Washoe County voters to decide abortion, voter ID and road fee measures

Washoe County voters are casting ballots Tuesday, Nov. 3, on two proposed constitutional amendments and a local advisory question on road fees for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Questions 6 and 7 both passed statewide in 2024. Under Nevada law, proposed constitutional amendments must pass in two consecutive general elections. If approved again, both measures will amend the state constitution.

Washoe County Advisory Ballot Question 1 asks whether the Nevada Legislature should create an annual road-use fee for electric and hybrid vehicles registered in the county.

Polls close at 7 p.m. Voters in line by closing time will be allowed to cast a ballot, according to the Washoe County Registrar of Voters.

Question 6: abortion rights

Question 6 asks whether the Nevada Constitution should be amended to establish an individual right to abortion until fetal viability, or when necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient.

The measure defines fetal viability as the point when a fetus has a significant likelihood of sustained survival outside the uterus without extraordinary medical measures, as determined by the treating health care practitioner, according to the Nevada Current voter guide.

Nevada already permits abortion through 24 weeks of pregnancy under a state law enacted in 1973 and affirmed by referendum in 1990, according to the Lozier Institute. The state constitution is currently silent on abortion. Question 6 would elevate that protection to a constitutional right.

A "yes" vote creates the constitutional right. A "no" vote keeps the constitution in its current form and does not change existing state law permitting abortion.

In 2024, Nevada voters approved Question 6 by about 64% to 36%, according to the Lozier Institute.

Supporters say the amendment would protect abortion access from future legislative changes. Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada, which helped lead the 2024 campaign, said the measure ensures access regardless of future federal action, according to the group's website.

Opponents argue the amendment could undermine existing regulations. The Lozier Institute, which opposes the measure, said the amendment's definition of "compelling state interest" is limited to protecting the health of the person seeking an abortion. That means protecting unborn children would not qualify as a compelling interest under the amendment, the institute said.

Question 7: voter ID

Question 7 asks whether the constitution should require photo identification for in-person voting and personal identifying information for mail ballots.

In-person voters would need to show a valid photo ID, according to the Nevada Current voter guide. Acceptable forms include a Nevada driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, tribal ID or a student photo ID from a Nevada public college. IDs expired for fewer than four years would be accepted. Voters older than 70 could use an ID expired for any length of time.

Mail voters would provide the last four digits of a Nevada driver's license or Social Security number. Voters with neither could use a number assigned by their county clerk.

A "no" vote would keep the current system, which verifies identity by matching a ballot signature to the voter's registration, 8 News Now reported.

Question 7 passed in 2024 with about 73% of the vote, according to 8 News Now. If approved again, the ID requirements would take effect starting with the 2028 election cycle, News 3 Las Vegas reported. The measure does not change rules for the current election.

Supporters say the requirement adds a layer of security to verify voters' identities, according to News 3 Las Vegas.

Opponents argue existing safeguards already protect the system and question whether additional requirements are necessary given how rare voter fraud is, News 3 Las Vegas reported.

Washoe County Question 1: EV and hybrid road fee

This advisory question asks whether the Legislature should authorize an annual road-use fee on electric and hybrid passenger vehicles registered in Washoe County to fund transportation projects.

The question is advisory only. It would not create a fee or set an amount. Any new fee would require action by the Nevada Legislature, MyNews4 reported.

Gas taxes help fund road projects, but electric vehicles pay no fuel tax at the pump and hybrids pay less. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County has cited an estimated $1.4 billion gap between projected needs and available funding for regional road maintenance over the next 10 years, according to MyNews4.

RTC Government Affairs Officer Paul Nelson said the ballot question asks voters whether they support lawmakers creating a policy to collect revenue from EV owners and a partial amount from hybrid owners, MyNews4 reported.

Supporters say the fee would approximate what gasoline-vehicle drivers already pay through local fuel taxes, according to This Is Reno.

Opponents argue the proposal does not specify the fee amount and could unfairly charge hybrid owners who already pay fuel taxes, according to This Is Reno. The opposition committee estimated the fee could reach $547 per vehicle. Supporters disputed that figure.

Will Drier, a policy manager with the Electrification Coalition, said additional fees could discourage people from switching to electric vehicles, MyNews4 reported.

How to vote

Election Day vote centers are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Registrar of Voters Andrew McDonald has said Washoe County offers locations to vote in person on Election Day.

Nevada automatically sends mail ballots to all registered voters. The Washoe County Registrar encouraged voters returning mail ballots to use official drop boxes rather than the U.S. Postal Service.

Washoe County has 329,150 active registered voters as of Oct. 25, according to the registrar's office.

Election-night totals are unofficial. The secretary of state's office has said it will not post the first results until all polls are closed and the last voter has voted, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

Results will be posted at results.nv.gov after polls close.