Politics and Policy

New Mexico and Colorado put limitations in place back in the spring and summer, respectively. And Nevada recently tightened its capacity restrictions even further to 25%. 

Governor Steve Sisolak announced that he is doing well despite contracting COVID-19; however, he warned Nevadans of the dangers that the coronavirus imposes on the state.

As of Nov. 17, this blog will no longer be updated. For related articles, please visit our 2020 election webpage.

KUNR’s 2020 Election Blog is a space for updates throughout Election Day and night, as well as short articles based on conversations our reporters have had with community members and local stakeholders to provide greater context to the election process. Because of the heavy reliance on mail-in voting this election due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there may not be final results for some races on election night in 2020. We will post results and updates to this blog as they come in.

More than 1.3 million people in Nevada voted in the 2020 general election. That's roughly 200,000 more ballots cast this year than in 2016. While results from across the state have continued to trickle in over the weekend, it appears most races are nearing their conclusion. KUNR's Michelle Billman spoke with political editor, Paul Boger who's been following all of the twists and turns to get the latest.

Over the weekend, former Vice President Joe Biden was elected as the 46th president of the United States, but some people in Northern Nevada took to the streets to protest the election results. 

Lee en español. 

In this election, women made up an important voting bloc and the door is slowly opening as more women run for office. To talk about the influence of women in politics, KUNR’s Natalie Van Hoozer spoke to Dr. Christina Ladam, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. They also discussed how the current pandemic may or may not have affected women voters in this election.

During this year's presidential election, Nevadans had three ways to cast their vote. They could mail in their ballot, drop it off or vote in person.

For the latest updates on the presidential election, both in Nevada and nationally, follow NPR's coverage here. 

Nevada’s 2020 general election results will not be official for several days yet. And many races, up and down the ballot, across the state are too close to make any sort of call. That includes which presidential candidate won Nevada. So far, former Vice President Joe Biden holds a slight lead over Republican incumbent Donald Trump. KUNR’s News Director Michelle Billman spoke with Political Editor Paul Boger to break down some of the results so far.

As many college students gear up to vote in their first presidential election, student leaders from the University of Nevada, Reno are urging students to cast their ballots.

Lee en español.

Researching and completing one’s ballot can be a complex process during any election, but it’s a totally new experience for first-time voters, especially those with language barriers. Reporter Natalie Van Hoozer spoke with Kenia Ramírez, a new voter who helped her whole family cast ballots for the first time this year.

With just a few days ahead of the 2020 general election, young Native Americans in Nevada took the time to speak with Patricia Ackerman, Nevada Congressional candidate for District 2, about the different issues Indigenous Peoples are facing around the state. 

In Nevada, 8 out of 17 counties are flagged as having an elevated risk of COVID-19 transmission. Washoe County in particular has had an elevated risk for the past five weeks, longer than any other county. 

Legal challenges and accusations of fraud are just a couple of the issues seeding doubt about a clear winner in the presidential race on Election Day. 

“My advice for voters this year is patience,” said Ken Miller, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

As election day approaches, some states in the Mountain West are preparing for potential voter intimidation and violence following rhetoric from President Donald Trump.

Nevadans will get to vote on five ballot initiatives this election, ranging from same-sex marriages to renewable energy and voting rights, which all aim to change the state’s constitution. KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck talked to Sondra Cosgrove, the president of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Nevada, to break down the questions you can expect on your ballot.