Voter registration bill clears Senate panel

A bill extending Nevada’s voter registration period through early voting has cleared a Senate committee.

But the ultimate fate of Assembly Bill 440 remains in questions.

Democratic Sens. Kelvin Atkinson of North Las Vegas and Mark Manendo of Las Vegas, who earlier questioned the need for the bill, voted to approve it Thursday.

The measure cleared the Senate Committee on Operations and Elections along a party-line, 3-2 vote.

It now goes to the Senate floor.

AB440 would extend voter registration to the Friday before a primary or general election.

People who register in person during the early voting period would be allowed to cast a ballot immediately.

Under existing law, registration closes three weeks before an election.

More than 7,000 people registered after the cutoff last year and were ineligible to vote.