Carson City's 2018 Mid-term Elections Guide

Tuesday is Election Day. So far, it appears over 13,000 Carson residents cast their ballots during early elections, with Republicans seeming to be in the majority of early voters. Click here for full numbers.

Statewide numbers show a total of 628,672 early votes including absentee ballots have been cast, just 40.2 percent of the active voter population.

For statewide numbers, click here.

On Tuesday Nov. 6, polls will open at 7 am and close at 7 pm.

There are two locations to cast your ballot:

The Carson City County Courthouse, 885 E. Musser St, on the ground floor and the Carson City Community Center
851 E. William Street (Highway 50).

For a full list of candidates running in Carson City this election cycle, click here.

Carson City Public Works will offer free Jump Around Carson (JAC) rides on all fixed routes for Election Day. If you haven't tried the public transit, give it a test ride on November 6. More information about JAC is at carson.org/jac.

Ballot Question Overview

There are six questions on the ballot this election for statewide consideration.

They are as follows:

Question 1

The proposed amendment would add Marsy’s Rights to the Nevada Constitution, which are as follows:
Crime victims have the right to...
(a)be treated with fairness and respect and be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse throughout the criminal justice process;
(b) be reasonably protected from the defendant;
(c) have the safety of the victim and victim's family considered when setting bail;
(d) prevent release of information the defendant could use to locate the victim;
(e) refuse an interview or deposition unless under court order;
(f) reasonably confer with the prosecuting agency;
(g) reasonable notice of all public proceedings and be present at all public proceedings;
(h) be reasonably heard at any public proceeding;
(i) timely judgment of a case;
(j) provide information to officers concerning the impact of the crime on the victim;
(k) be informed of the conviction, sentence, incarceration, and release date of the defendant;
(l) full and timely restitution;
(m) prompt return of property when no longer needed as evidence;
(n) be informed of all post-conviction proceedings;
(o) have the safety of the victim, the victim's family, and the public considered before any parole;
(p) have restitution money first applied to the amount ordered to the victim; and
(q) be informed of the rights in the amendment

For further information, click here.

Question 2

If adopted, Question 2 would create a state and local sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene products.

The measure would define feminine hygiene products as sanitary napkins and tampons. As of February 1, 2018, 14 states have a sales tax exemption on feminine hygiene products.

There are numerous items that are tax exempt already in Nevada, including prosthetic devices, orthotic appliances, supports and casts, supplies used in ostomies, products used for hemodialysis, and medicines.

For further information, click here.

Question 3

In short, if Question 3 is adopted, electricity monopolies would be prohibited by Nevada law, allowing energy customers the right to choose who their energy provider is, and generate their own energy for resale.

Currently, utility companies in Nevada are permitted to establish energy monopolies in their service areas.

That monopoly right now is held by NV Energy. In 2016, they controlled 90 percent of the state’s energy market.

The Nevada Public Utilities Commission is in charge of regulating utility prices and energy policies.

The state regulated and monopolization of energy was created originally to incentivize electrical infrastructure development.

If adopted, Question 3 would require the Nevada Legislature to pass laws by 2023 establishing an open, competitive retail electric energy market, giving people safe, reliable and competitively priced electricity, according to the proposed amendment.

For further information, click here.

Question 4

If adopted, Question 4 would require the state legislature to make durable medical equipment, oxygen delivery equipment, and mobility enhancing equipment prescribed for human use free of sales tax and usage tax.

If Question 4 succeeds, the following measure would be added to Article 10 of the Constitution of Nevada, as an additional section:

Section 7. The legislature shall provide by law for the exemption of durable medical equipment, oxygen delivery equipment and mobility enhancing equipment prescribed for human use by a licensed provider of health care acting within his or her scope of practice from any tax upon the sale, storage, use or consumption of tangible personal property.

In 1996, Question 13 was passed, which exempted certain medical supplies from sales tax. These included orthotic appliances, ambulatory casts, other supports, splints, bandages, pads, compresses and dressings.

For further information, click here.

Question 5

An initiative to allow eligible citizens to automatically register to vote while at the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles takes form in this election year’s Question 5. The indirect initiative was approved along partisan lines, but Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoed the initiative, choosing instead for the issue to go to a public vote.

Currently, in Nevada there is an “opt-in system” of voter registration, meaning eligible voters must choose to become registered voters by signing up.

The automatic voter registration initiative would change the system from an opt-in to an opt-out system. Meaning, voters would then need to unregister themselves from being a registered voter.

Currently, 12 states and Washington D.C. have enacted bills to set up automatic voter registration systems in their states.

For further information, click here.

Question 6

If adopted, electric utility companies would be required to acquire 50 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2030.

As of 2018, Nevada’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) is set to be 25 percent by 2025.

Question 6 then would increase the RPS from 25 percent in 2025 to 50 percent in 2030.

The energy sources would include solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and hydroelectric.

For further information, click here.