Nevada inactivates 138,367 voters and cancels nearly 177,000 registrations in statewide roll maintenance ahead of 2026 elections
Nevada’s Secretary of State’s Office inactivated 138,367 voters and canceled 176,928 registrations statewide during routine list maintenance carried out from Jan. 1, 2025, through Jan. 7, 2026, officials said.
Key takeaways
- Maintained rolls: From Jan. 1, 2025–Jan. 7, 2026 county officials inactivated 138,367 voters and canceled 176,928 registrations as routine list maintenance.
- Active voters: As of Jan. 1, 2026, Nevada had 2,116,453 active registered voters.
- Hot spots: Clark and Washoe counties accounted for the largest share of changes (Clark: 66,194 inactivations, 141,142 cancellations; Washoe: 44,659 inactivations, 25,466 cancellations).
- Timing safeguards: Routine maintenance pauses 90 days before federal elections (pause begins March 11, 2026, ahead of the June 9 primary).
Key information and context
Scope and timing: County election officials across Nevada’s 17 counties conducted list maintenance between Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 7, 2026. The work included inactivations (voters who remain eligible but are flagged and may not receive mail ballots) and cancellations (registrations removed from the rolls).
Totals: 138,367 inactivations and 176,928 cancellations statewide were reported during this period. As of Jan. 1, 2026 Nevada had 2,116,453 active registered voters.
What the numbers mean
Election officials emphasize the legal distinctions: inactive voters remain eligible to vote but typically must confirm or update their registration to receive a mail ballot; canceled registrations are removed entirely and require re-registration for future voting if still eligible.
How Nevada conducts list maintenance
State and federal law guide the process. Counties send notices to voters flagged during reviews — flags can originate from undeliverable mail, U.S. Postal Service National Change of Address data, or no voting activity across two federal cycles. Notices allow voters to confirm or update addresses, report moves, or request cancellation; absent a response, registration may be designated inactive.
Safeguards: Nevada pauses routine maintenance 90 days before federal elections (for 2026 the pause begins March 11, 2026) to prevent last-minute changes that could affect voter access.
County-by-county snapshot
- Clark County: 66,194 inactivations and 141,142 cancellations — the largest totals by far, reflecting the county’s size.
- Washoe County: 44,659 inactivations and 25,466 cancellations (including some notices processed after a 2024 deadline).
- Lyon County: 9,460 inactivations and 1,080 cancellations.
- Douglas County: 4,085 inactivations and 1,746 cancellations.
- Elko County: 3,281 inactivations and 2,673 cancellations.
- Smaller rural counties: Minimal changes in many areas — for example, Esmeralda reported zero cancellations and Storey reported seven.
Security, transparency and outreach
Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar described the work as a routine step to ensure security and accuracy in elections. He urged voters to review and update registration details at VOTE.NV.GOV, and emphasized county-led outreach and protections for voter data.
“Nevada’s elections are safe and secure thanks to the systems and processes we have in place. This includes our regular list maintenance efforts which are led by trusted county election officials,” Aguilar said. “We are committed to protecting voter data and making sure Nevadans can make their voices heard this year.”
The Secretary of State’s Office also launched a webpage with details on list maintenance and provided contact options: (775) 687-VOTE and nvelect@sos.nv.gov.
Cross-state data sharing & implications for San Luis Obispo, California
Nevada’s use of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) and USPS change-of-address data illustrates how states share information to identify likely movers or duplicate registrations. San Luis Obispo residents with Nevada ties — family, work, property or second homes — should verify any Nevada registration to avoid inactive status or cancellation.
Local takeaways for San Luis Obispo:
- Verify Nevada registrations if you have ties to the state; inactive status can prevent receiving a mail ballot.
- Understand that cross-state data-sharing may trigger notices; contact county election offices to learn what data was used.
- Use Nevada’s list maintenance example for local election preparedness — keeping rolls current helps plan ballots, poll workers and polling places.
What voters can do now
- Nevada voters: Check and update registration information at VOTE.NV.GOV. Contact the Secretary of State’s Office at (775) 687-VOTE or nvelect@sos.nv.gov for questions.
- San Luis Obispo residents with Nevada ties: Verify any Nevada registration online and update your address if you plan to vote in Nevada’s 2026 elections.
- All voters: Keep contact information current with your county elections office and respond promptly to official mailed notices to avoid becoming inactive or canceled.
Reporting and sources
This report is based on public information released by the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office and reporting from local outlets. Key sources include:
MyNews4, News3LV, and 2News (KTVN).
