mercy of an unaccountable official.

This power grab betrays Nevada’s decentralized governance. Counties like Clark, Washoe, and rural Elko have unique needs best addressed by local officials. A one-size-fits-all approach from Carson City ignores these realities and erodes public trust in elections. If the Secretary of State can criminalize dissent and micromanage voting systems, what stops future overreach? The potential for partisan manipulation looms large, given the office’s resistance to transparency.

Nevadans must act now. SB 100 threatens our elections and communities. Contact your legislators and demand they vote NO on SB 100 before May 6, 2025. Here’s how:

• Testify in Person: Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 5 p.m., Room 3142, Legislative Building, 401 South Carson Street, Carson City, NV.
• Testify Telephonically: Dial (888) 475-4499 on May 6, provide Meeting ID 85606260755, and press #. For assistance, call (775) 684-1300.
• Write an Exhibit: Email a PDF to AsmLOE@asm.state.nv.us.
• Submit an Opinion: Visit the SB 100 page online, click the OPINIONS button, and make your voice heard.
• Email the Committee: Contact the Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee at: Erica.Mosca@asm.state.nv.us, Cecelia.Gonzalez@asm.state.nv.us, Sandra.Jauregui@asm.state.nv.us, Brittney.Miller@asm.state.nv.us, Daniele.MonroeMoreno@asm.state.nv.us, cinthia.moore@asm.state.nv.us, hanadi.nadeem@asm.state.nv.us, lisa.cole@asm.state.nv.us, Jill.Dickman@asm.state.nv.us, rebecca.edgeworth@asm.state.nv.us, Brian.Hibbetts@asm.state.nv.us

Nevada’s elections belong to the people, not a single bureaucrat. SB 100 is a dangerous overreach that must be defeated. Call, write, testify, do whatever it takes to protect our democracy. The stakes are too high to stay silent.

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