Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar held a virtual press conference Tuesday morning to discuss early voting.
"I will continue to say it. Nevada runs some of the safest, most secure, and accessible elections in the country," Aguilar says.
Due to changes with the United States Postal Service, Aguilar urges absentee voters to mail their ballots by next week or use a drop-off box to ensure their mail-in ballots get counted.
Aguilar says over 11,600 voters turned out in person for the first weekend of early voting, with another 43,000 mailing in their ballots.
Voters like Carol Kramer are making sure their voices get counted this time around.
"I was a non-voter," Kramer says. "I was one of those people who sat aside thinking everyone else was going to be doing my work for me, and I've come back to take responsibility for that."
Kramer plans to vote early in person.
Other voters, like Bob Benkovich, will wait until Election Day to learn as much about candidates as possible.
"I voted early once, and I kind of regretted it because I found out something about someone I voted for, and I wouldn't have supported them before," he says.
Aguilar also responded to the possibility of federal agents being stationed at polling locations.
"While the president and others in the Trump administration have given mixed messages on if ICE will be sent to the polls this fall, one thing is clear. They are attempting to create fear and confusion among a community of eligible voters," the Secretary of State says.
In response to claims of non-citizens voting in Nevada elections, Aguilar says that's not true, it's illegal, and the Silver State has several steps to verify eligibility.
"As Nevada's first Latino Secretary of State, it's been upsetting to see the continued efforts to intimidate and vilify us," Aguilar says. "Latinos make up 30% of Nevada's voters, and we need them to show up and vote and hold our elected leaders accountable."
2 News Nevada asked some people in Reno how they feel about election security in Nevada.
"I am confident with our security of elections here in Nevada because people are paying attention. They're making early plans," Kramer says.
"Hopefully, it's getting better. I think they've had problems before," says Benkovich. "The biggest problem, I think, is not getting the ballots counted by Election Day. They shouldn't have to go beyond Election Day to tabulate the votes."
Nevada is one of 14 states and D.C. that accept absentee ballots after Election Day.
The Supreme Court will rule on whether states can continue this practice. Aguilar says his office is standing by and will inform voters of potential impacts of the ruling.
Aguilar says voters should double-check their contact information on their registrations. Counties have six days to cure issues with ballots after Election Day, and uncured ballots won't be counted.
You can confirm your contact info on the Secretary of State's website.
