Nevada Code — 24
Browse 795 sections in division 24 of the Nevada code. Each section page includes the full statutory text, official source links, and citation guidance.
Sections (showing up to 300)
- § 293.010. Definitions
- § 293.016. “Abstract of votes” defined
- § 293.017. “Active registration” defined
- § 293.019. “Approved electronic transmission” defined
- § 293.021. “Automatic voter registration agency” defined
- § 293.025. “Ballot” defined
- § 293.026. “Ballot box” defined
- § 293.030. “Ballot listing” defined
- § 293.032. “Canvass” defined
- § 293.033. “Central committee” defined
- § 293.0335. “Central counting place” defined
- § 293.034. “Certificate of election” defined
- § 293.035. “Challenge list” defined
- § 293.038. “City of population category one” defined
- § 293.0382. “City of population category two” defined
- § 293.0384. “City of population category three” defined
- § 293.040. “Clerk” defined
- § 293.042. “Contest” defined
- § 293.044. “County clerk” defined; synonymous with “registrar of voters” in certain counties
- § 293.0455. “Declaration of candidacy” defined
- § 293.046. “Deputy clerk” defined
- § 293.050. “Election board officer” defined
- § 293.055. “Elector” defined
- § 293.056. “Facsimile machine” defined
- § 293.057. “Filing officer” defined
- § 293.059. “General city election” defined
- § 293.060. “General election” defined
- § 293.063. “Independent candidate” defined
- § 293.0635. “Information system” defined
- § 293.064. “Judicial office” defined
- § 293.0643. “Judicial officer” defined
- § 293.065. “Mail” defined
- § 293.0653. “Mail ballot” defined
- § 293.0655. “Major political party” defined
- § 293.0657. “Mechanical recording device” defined
- § 293.0659. “Mechanical voting system” defined
- § 293.066. “Minor political party” defined
- § 293.0675. “Nonpartisan office” defined
- § 293.068. “Oath” defined
- § 293.069. “Petition district” defined
- § 293.070. “Physical disability” defined
- § 293.073. “Political party” defined
- § 293.077. “Precinct” defined
- § 293.0771. “Presidential preference primary election” defined
- § 293.079. “Primary city election” defined
- § 293.080. “Primary election” defined
- § 293.090. “Registered voter” defined
- § 293.093. “Regular votes” defined
- § 293.094. “Rejected ballot” defined
- § 293.095. “Roster” defined
- § 293.097. “Sample ballot” defined
- § 293.100. “School office” defined
- § 293.103. “School officers” defined
- § 293.104. “Security of an information system” defined
- § 293.105. “Service of the United States” defined
- § 293.107. “Spoiled ballot” defined
- § 293.109. “State officer” defined
- § 293.1105. “Statewide office” defined
- § 293.111. “Statewide voter registration list” defined
- § 293.113. “Tally list” defined
- § 293.115. “Township office” defined
- § 293.117. “Township officer” defined
- § 293.119. “Undervote” defined
- § 293.1195. “United States Election Assistance Commission” defined
- § 293.1205. “Voter registration card” defined
- § 293.121. “Voting district” defined
- § 293.124. Secretary of State to serve as Chief Officer of Elections; regulations
- § 293.126. Applicability of chapter to city elections
- § 293.1265. Inapplicability of certain laws to members or members-elect of Legislature; plenary and exclusive jurisdiction and power of each House over certain matters
- § 293.127. Liberal construction of title and determination of real will of electors
- § 293.1273. Facsimile of signature created by computer to verify or compare signature
- § 293.1275. Counting of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays in computing certain periods of time; exceptions
- § 293.12755. Date
- § 293.127563. Secretary of State to determine number of signatures required for certain petitions
- § 293.127565. Use of public buildings to gather signatures on petitions; remedy for violation; regulations
- § 293.12757. Qualification to sign petition
- § 293.12758. Receipt issued by county clerk; requirements for petition
- § 293.1276. County clerk to forward number of signatures to Secretary of State; notice of failure to file required number of signatures; handling of petition; regulations
- § 293.1277. Verification of signatures by county clerks; regulations
- § 293.1278. Qualification or disqualification of petition upon receipt of certificates or amended certificates by Secretary of State
- § 293.1279. Qualification or disqualification of petition upon verification of signatures; regulations
- § 293.12793. Appeal with Secretary of State contesting verification of signatures; notification of public officer who is subject of petition to recall; consideration and investigation of allegations
- § 293.12795. Action by Secretary of State upon review of appeal; judicial review of decision of Secretary of State
- § 293.128. Procedure for qualification
- § 293.165. Procedure for filling certain vacancies in major or minor political party nomination or nonpartisan nomination; deadline for making changes to general election ballot
- § 293.166. Procedure for filling certain vacancies in party nomination for office of State Legislator from multicounty legislative district; deadline for making changes to general election ballot
