1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 and NRS 293D.200, when an absent ballot is returned by a registered voter to the county clerk through the mail, by facsimile machine or other approved electronic transmission or in person, and record thereof is made in the absent ballot record book, the county clerk shall neatly stack, unopened, the absent ballot with any other absent ballot received that day in a container and deliver, or cause to be delivered, that container to the appropriate election board.

2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 293D.200, if an absent ballot central counting board has been appointed, when an absent ballot is returned by a registered voter to the county clerk through the mail, by facsimile machine or other approved electronic transmission or in person, the county clerk shall check the signature on the return envelope, facsimile or other approved electronic transmission against the original signature of the voter on the county clerk’s register. If the county clerk determines that the absent voter is entitled to cast a ballot, the county clerk shall deposit the ballot in the proper ballot box or place the ballot, unopened, in a container that must be securely locked or under the control of the county clerk at all times. At the end of each day before election day, the county clerk may remove the ballots from each ballot box, neatly stack the ballots in a container and seal the container with a numbered seal. Not earlier than 4 working days before the election, the county clerk shall deliver the ballots to the absent ballot central counting board to be processed and prepared for counting pursuant to the procedures established by the Secretary of State to ensure the confidentiality of the prepared ballots until after the polls have closed pursuant to NRS 293.273 or 293.305.

(Added to NRS by 1960, 257; A 1961, 289; 1967, 849; 1975, 1531; 1985, 1094; 1987, 343; 1995, 2625; 1997, 3458; 2001, 2027; 2007, 1156, 2591; 2009, 358; 2013, 31; 2015, 3155)