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Prof. Justin Levitt's Doug Spencer's Guide to Drawing the Electoral Lines

State Summary

Nevada’s congressional and state legislative lines are drawn by the legislature, as a regular statute, subject to gubernatorial veto.

In the 2010 cycle, the legislature passed SB 497 on May 10, 2011, which was vetoed on May 14, 2011; on May 25, 2011, the legislature passed AB 566, which was vetoed on May 31, 2011. With the legislature out of session until 2013, the process fell to the state courts.  The trial court promulgated final congressional and state legislative districts on Oct. 27, 2011.

A 2020 ballot initiative attempting to change the redistricting process survived litigation but not COVID-19, as it could not gather enough signatures during the pandemic to make the 2020 ballot.  [Consent Decree, Fair Maps Nev. v. Cegavske, No. 3:20-cv-00271 (D. Nev. June 9, 2020); Jackson v. Fair Maps Nevada PAC, 467 P.3d 635 (Nev. 2020)]

In the 2020 cycle, the Nevada Legislature approved new congressional and state legislative districts (SB1), and Gov. Sisolak signed the new districts into law on Nov. 16, 2021. The redistricting plans are currently being challenged in a state court action.

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Seats: (projected)

Institution:

Drawn by:

Plan Status:

Party Control:
  Upper House:
  Lower House:
  Governor:

Key Info for 2000 Cycle

Website

Primary governing law

Key Info for 2010 Cycle

Website

Primary governing law

Key Info for 2020 Cycle

Website

Primary governing law

Data

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The Latest Updates

Nov 25, 2021
A Nevada state assembly member and a Nye County commissioner have filed a state court challenge to Nevada's legislative and congressional maps claiming they violate the state and federal constitutions.
Nov 16, 2021
The Nevada Legislature approved new congressional and state legislative districts (SB1). Gov. Sisolak signed the new districts into law.
Nov 9, 2021
Democratic lawmakers released preliminary draft legislative (assembly and senate) and draft congressional maps ahead of the legislature's redistricting special session.
Oct 7, 2021
MyDistricting Nevada is now available to create and submit redistricting plans. All submitted and approved plans are available for review.
Oct 7, 2021
The Committee to Conduct an Investigation into Matters Relating to Reapportionment and Redistricting held an organization meeting to plan out the redistricting process for the state.
Oct 1, 2021
The Committee to Conduct an Investigation into Matters Relating to Reapportionment and Redistricting announced its first organizational meeting will be held on Oct. 7, 2021.

Institution

Nevada’s congressional and state legislative lines are drawn by the legislature, as a regular statute, subject to gubernatorial veto.

More information about the members of the legislative committees responsible for redistricting will be available here.

Timing

Nevada law does not currently provide a particular deadline to draw congressional lines, though candidates must file for congressional primary elections by Mar. 18, 2022. [Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.177(1)(b)]

State legislative lines must be redrawn in the legislature’s first session after the Census; that session is scheduled to begin on Feb. 1, 2021, and end on June 1, 2021.  [Nev. Const. art. IV, § 5]  Candidates must file for state legislative primary elections by Mar. 18, 2022. [Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.177(1)(b)]

Nevada ties the drawing of state legislative lines to the Census, and might therefore be construed to prohibit redrawing lines mid-decade; there is no similar provision pertaining to congressional lines. [Nev. Const. art. IV, § 5]

Public input

Beyond noting that committee meetings are available for public testimony, the legislature has not yet announced any specific plans or guidelines for public input.

Criteria

Like all states, Nevada must comply with constitutional equal population requirements.  Nevada will also adjust census data for congressional and state legislative districts in order to count incarcerated individuals at their last known residence before incarceration.  [Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 218B.105, 304.065, 360.288]

Nevada must also, like all states, abide by the Voting Rights Act and constitutional rules on race.

Nevada does not currently create any additional requirements beyond those above.

2020 cycle

In the 2020 cycle, the Nevada Legislature approved new congressional and state legislative districts (SB1), and Gov. Sisolak signed the new districts into law on Nov. 16, 2021. The redistricting plans are currently being challenged in a state court action.

2010 cycle

On May 10, 2011, the Nevada legislature passed SB 497, which was vetoed on May 14, 2011; on May 25, 2011, the legislature passed AB 566, which was vetoed on May 31, 2011. With the legislature out of session until 2013, the process fell to the state courts.  On Oct. 14, 2011, three special masters appointed by the state court issued a report and accompanying district plans for congressional and state legislative districts.  The trial court promulgated slightly modified districts on Oct. 27, 2011.  [Guy v. Miller, No. 11 OC 00042 1B (Nev. Dist. Ct., Carson City Oct. 27, 2011)]

It does not appear that the plans were further challenged in court.

Materials and maps are available here.

2000 cycle

The Nevada legislature passed congressional and state legislative plans (SB 14) that were signed on June 15, 2001.

It does not appear that either plan was challenged in court.

Materials and maps are available here.

Redistricting Cases in Nevada

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Nevada | Process
Jeng v. Aguilar II
State court struck petition for redistricting initiative: unfunded mandate
Last Updated May 10, 2024
Case No. 230C00137-1B (Nev. Dist. Ct., Carson City); No. 88263 (Nev. S. Ct.)
Cycle 2020
Nevada | Process
Jeng v. Aguilar I
State court struck petition for redistricting initiative: unfunded mandate
Last Updated May 10, 2024
Case No. 230C00138-1B (Nev. Dist. Ct., Carson City); No. 88263 (Nev. S. Ct.)
Cycle 2020
Nevada | Congress | State Upper | State Lower
Koenig v. Nevada
Parties stipulated to dismiss challenge to state legislative and congressional districts
Last Updated Jun 16, 2022
Case No. 21-OC-00166-1B (Nev. Dist. Ct., Carson City)
Cycle 2020