Assembly panel hears election reform bills

CARSON CITY, Nev. — Secretary of State Ross Miller pushed for sweeping changes to Nevada's election laws Tuesday, saying new rules on political action committees and campaign finance disclosures are needed to increase transparency.

But critics of Miller's proposals were vocal in their opposition in a hearing before the Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee. They argued the measures would create an elite society of candidates and keep minor party and independent candidates off the ballot.

"We want to let voters know who's funding the campaigns," Miller said.

No action was taken by the committee.

Nevada, he said, has consistently received an F in disclosure laws, according to reports compiled by the UCLA Law School, the Center for Governmental Studies and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

"That's flunking out," Miller told panel members.

His proposals, AB81 and AB82, would require all candidates to electronically file campaign finance reports with the secretary of state's office. Currently, local government candidates file their reports in their own jurisdictions.

Miller said the electronic reports and making his office a centralized reporting center would allow a searchable database as to contributions, donors and amounts. Currently, reports can be handwritten and delivered by mail.

The bills also impose new reporting deadlines. Under existing law, reports must be filed — or mailed — seven days before an election, well after early voting begins. Miller's proposal would make reports due four days before early voting begins and four days before primary and general election days.

Organizers of voter-registration drives would be required to register with the secretary of state's office and undergo training, a response to the 2008 scandal involving the now-defunct political advocacy group ACORN. Two directors were convicted of overseeing a program where canvassers were illegally paid to register voters during the presidential campaign. A criminal case against the organization is still pending.

Political groups that don't explicitly advocate for a particular candidate or cause also would be required to register and disclose donations. In the 2010 election, a district judge in Carson City imposed an injunction against a group with ties to former Vice President Dick Cheney over ads that spotlighted then-Nevada gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval as a conservative. Sandoval won election in November.