- § 293.167. Nomination of party candidates for United States Senator or Representative in Congress
- § 293.171. Procedure for organization
- § 293.1715. Procedure to place candidates' names on ballot; limitation on number of candidates to appear on ballot; procedure to determine number of signatures required
- § 293.172. Contents of petition required to place candidates' names on ballot; limitation on who may sign petition; requirements for signing
- § 293.1725. Candidates: Submission of list to Secretary of State; filing of declaration of candidacy and certificate of nomination
- § 293.174. Challenge of qualification
- § 293.175. Date of primary election; nomination of candidates; applicability of provisions governing nominations
- § 293.1755. Residency requirements for candidates; unlawful for candidates to make certain false statements; certain offices excepted from residency requirements
- § 293.176. When candidacy for major political party prohibited; exception
- § 293.177. Declaration of candidacy: Filing required; fee; filing periods; forms; contents; submission and retention of proof of identity, address and residency; appointment of agent for service of process; investigation and challenge of candidates; unlawful for candidates to make certain false statements
- § 293.179. Questionnaire for candidates for judicial office; filing officers required to post questionnaires on Internet
- § 293.181. Declaration of residency required of candidates for office of State Legislator; form; contents; unlawful for candidates to make certain false statements
- § 293.182. Written challenges concerning qualifications of candidates; enforcement in preelection actions
- § 293.184. Remedies for candidates who unlawfully make certain false statements; disqualification from taking office; removal from ballot or notification to voters at polling places; enforcement in preelection actions
- § 293.185. Appropriate filing officer for filing declaration of candidacy
- § 293.186. Candidates for public office to receive form or access to electronic form for making financial disclosure statement and related instructions
- § 293.187. Certification of names of persons for whom candidacy papers have been filed
- § 293.190. Certification of names of persons nominated at primary election
- § 293.193. Filing fees
- § 293.194. Return of filing fee to certain candidates
- § 293.195. Nonpartisan offices
- § 293.196. Each office of justice of the Supreme Court constitutes separate office for nomination and election
- § 293.1965. Each office of judge of the Court of Appeals constitutes separate office for nomination and election
- § 293.197. Each department of district court constitutes separate office for nomination and election; ballots used in certain counties
- § 293.198. Each department of Justice Court constitutes separate office for nomination and election
- § 293.200. Independent candidates: Qualification; petition of candidacy; time limit for challenge; declaration of candidacy
- § 293.202. Withdrawal of candidacy; rescission
- § 293.203. Contents and publication of notice of primary or general election
- § 293.204. Period for filing declaration of candidacy for special election
- § 293.2045. Remedies in preelection actions challenging candidates who fail to meet qualifications for office; disqualification from taking office; removal from ballot or notification to voters at polling places; applicability
- § 293.205. Establishment, abolishment, alteration and consolidation; boundaries
- § 293.206. Submission of maps to Secretary of State and Legislative Counsel Bureau; determination of statutory compliance; revisions
- § 293.207. Establishment on basis of number of voters therein; maximum number of voters; consolidation of precincts
- § 293.208. Limitations on creation, division, abolition, consolidation and alteration during certain periods; exceptions
- § 293.209. Creation or change of election district during certain period in year of general or general city election prohibited; annexation not prohibited during year of election
- § 293.210. Establishment of new election precinct: Petition and conditions
- § 293.217. Appointment of officers by county clerk; appointment of deputy sheriffs for elections; appointment of trainees
- § 293.2175. Appointment of pupil as trainee: Qualifications; requirements; duties; compensation
- § 293.218. Recommendations by chair of election board of persons for service on election board
- § 293.220. Delivery of notice of appointment to officer or trainee
- § 293.223. Notice of unwillingness to serve as officer or trainee; appointment of replacement
- § 293.225. Continuing powers and duties of election boards; reserve officers of election board; procedure for filling vacancies
- § 293.227. Designation of chair; duties; restrictions upon participation of trainees; training; travel expenses for training
- § 293.247. Regulations of Secretary of State for conduct of elections; interpretations; distribution of information to county and city clerks
