Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 306 - Recall of Public Officers
NRS 306.040 - Notification that number of signatures is sufficient; procedure for striking name from petition within certain time after completion of signature verification; issuance of call for special election; legal challenge to petition. [Effecti...


1. Upon determining that the number of signatures on a petition to recall is sufficient pursuant to NRS 293.1276 to 293.1279, inclusive, the Secretary of State shall notify the county clerk, the filing officer and the public officer who is the subject of the petition.
2. A person who signs a petition to recall may request the filing officer to strike the person’s name from the petition on or before the date that is the later of:
(a) Ten days, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excluded, after the verification of signatures is complete; or
(b) The date a complaint is filed pursuant to subsection 6.
3. If the filing officer receives a request pursuant to subsection 2, the filing officer must strike the name of the person from the petition. If the filing officer receives a sufficient number of requests to strike names from the petition such that the petition no longer contains enough valid signatures, the filing officer shall not issue a call for a special election, and a special election must not be held to recall the public officer who is the subject of the petition.
4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, not sooner than 20 days and not later than 30 days, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excluded, after the Secretary of State completes the notification required by subsection 1, if a complaint is not filed pursuant to subsection 6, the filing officer shall issue a call for a special election in the jurisdiction in which the public officer who is the subject of the petition was elected to determine whether the people will recall the public officer.
5. The call for a special election pursuant to subsection 4 or 7 must include, without limitation:
(a) The last day on which a person may register to vote in order to qualify to vote in the special election pursuant to NRS 293.560 or 293C.527;
(b) The last day on which a petition to nominate other candidates for the office may be filed; and
(c) Whether any person is entitled to vote in the special election in a mailing precinct or an absent ballot mailing precinct pursuant to NRS 293.343 to 293.355, inclusive, or 293C.342 to 293C.352, inclusive.
6. The legal sufficiency of the petition, including without limitation, the validity of signatures on the petition, may be challenged by filing a complaint in district court not later than 15 days, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excluded, after the Secretary of State completes the notification required by subsection 1. All affidavits and documents in support of the challenge must be filed with the complaint. The court shall set the matter for hearing not later than 30 days after the complaint is filed and shall give priority to such a complaint over all other matters pending with the court, except for criminal proceedings.
7. Upon the conclusion of the hearing, if the court determines that the petition is legally sufficient, it shall order the filing officer to issue a call for a special election in the jurisdiction in which the public officer who is the subject of the petition was elected to determine whether the people will recall the public officer. If the court determines that the petition is not legally sufficient, it shall order the filing officer to cease any further proceedings regarding the petition.
(Added to NRS by 1960, 282; A 1963, 1386; 1981, 23; 1985, 1115; 1987, 698, 1376; 1991, 2215; 1993, 2408; 1997, 767; 1999, 3563; 2001, 650; 2011, 2123; 2019, 1658, 4125; 2020, 32nd Special Session, 64)

1. Upon determining that the number of signatures on a petition to recall is sufficient pursuant to NRS 293.1276 to 293.1279, inclusive, the Secretary of State shall notify the county clerk, the filing officer and the public officer who is the subject of the petition.
2. A person who signs a petition to recall may request the filing officer to strike the person’s name from the petition on or before the date that is the later of:
(a) Ten days, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excluded, after the verification of signatures is complete; or
(b) The date a complaint is filed pursuant to subsection 6.
3. If the filing officer receives a request pursuant to subsection 2, the filing officer must strike the name of the person from the petition. If the filing officer receives a sufficient number of requests to strike names from the petition such that the petition no longer contains enough valid signatures, the filing officer shall not issue a call for a special election, and a special election must not be held to recall the public officer who is the subject of the petition.
4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, not sooner than 20 days and not later than 30 days, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excluded, after the Secretary of State completes the notification required by subsection 1, if a complaint is not filed pursuant to subsection 6, the filing officer shall issue a call for a special election in the jurisdiction in which the public officer who is the subject of the petition was elected to determine whether the people will recall the public officer.
5. The call for a special election pursuant to subsection 4 or 7 must include, without limitation:
(a) The last day on which a person may register to vote in order to qualify to vote in the special election pursuant to NRS 293.560 or 293C.527; and
(b) The last day on which a petition to nominate other candidates for the office may be filed.
6. The legal sufficiency of the petition, including without limitation, the validity of signatures on the petition, may be challenged by filing a complaint in district court not later than 15 days, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays excluded, after the Secretary of State completes the notification required by subsection 1. All affidavits and documents in support of the challenge must be filed with the complaint. The court shall set the matter for hearing not later than 30 days after the complaint is filed and shall give priority to such a complaint over all other matters pending with the court, except for criminal proceedings.
7. Upon the conclusion of the hearing, if the court determines that the petition is legally sufficient, it shall order the filing officer to issue a call for a special election in the jurisdiction in which the public officer who is the subject of the petition was elected to determine whether the people will recall the public officer. If the court determines that the petition is not legally sufficient, it shall order the filing officer to cease any further proceedings regarding the petition.
(Added to NRS by 1960, 282; A 1963, 1386; 1981, 23; 1985, 1115; 1987, 698, 1376; 1991, 2215; 1993, 2408; 1997, 767; 1999, 3563; 2001, 650; 2011, 2123; 2019, 1658, 4125; 2020, 32nd Special Session, 64; 2021, 1261, effective January 1, 2022)

Structure Nevada Revised Statutes

Nevada Revised Statutes

Chapter 306 - Recall of Public Officers

NRS 306.005 - Informational pamphlet describing requirements of chapter; fee.

NRS 306.011 - Regulations.

NRS 306.015 - Contents and filing of notice of intent to circulate petition; circulation of petition for signatures; submission of petition to filing officer within prescribed periods; penalty for failure to submit petition as required; submission of...

NRS 306.016 - Certain persons required to pay costs of signature verification; exceptions; civil action to recover costs; joint and several liability for costs; regulations.

NRS 306.017 - Employment by filing officer of independent legal counsel to provide advice concerning recall of public officer who is legal adviser.

NRS 306.020 - Public officers subject to recall; eligibility to sign petition; required contents of petition.

NRS 306.025 - Misrepresenting intent or content of petition for recall prohibited; penalty.

NRS 306.030 - Petition may consist of number of copies; each page must meet certain requirements; each copy must be verified by circulator.

NRS 306.035 - Signature verification by county clerk; all documents must be submitted to county clerk at same time.

NRS 306.040 - Notification that number of signatures is sufficient; procedure for striking name from petition within certain time after completion of signature verification; issuance of call for special election; legal challenge to petition. [Effecti...

NRS 306.045 - Effect of resignation by public officer subject to proceedings for recall.

NRS 306.060 - Ballots for special election: Printing ballots when public officer fails to furnish justification for course in office; printing reason for demanding recall and public officer’s justification on sample ballots when mechanical voting sys...

NRS 306.070 - Ballots for special election: Form of ballots when no other candidates nominated; form of ballots when other candidates nominated; conformity of ballots with other laws governing elections.

NRS 306.080 - Vacancy in office created upon recall of public officer if no other candidates nominated for special election.

NRS 306.110 - Petition to nominate other candidates for special election; required contents of petition; eligibility to sign petition; filing petition for signature verification; filing declaration of candidacy.

NRS 306.120 - Conduct of special election.

NRS 306.130 - Applicability of other laws governing elections.

NRS 306.200 - Civil penalties for violations of chapter; joint and several liability for imposed penalties; deposit of collected penalties.

NRS 306.210 - Unlawful acts involving petition for recall; criminal penalties.