According to the Nevada Secretary of State website, Barbara Cegavske announced on May 1, 2020, that county election officials have begun the process of mailing out 2020 primary election ballots so registered voters can vote from home.
The 2020 primary election will be a vote-by-mail election due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Secretary of State’s office and all 17 Nevada county election officials are working to provide Nevada families and communities a safe and secure way to exercise their right to vote during the 2020 primary election by offering a mail-in ballot. Mail-in ballots provide Nevadans an accurate and valid way to vote this primary election in the comfort, safety, and privacy of their own homes by simply mailing it or dropping it off,” stated Wayne Thorley, deputy secretary of state for elections.
Active registered voters will automatically receive a vote-by-mail ballot delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Instructions for voting by mail are included with the ballot. Also included is a secure pre-addressed, postage-paid ballot return envelope that must be used to return the ballot by mail or in person. Voters are reminded to sign their ballot return envelope before dropping it in the mail. In-person ballot drop-off will also be made available.
In-person voting will be permitted during the early voting period and on election day, June 9 for same-day registration and information updates. Early voting for the primary election with by from May 23 to June 5.
On Thursday, April 30, a federal judge had the opportunity to block the Nevada Secretary of State’s decision to make the 2020 primary election a vote-by-mail ballot.
U.S. District Judge Miranda Du rejected the attempt by a conservative voting rights group to block the primary based on concerns of the potential for voter fraud.
According to the Reno Gazette, another hearing is scheduled for the week of May 4, however, the secretary of state and county election officials began mailing out the absentee ballots May 1 because Nevada Democrats want to halt the plan to use absentee ballots due to concerns about the impact voting from home will have on minorities, the poor, and the elderly.
On Thursday, Du ruled that the plaintiffs in this case, represented by lawyers for the right-leaning Voters’ Rights Initiative, did not establish the “legal standing necessary to obtain a court order blocking the election, primarily because the harm it claims is speculative.”
However, Du says she would have rejected the request for a preliminary injunction based on the merits of the case even if Voters’ Rights Initiative had provided the legal standing the needed.
In a 24-page opinion, Du wrote, “The court finds that (Nevada’s) interests in protecting the health and safety Nevada’s voters and to safeguard the voting franchise in light of the COVID-19 pandemic far outweigh any burden on plaintiff’s right to vote.”
The plan was announced in March by Republican Secretary of State Cegavske, saying that the plan will allow voters to cast their votes in person if they choose to do so during early voting. However, Cegavske is only requiring one voting place to be established in each of the 17 counties in Nevada.
An Indiana-based attorney for the plaintiff argued that Nevada’s legislature is only allowed to change election rules. The lawyer, James Bopp Jr. said that Cegavske’s plan was not formalized as regulation subject to public hearings.
“She can’t just go out on her own and establish election procedures,” Bopp Jr. told the judge.
Du did not agree.
In her 24-page opinion, she added, “The Nevada Legislature has vested the secretary with authority to enact voting regulations.”
Democrats appreciate the mail-in voting approach. They are concerned there will not be enough in-person voting sites to meet the needs of each county. Additionally, they believe the mail-in ballots should be sent to all registered voters, not just registered active voters. (Active means they have participated in the last two elections). Inactive voters must call their town office and request the absentee ballot.
By Jeanette Vietti
Sources:
NSOS.gov: 2020 Primary Election Mail-in Ballots on the Way to Nevada Voters Stating Today
Reno Gazette: Federal judge refuses to block Nevada’s mail-in primary election
KXNT Radio: Judge Refuses To Block Nevada’s Mail-In Primary Election
Image Courtesy of Fred Moore’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
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In the main residence of the President of Belarus, which is situated on Karl Marx St. in the city of Minsk, there is a fifth floor that is a “presidential” one. The President had set aside for himself a whole floor to work on. Except for the presidential cabinet, all the other rooms on that floor are empty, although they are beautifully furnished and, for many years, the administrative workers are perfectly cleaning up those empty rooms.
This is a matter of principle for Lukashenko, because he thinks that nobody should work on the same highest floor (or level) as the President. There is only one exception to that rule and for only one man in the country. For many years, Vladimir Makei, who was formerly Lukashenko’s top aide and now is the chief of the Administration of the President, is working on the same floor with the President.
That is because, according to the words of those who are close to the President, Makei is a good psychologist who learned how to pretend that he understands and supports Lukashenko as nobody other, and only Natalia Petkevich was able to compete with Makei in the ability to communicate with the President of Belarus. However, the new favorite was able to beat even her. The present Chief of the Administration of the President is perfectly feeling the mood of his boss, and would never make a suggestion or an advice that would not guarantee a positive decision by Lukashenko.
The Chief of Administration of the President has big plans for his future political career, and working on the 5-th floor is tempting Makei to take the presidency himself. However, Makei is able to overpower Lukashenko, although obviously not in an election, but in a power play. For example, by winning the loyalty of the Siloviks (security and armed forces), with whom Makei, a colonel who retired after being in service for 12 years, can find a common language.
Vladimir Makei, lacking the possibility to fight for power legitimately, by the means of an election, will have to make intrigues and schemes should he ever want presidency.
He actively tries to use the current situation for his own advantage and manipulate it by warming up his relations with the EU and the US, and by gradually “cutting off” the President of Belarus from his old friends and partners abroad. It’s obvious that Makei is unable to act alone, without support from Belarussian authorities and external Western players.
Vladimir Makei is faceless – it’s his profession. Professional intelligence officers sometimes get training exercises to develop or even simulate an arrest of their friends or relatives. Alexander Lukashenko is very afraid but possibly oblivious to the fact that someday after his usual report Vladimir Makei will say with a poker face “You’re under arrest, Mr. Lukashenko!”
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