- § 293.250. Secretary of State to prescribe procedures and requirements relating to certain election-related computer systems and form of ballots and other election-related documents; requirements for statewide measures and other printed matter on ballots; authority of county clerks to divide paper ballots and prescribe color for ballots and voting receipts
- § 293.2502. Elections procedures manual: Requirements; submission to Legislative Commission
- § 293.2504. Training course related to elections procedures
- § 293.252. Appointment of committees to prepare arguments advocating and opposing approval of constitutional amendments and statewide measures proposed by initiative or referendum; duties of committees; Secretary of State required to reject libelous or factually inaccurate statements; appeal; inapplicability of Open Meeting Law
- § 293.253. Publication of certain statewide measures: Duties of Secretary of State and county clerk; costs
- § 293.2543. Short title
- § 293.2546. Legislative declaration of voters' rights
- § 293.2549. Duties of Secretary of State and of county and city clerks
- § 293.2555. Privilege for political vote
- § 293.256. Names of candidates on ballots not to include title, designation of profession or occupation
- § 293.2565. Use of given names, surnames and nicknames on ballot; use of additional criteria to distinguish between candidates having same given names and surnames
- § 293.257. Separate primary ballots; placement of candidates' names; designation on application to register to vote of affiliation with major political party condition for registered voter to cast ballot for party at primary election
- § 293.260. Declaration of nominees: Omission and appearance of names on primary and general ballot; certain candidates declared elected at primary election; exceptions
- § 293.263. Primary ballot for major political party: Form; names of candidates to be grouped alphabetically; exception
- § 293.265. Nonpartisan primary ballot: Form; names of candidates to be grouped alphabetically; exception
- § 293.267. Ballot for general election: Form; names of candidates to be grouped alphabetically; exception; indication of party name, “no political party” or “nonpartisan” or abbreviations thereof; order of appearance of certain statewide measures
- § 293.2673. Ballot to indicate date of election and at which election ballot will be used
- § 293.268. Order of listing offices, candidates and questions on ballots
- § 293.269. Ballots for statewide offices or President and Vice President must permit voter to register opposition to all candidates
- § 293.2693. Voter education program to be provided in county or city using paper ballots
- § 293.2694. Contracts to purchase ballots; notification by county or city of election to use ballots purchased by Secretary of State; contract vendor required to deposit mail ballots for mailing within this State
- § 293.2696. General requirements for voting systems; duties of Secretary of State and of county and city clerks
- § 293.2699. Voting systems used by counties and cities: Voting materials to be provided in English and other languages as required by federal law or as authorized by county or city clerk
- § 293.269905. Deadlines; requirements; facilitation of meetings
- § 293.269911. Preparation and distribution of mail ballots; exceptions; mail ballot contents; time for distribution; mootness of untimely legal action which would prevent distribution
- § 293.269913. Methods of distribution and other requirements for mail ballots and supporting materials; recordation of certain information by county clerk
- § 293.269915. Requirements for mail ballots distributed to certain voters who have not previously voted in election for federal office in Nevada; exceptions; treatment as provisional ballot under certain circumstances
- § 293.269917. Procedure for voting by mail ballot; procedure for voting in person after mail ballot sent to voter
- § 293.269919. Unlawful to mark and sign mail ballot on behalf of voter or assist voter to mark and sign mail ballot; exceptions
- § 293.269921. Procedure for timely returning mail ballot; treatment of mail ballot when postmark cannot be determined; requirements for ballot drop boxes
- § 293.269923. Persons authorized to return mail ballot; unlawful acts relating to return of mail ballot; penalty
- § 293.269925. Establishment of procedures for processing and counting mail ballots
- § 293.269927. Duties of county clerk upon return of mail ballot: Procedure for checking signatures; safeguarding and delivery of mail ballots for counting; procedure to contact voter to remedy certain defects in returned mail ballot
- § 293.269929. Appointment and membership of mail ballot central counting board; board under direction of county clerk
- § 293.269931. Period for counting mail ballots; counting must be public; rejection of certain mail ballots
- § 293.269933. Process for counting mail ballots; requirements relating to empty envelopes and rejected mail ballots
- § 293.269935. Certification and reporting of mail ballot results; secrecy of mail ballots; unlawful to disseminate information about mail ballot results before polls close and all votes cast on election day; penalty
- § 293.269937. County clerk to test accuracy of electronic devices used to verify signatures on mail ballots; daily audit required during processing of mail ballots
