Code Section
Nevada > Statutes > City Elections General Elections

N.R.S. 293C.145 – Date of general city election in city of population category three; number of council members; terms of mayor and council members; procedure for filing declaration of candidacy; candidates for mayor to be voted upon by electors at large; candidates for city council to be voted upon by electors of ward or electors at large; exceptions

Overview of Statute

This section requires general elections to take place in category three population cities, and provides for the date of elections, the positions to be elected, the terms of office for those positions, declaration of candidacy, and appropriate electorate for each position.

Statute

Effective until July 1, 2021

1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 293C.115, a general city election must be held in each city of population category three on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in June of the first odd-numbered year after incorporation, and on the same day every 2 years thereafter, as determined by ordinance.

2. There must be one mayor and three or five council members, as the city council shall provide by ordinance, for each city of population category three. Unless the terms of office of the mayor and the council members are extended by an ordinance adopted pursuant to NRS 293C.115, the terms of office of the mayor and the council members are 4 years, which terms must be staggered. The mayor and council members elected to office immediately after incorporation shall decide, by lot, among themselves which two of their offices expire at the next general city election, and thereafter the terms of office must be 4 years unless the terms are extended by an ordinance adopted pursuant to NRS 293C.115. If a city council thereafter increases the number of council members, it shall, by lot, stagger the initial terms of the additional members.

3. A candidate for an office to be voted for at the general city election must file a declaration of candidacy with the city clerk:

(a) If the city has provided by ordinance for a general city election on the same date as the statewide general election pursuant to chapter 293 of NRS and the candidate is filing for:

(1) The office of judge of a municipal court, not earlier than the first Monday in January of the year in which the applicable election is to be held and not later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday in January.

(2) Any other office, not earlier than the first Monday in March of the year in which the applicable election is to be held and not later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday in March.

(b) If the city has not provided by ordinance for a general city election on the same date as the statewide general election pursuant to chapter 293 of NRS, not earlier than the 70th day before the applicable election is to be held and not later than 5 p.m. on the 60th day before the applicable election is to be held.

4. At the time that a candidate files a declaration of candidacy, the city clerk shall charge and collect from the candidate, and the candidate must pay to the city clerk, a filing fee in an amount fixed by the city council by ordinance or resolution.

5. Candidates for mayor must be voted upon by the electors of the city at large. Candidates for the city council must be voted upon by the electors of their respective wards to represent the wards in which they reside or by the electors of the city at large in accordance with the provisions of chapter 266 of NRS.

 

Effective July 1, 2021

1. A general city election must be held in each city of population category three on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the first even-numbered year after incorporation, and at each successive interval of 2 years.

2. There must be one mayor and three or five council members, as the city council shall provide by ordinance, for each city of population category three. The terms of office of the mayor and the council members are 4 years, which terms must be staggered. The mayor and council members elected to office immediately after incorporation shall decide, by lot, among themselves which two of their offices expire at the next general city election, and thereafter the terms of office must be 4 years. If a city council thereafter increases the number of council members, it shall, by lot, stagger the initial terms of the additional members.

3. A candidate for an office to be voted for at the general city election must file a declaration of candidacy with the city clerk not earlier than:

(a) For the office of judge of a municipal court, the first Monday in January of the year in which the applicable election is to be held and not later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday in January.

(b) For any other office, the first Monday in March of the year in which the applicable election is to be held and not later than 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the first Monday in March.

4. At the time that a candidate files a declaration of candidacy, the city clerk shall charge and collect from the candidate, and the candidate must pay to the city clerk, a filing fee in an amount fixed by the city council by ordinance or resolution.

5. Candidates for mayor must be voted upon by the electors of the city at large. Candidates for the city council must be voted upon by the electors of their respective wards to represent the wards in which they reside or by the electors of the city at large in accordance with the provisions of chapter 266 of NRS.

(Added to NRS by 1997, 3421; A 1997, 27951999, 2682001, 6342003, 6752015, 1879; 2019, c.558)

Definition [General election]

The election held pursuant to NRS 293.12755.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.060.

Definition [General city election]

An election held pursuant to NRS 293C.115293C.140 or 293C.145. The term includes a general municipal election held pursuant to the provisions of a special charter of an incorporated city.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.059.

Definition [City of population category three]

A city:

      1.  Organized pursuant to the provisions of chapter 266 of NRS; or

      2.  Incorporated pursuant to a special charter, whose population is 5,000 or less.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.0384.

Definition [Clerk]

The election board officer designated or assigned to make the record of the election in the roster, tally list and challenge list in the precinct, district or polling place in which such officer is appointed.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.040.

Definition [State]

A state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293D.080.

Definition [Elector]

A person who is eligible to vote under the provisions of Section 1 of Article 2 of the Constitution of the State of Nevada.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.055.

Definition [Candidate]

Any person:

      1.  Who files a declaration of candidacy;

      2.  Who files an acceptance of candidacy;

      3.  Whose name appears on an official ballot at any election; or

      4.  Who has received one or more contributions in excess of $100, regardless of whether:

      (a) The person has filed a declaration of candidacy or an acceptance of candidacy; or

      (b) The name of the person appears on an official ballot at any election.

See Nev. Rev. Stat. § 294A.005.

Additional Resources

Notes from "State of Nevada Elections 2015," published on January 1, 2016, by Barbara K. Cegavske, Nevada Secretary of State

  • Ch. 336, Stats. 2015, which amended this section to change the date of the general city election, contains the following provision not included in NRS: "Sec. 15. The amendatory provisions of this act do not abrogate or affect the current term of office of any municipal officer who is serving in that office on January 1, 2016."