Election Websites: Nevada

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Researchers assessed state election websites for the Pew Center on the States between May-November 2010, using detailed criteria evaluating the content, lookup tools, and usability. Websites may have changed since they were assessed. See methodology (PDF).

Strengths include:

• Extensive voter registration information, including a section for college students.
• Comprehensive ballot-measure information, including full texts, summaries, and nonpartisan analyses.
• Election results from 1998 to the present, available in a number of formats.
• Easy-to-find, prominently located lookup tools for users to find their polling place and check their voter registration and absentee ballot status.
• Simple navigation—among the best in the nation—that is logical and consistent on each page.
• Exemplary use of a search function, offering easy access to a simple-to-use, empty search field on every page.

Recommended improvements include:

• Allow access to the polling place lookup tool by street address, instead of personal voter record information (27 states offer).
• Provide more information on absentee ballots, including an application form or instructions for requesting them (45 states offer), acceptable methods for submitting them (44 offer), and the deadline for applying for an absentee ballot (40 offer).
• Offer information about voters' rights to cast provisional ballots (43 states offer).
• Provide candidates' street addresses (44 states offer).
• List resources for voters who speak a language other than English (37 states offer).
• Offer lookup tools for voters to view a sample ballot (22 states offer) and the status of a provisional ballot (19 offer).
• Improve accessibility for voters with visual disabilities by using scalable fonts that allow users to easily change the size of text on a website; text as an alternative to graphics for those who cannot see images; links that change color once visited; and “skip navigation links” that jump to the main content on a page.

Noteworthy Features: Nevada integrates photos of candidates into its online election results, something few, if any, other states do. The website also features a handy “election countdown” clock on the homepage.

Initial Quick Fix: Provide instructions for people with disabilities on how to use accessible voting equipment to cast a ballot (33 states offer).

Summary: Nevada's website scores particularly strong in usability, but it has weaknesses in content and offers only three out of five recommended lookup tools.

www.nvsos.gov was assessed for content and lookup tools. 

http://nvsos.gov/index.aspx?page=3 was assessed for usability.