- § 293.269951. Use of system of approved electronic transmission by certain persons to register to vote and apply for and cast ballot
- § 293.269971. Establishment of policy to ensure certain persons may vote and register to vote in jail; coordination between county clerk, city clerk and jail administrator; posting of elections information in county or city jail; regulations
- § 293.269973. Responsibilities of jails
- § 293.269975. Administrator of jail required to submit report of certain information to Secretary of State after certain elections
- § 293.270. Voting by printed ballot or other approved or authorized system; write-in voting prohibited; exception
- § 293.272. Voting in person required at first election after valid registration for voter who registered to vote by mail or computer; exceptions
- § 293.2725. Person who has not previously voted in election for federal office in Nevada: Prerequisites to voting at polling place and to voting by mail; applicability of section; exceptions
- § 293.273. Time for opening and closing polls; duties of election board officers; persons permitted inside certain areas of polls
- § 293.2731. Establishment of polling places
- § 293.2733. Establishment of polling places and ballot drop boxes within Indian reservation or colony
- § 293.2735. Establishment of polling place for precinct in residential development exclusively for elderly persons
- § 293.2738. Polling place not to be established in any building named for candidate appearing on ballot
- § 293.274. Members of general public allowed to observe conduct of voting at polling place; photographing or otherwise recording conduct of voting by members of general public prohibited
- § 293.275. Possession of certain rosters by election board required for performance of board's duties; required tests of electronic rosters before election
- § 293.277. Conditions for entitlement of person to vote; forms of identification to identify registered voter; county clerk to prescribe verification procedure
- § 293.283. Identification of registered voter who is unable to sign name
- § 293.285. Procedure for taking registered voter’s signature
- § 293.287. Announcement of name and political affiliation of registered voter; challenges; nonpartisan ballot at primary election
- § 293.2955. Accessibility of polling place, ballot and election materials to persons who are elderly and to persons with disabilities; particular requirements regarding voting booths and waiting lines; alternative placement of specially equipped voting devices at centralized locations
- § 293.296. Assistance to voter who is physically disabled or unable to read or write English
- § 293.297. Change of vote on certain mechanical recording devices
- § 293.301. Procedure for posting or publishing alphabetical listing of registered voters; tearing or defacing alphabetical listing prohibited; penalty
- § 293.302. Posting of notice of death of candidate at polling place
- § 293.3025. Posting of copies of certain other information and documents at polling place
- § 293.303. Challenges
- § 293.3035. Notice of result of challenge
- § 293.304. Voting by person successfully challenged on grounds of residency
- § 293.305. Closing of polls; admission of voters and other persons
- § 293.307. Duties of voting board before adjournment
- § 293.3072. Establishment of polling places as vote centers where eligible voters in county may vote on election day
- § 293.3073. Requirements for providing notice of locations of vote centers; exceptions; limitations on establishing additional vote centers after such notice
- § 293.3074. Requirements for preparing and delivering rosters for vote centers
- § 293.3075. Requirements for casting ballots at vote centers
- § 293.3078. “Provisional ballot” defined
- § 293.3079. Provisional ballot must include all offices, candidates and measures
- § 293.3081. Casting of provisional ballot: General conditions; declaration or application
- § 293.3082. Casting of provisional ballot: Specific prerequisites; completion of written affirmation; contents of affirmation; provision of receipt; notation on roster
- § 293.3083. Casting of ballot by mail; treatment as provisional ballot under certain circumstances
- § 293.3084. County and city clerks to establish certain procedures relating to provisional ballots
- § 293.3085. Canvass and counting of provisional ballots
- § 293.3086. Free access system to provide information to voter casting provisional ballot
- § 293.356. Issuance of ballot; location at which ballot must be voted
- § 293.3561. County clerk to establish criteria for selection of permanent and temporary polling places for early voting by personal appearance
- § 293.3564. Establishment of permanent polling places for early voting; eligible voters may vote by personal appearance at any polling place for early voting
- § 293.3568. Period for early voting; days and hours for early voting at permanent polling places
- § 293.3572. Establishment of temporary branch polling places for early voting and ballot drop boxes; establishment within Indian reservation or colony; days and hours for early voting; legal rights and remedies of property owners or lessors not affected by presence of such polling places
