- 1. The basic factor to be considered by an election board when making a determination of whether a particular ballot must be rejected is whether any identifying mark appears on the ballot which, in the opinion of the election board, constitutes an identifying mark such that there is a reasonable belief entertained in good faith that the ballot has been tampered with and, as a result of the tampering, the outcome of the election would be affected.
2. Regulations for counting ballots must include provisions that:
- (a) An error in marking one or more votes on a ballot does not invalidate any votes properly marked on that ballot.
- (b) A soiled or defaced ballot may not be rejected if it appears that the soiling or defacing was inadvertent and was not done purposely to identify the ballot.
- (c) Only devices provided for in this chapter or chapter 293 or 293B of NRS may be used in marking ballots.
- (d) It is unlawful for any election board officer to place any mark upon any ballot other than a spoiled ballot.
- (e) When an election board officer rejects a ballot for any alleged defect or illegality, the officer shall seal the ballot in an envelope and write upon the envelope a statement that it was rejected and the reason for rejecting it. Each election board officer shall sign the envelope.
(Added to NRS by 1997, 3436; A 2001, 2040; 2007, 1181, 2617)