WASHINGTON — Nevada is once again hosting competitive races that could determine control of the White House and U.S. Senate. It is also one of the 10 states where voters will decide on high-profile abortion measure following US Supreme Court ruling in 2022 overturn Roe v. Wade.

Nevada has six electoral votes, making it the smallest prize of the seven presidential battleground states that the Democratic vice president Kamala Harris and former Republican president Donald Trump and their campaigns are considered essential to winning the presidency. Both candidates made several campaign stops in Nevada since becoming their parties’ nominees over the summer.

In the race for a seat in the closely divided US Senate, the outgoing Democratic president Jackie Rosen seeks second term against the Republicans Sam Browna retired Army captain who unsuccessfully ran for the GOP nomination for the state’s other U.S. Senate seat in 2022.

Voters will also decide on ballot measures that would enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution and require voters to show photo ID in order to vote and adopt a non-partisan and preferential voting system in the next elections.

Nevada has one of the best records in the country as a presidential bellwether. The candidate who won the state has won the White House in 27 of the last 30 presidential elections. He only voted for the losing candidate in 1908, 1976 and 2016, when Democrat Hillary Clinton won the state. Democrats have won Nevada in the last four presidential elections.

November 5.

10 p.m. ET.

6 awarded to statewide winner.

President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Joel Skousen (Independent American Party) vs. “None of these candidates.”

U.S. Senate: Rosen (D) vs. Brown (R) and two others plus “None of these nominees.”

Ballot measures: Question 6 (Right to abortion), Question 3 (General election among top five primaries, ranked choice), Question 7 (Require photo ID to vote).

U.S. House, State Senate, State Assembly, State Supreme Court and Washoe County Commissioner.

Nevada conducts its elections primarily by mail. In 2021, the state passed a law requiring mail-in ballots to be automatically sent to active voters, making permanent an emergency measure implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the following year’s midterm elections, about 80 percent of voters cast ballots in person before Election Day or by mail.

Mail-in ballots postmarked on Election Day will be counted if received by November 9, four days after Election Day. Because a large number of mail-in ballots may arrive after Election Day, the outcome of some highly competitive races may not be determined until these additional mail-in ballots are received and tabulated . State Republicans challenged the law, but a federal court dismissed the lawsuit in July. In recent elections, votes counted after Election Day have been heavily Democratic.

Although most ballots are cast by mail, voters have the option of voting in person at a polling place on Election Day. The state does not release any voting results until the last voter in line has cast their ballot, which could be well after the polls’ official closing time.

In statewide elections, Democrats tend to win only two of Nevada’s 17 counties: Clark (home of Las Vegas) and Washoe (home of Reno). Their victory depends on the extent of their margins in these two countries. Clark County has by far the largest population in the state and is critical to Democrats’ electoral success. He accounted for 69% of the statewide vote total in 2020.

In the 2022 midterm elections, Republican candidates for U.S. Senate and governor both took early leads when the first votes were reported after polls closed, but both races ended considerably close and ultimately experienced different results as more mail-in ballots were counted. Democratic U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto ultimately overtook Republican Adam Laxalt for the lead four days after Election Day and ultimately took over when the results were certified. In the race for governor, Republican Joe Lombardo maintained his slim lead and defeated Democratic incumbent Steve Sisolak.

The Associated Press does not make projections and will only declare a winner when it determines that no scenario exists for trailing candidates to close the gap. If no race has been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not declared a winner and explain why.

Nevada does not have an automatic recount law, but candidates can request and pay for a recount within three days of the county or state poll, regardless of the vote margin. The AP can declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine that the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

2020: Biden (D) 50%, Trump (R) 48%, AP race call: Saturday, November 7, 2020, 12:13 p.m. ET.

Registered voters: 2,379,571 (as of September 1, 2024). About 30% Democrats, 28% Republicans.

Participation rate in the 2020 presidential election: 68% of registered voters.

Votes cast before Election Day 2020: approximately 89% of total votes.

Votes cast before Election Day 2022: approximately 80% of total votes.

Votes cast before Election Day 2024: see AP Monitoring of advance voting.

First votes reported, November 3, 2020: 11:41 p.m. ET.

As of 6 a.m. ET on November 4, 2020: Approximately 79% of total votes cast have been reported.

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Associated Press writer Maya Sweedler contributed to this report.

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Learn more about how US elections work at Explaining the 2024 electionan Associated Press series aimed at helping make sense of American democracy. The AP receives support from several private foundations to improve its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. Learn more about AP’s Democratic Initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.