- § 293.3575. Establishment of polling places for early voters
- § 293.3576. Schedule of locations and days and hours for early voting; limitations on establishment of additional locations; extension of hours after publication of schedule
- § 293.358. Appointment of deputy clerks
- § 293.3583. Mechanical recording devices: Preparation before polls open each day
- § 293.3585. Procedure for early voting
- § 293.3594. Security precautions
- § 293.3604. Mechanical recording devices: Duties of election board at close of each voting day; duties of ballot board for early voting and county clerk at close of last voting day
- § 293.3606. Returns; secrecy of ballots; disseminating information about count of returns before polls close prohibited; penalty
- § 293.3608. County clerk to ensure that mechanical recording devices used for early voting provide record of number of votes; delivery of records and storage devices to central counting place
- § 293.361. Electioneering prohibited near polling place or jail during certain periods; penalty
- § 293.3625. Record made by county clerk of receipt at central counting place of sealed container used to transport official ballots
- § 293.363. Preparation by counting board to count ballots; counting must be public and continue until completed; requirements for counting paper ballots; rejection of certain ballots; record of discrepancies
- § 293.365. Accounting for all paper ballots before counting of votes begins
- § 293.367. Standards for rejecting ballots for appearance of tampering; regulations for counting ballots
- § 293.3677. Standards for counting votes; regulations
- § 293.368. Counting of votes cast for deceased candidate
- § 293.370. Procedure for completion of tally lists
- § 293.373. Duties of officers of counting board after ballots counted if paper ballots used
- § 293.383. Posting of copies of result of votes cast
- § 293.387. Canvass of returns; abstract of votes
- § 293.388. Abstract of votes: Transmission to public libraries or posting upon website
- § 293.389. Inclusion of inactive voters in reports of votes prohibited
- § 293.391. Disposition and inspection of ballots, lists, records and stubs of voted ballots after canvass by county commissioners
- § 293.393. Preparation of abstracts of votes cast at general election or certain other elections; preparation and delivery of certificates of election for certain offices
- § 293.394. Risk-limiting audits of election results; regulations; audits by county clerks required
- § 293.395. Transmission of copy of certified abstract of votes and mechanized report to Secretary of State; canvass of vote by justices of Supreme Court; Governor to grant certificates of election and issue proclamations
- § 293.397. Prohibitions against withholding certificate of election or commission
- § 293.400. Tie vote: Determination of winner in certain elections; determination of nominees in certain primary elections; right to recount
- § 293.403. Recount of vote: Demand; advance deposit of costs
- § 293.404. Employment and duties of recount board; persons present; procedures for recount of ballots; regulations
- § 293.405. Costs of recount; commencement and completion of recount; limitation on additional recount
- § 293.407. Filing of written statement of contest with clerk of district court; verification; notification
- § 293.410. Statement of contest must not be dismissed for deficiencies of form; grounds for contest
- § 293.413. Time for filing statement of contest; precedence of election contest; referral to special master
- § 293.415. Depositions in election contests; trial and submission of matter
- § 293.417. Judgment of court in election contest
- § 293.420. Court costs
- § 293.423. Recount of ballots at hearing of contest
- § 293.424. Requirements applicable to recount and contest of election to office of presidential elector
- § 293.425. Contest of general election for office of State Legislator: Statement of contest and other documents and materials to be filed with Secretary of State; notification of defendant; ability of contestant to amend statement of contest; list of witnesses; depositions, investigation and presentation of evidence
- § 293.427. Contest of general election for office of State Legislator: Seating of candidate with highest number of votes; withdrawal of statement of contest; hearing and deciding of contest by appropriate house of Legislature; certificates of election; remedy
- § 293.430. Contest of general election for office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, justice of Supreme Court or judge of Court of Appeals: Filing of documents and other evidence with Secretary of State; notification of defendant; seating of candidate; duties of Secretary of State and Legislature; withdrawal of contest
- § 293.433. Decision of contest for office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor or justice of Supreme Court by Senate and Assembly in joint session
- § 293.435. Certificate of election delivered after decision
