2020 Ballot Questions

The Nevada June primary election is right around the corner but what is in store for the 2020 general election? We know for sure that Nevada voters will have the opportunity to cast their votes on 5 questions. The first 4 were measures passed in the same form by the Nevada Legislature in two consecutive sessions. The last one was an initiative that passed in the 2018 election and now has to pass a second time in 2020.

Question 1 is from AJR 5 from the 2017 Legislative Session. As stated in the summary of the bill, this measure proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to remove the constitutional provisions governing the election and duties of the Board of Regents of the State University and would authorize the Legislature to provide by statute the governance, control and management of the State University and for the reasonable protection of individual academic freedom.

Question 2 would amend the Nevada Constitution to require all marriages be recognized regardless of gender. Currently, the Nevada Constitution only recognizes marriages between a man and a woman. AJR 2 only had two no votes in the Assembly and two in the Senate in the 2019 Session.

Question 3 from SJR 1 in 2017 makes several major changes to the State Board of Pardons Commissioners. Currently, the State Board of Pardons and Commissioners consists of the Governor, the justices of the Supreme Court, and the Attorney General. While the duties of this Board are granted in the Constitution, it doesn’t actually provide for it. A yes vote on this question would change that and expressly create the State Board of Pardons Commissioners. Another key feature proposed is taking out the requirement that the Governor vote in the majority for any action. It also requires the board to meet at least quarterly, allows any member of the board to submit issues for consideration, and allows for the board to take any action with a majority of members.

Question 4 would amend the constitution to codify existing voting rights laws into the Nevada Constitution. SJR 3 passed unanimously in the 2019 Session and only had 3 no votes in the Assembly in 2017.

The 5th question is actually a petition driven initiative and was Question 6 from the 2018 election related to renewable energy and passed with 59% of the vote last election. The constitutional amendment would require electric utilities to acquire at least 50 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Because this measure would change the Nevada Constitution, it has to be passed by the voters twice.

There are other petitions that propose to amend either the constitution or statute that are pending and could be on the 2020 ballot. All of those can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Today, Governor Sisolak adjusted the state Travel Advisory. Nevada continues to strongly discourage those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have not yet recovered, those who have been presumptively diagnosed with COVID-19, and those who are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms from traveling to the State at this time. Additionally, Nevada recommends all travelers review CDC travel guidelines, including restriction on travelers from certain foreign countries from entering the United States.

The press release and advisory can be found here:

Governor Sisolak adjusts travel advisory for Nevada as the State enters Phase 2

Ballot questions are becoming more and more popular in Nevada…What are your thoughts on them? Let us know in the comments.


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