The June 9 election will determine which Democratic, Republican and nonpartisan candidates move forward, with party registration shaping who may vote in partisan contests.
LAS VEGAS — Nevada voters will cast ballots in the state’s primary election on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in a nominating contest that will determine which candidates advance to the November general election for congressional, statewide, legislative and eligible nonpartisan offices.
Early voting runs from Saturday, May 23, through Friday, June 5, according to the Nevada Secretary of State’s 2026 election calendar. The secretary of state recommends that voters returning ballots by mail send them at least one week before Election Day. Ballots may also be returned at official drop boxes or cast in person during early voting or on Election Day.
Nevada uses a closed primary system for federal and state partisan races. Registered Democrats may vote in Democratic primary contests, while registered Republicans may vote in Republican primary contests. Voters registered as nonpartisan, independent or with another political party generally may vote only in nonpartisan contests for which they are eligible during the primary.
Clark County election guidance describes the primary as a preliminary nominating election used, when needed, to select Democratic, Republican and nonpartisan candidates for the general election.
The rule places party registration at the center of the primary process. Voters who want to participate in a Democratic or Republican primary contest must be registered with that party. Nonpartisan voters may still receive a ballot, but it generally will not include Democratic or Republican contests for partisan offices.
The primary does not decide the final winners in most partisan races. Instead, it determines which candidates will represent their parties in November. Minor-party, other-party and independent candidates for partisan contests generally appear on the general election ballot rather than in the Democratic or Republican primary.
Nevada’s system has drawn renewed attention because nonpartisan voters now make up a large share of the state’s electorate. State voter registration trends show nonpartisan voters have become the largest registration group in Nevada, a shift linked in part to automatic voter registration procedures through the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Under the current process, eligible residents who do not select a party through the registration process are registered as nonpartisan. They may later update their party affiliation through election officials or online voter services.
State lawmakers considered changes to primary access in 2025, but the current structure remains in place. Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed legislation that would have allowed nonpartisan voters to participate in Democratic or Republican primary contests, leaving Nevada’s closed primary system intact for the 2026 election cycle.