- § 293.437. Designation of locations for polling places; payment of expenses for renting privately owned locations; legal rights and remedies of property owners or lessors not affected by presence of polling places at such locations
- § 293.440. Lists of registered voters in precinct, district or county: Distribution of copies; contents; limitation on printing costs; request for and use by committees of political parties; fees
- § 293.442. Election Account: Creation; deposit of money in Account; disposition of interest and income; authority of Secretary of State to disburse, expend and receive money; payment of claims
- § 293.443. Responsibility for payment of election expenses; competitive bidding for printing of ballots; authority to charge for costs of printing certain applications to register to vote
- § 293.445. Expenses for assistants to county or city clerk
- § 293.446. Compensation of officer of election board for delivery of election returns to county or city clerk
- § 293.460. Compensation of officers of election board, deputy sheriffs and other employees
- § 293.462. Construction of containers used to transport official ballots
- § 293.463. Employees may absent themselves from employment to vote: Procedure; penalty
- § 293.464. Court-ordered extension of deadline for voting
- § 293.465. Loss or destruction of ballots, or other cause, preventing election in precinct or district; new election
- § 293.468. Secretary of State to provide election materials in usable format for persons who are elderly or disabled
- § 293.4685. Certain additional duties of Secretary of State; county and city clerks to provide information requested by Secretary of State
- § 293.4687. Website maintained by Secretary of State for public information relating to elections; requirements
- § 293.4688. Access by mobile device to website maintained by Secretary of State; use of mobile device to submit information or forms
- § 293.4689. Website maintained by county clerk for public information relating to elections; requirements
- § 293.469. County clerks encouraged to provide election information and materials in usable format for persons who are elderly or disabled
- § 293.4695. County clerks required to collect and report certain information concerning election processes; Secretary of State to solicit and collect voter comments regarding election processes; report to Legislature
- § 293.471. Address of business that receives or distributes mail to be provided to county clerk
- § 293.480. Limitation on inspection of ballots after return to county or city clerk
- § 293.481. Governing body of political subdivision, public or quasi-public corporation, or other local agency submitting question to voters required to submit certain documents and information to county and city clerks; fee to cover cost of placing question and associated information on ballot
- § 293.4815. Transmission of question to be presented to voters to Secretary of State
- § 293.484. Contents of voter registration cards; issuance of card is not prerequisite to vote
- § 293.485. Qualifications to vote: Citizenship; age; residence; registration
- § 293.4855. Qualifications and procedures for certain minors to preregister to vote; regulations
- § 293.486. Determination of actual residence
- § 293.487. When residence not gained or lost
- § 293.490. Residence not lost upon removal from county or precinct
- § 293.493. Loss of residence upon removal to another state, territory or foreign country
- § 293.495. Presumption of intention to abandon residence
- § 293.497. Residence of head of family
- § 293.500. Loss of residence upon removal from State with intention to remain elsewhere for indefinite time
- § 293.5002. Procedures applicable to certain persons issued fictitious address
- § 293.502. Procedures applicable to certain persons recently discharged from Armed Forces or separated from employment outside of the United States and their spouses and dependents
- § 293.503. County clerk is ex officio county registrar; custody of documents relating to preregistration or registration; official records of office of county clerk; maintenance of records; time limitation on program to remove names of ineligible persons; availability of records for public inspection; confidential information
- § 293.5035. Designation by county clerk of building owned or leased by county as county facility at which persons may preregister or register to vote
- § 293.504. Voter registration agencies: Creation; duties; duty of Secretary of State to cooperate with Secretary of Defense to allow persons to preregister or register at military recruitment offices
- § 293.5045. Voter registration agencies: Prohibited acts; penalties
- § 293.505. Appointment, powers and duties relating to field registrars; prohibited acts relating to preregistration and registration; penalties
- § 293.5055. County clerk or field registrar authorized to preregister or register residents of county outside boundaries of county
- § 293.5057. Nonresidents may preregister or register to vote for office of President and Vice President under certain circumstances
- § 293.506. County clerk required to accept applications for preregistration and registration submitted by computer to Secretary of State; exceptions