Mayor

A mayor’s authority varies by city charter. Mayors generally help set a city’s direction, lead council meetings, represent the community, make appointments, and respond during emergencies. In council-manager cities, the mayor and city council establish policy while a professional city manager oversees daily operations.

City Council Members

City councils adopt local ordinances, approve budgets, establish priorities, and make decisions about housing, zoning, development, public safety, streets, parks, utilities, homelessness, and other city services. Their votes help determine what gets built, what receives funding, and whose needs are prioritized.

District Court Judges and Family Court Judge

District Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction, meaning they hear criminal, civil, family, and juvenile cases. The Family Court helps people with divorce, annulment, child custody, visitation rights, child support, spousal support, community property division, name changes, adoption, and abuse and neglect.

Municipal Judges

Municipal Courts handle cases involving civil infractions within specific city limits. These courts are funded by their respective cities and most of the funds collected by the municipal courts go into the municipalities general fund.

Justice of the Peace

Justices of the Peace hear misdemeanor and traffic cases, evictions, small claims, protective-order requests, and certain civil disputes. They also handle initial proceedings in felony and gross-misdemeanor cases, including arraignments and preliminary hearings. Their decisions can directly affect a person’s housing, freedom, finances, safety, and access to justice.

School Board Trustees

School board trustees govern Nevada’s local school districts. They establish district policies and priorities, approve budgets, hire and evaluate the superintendent, oversee student achievement, and make decisions about instructional materials, school safety, transportation, attendance zones, facilities, and employee agreements. Their decisions affect students, families, educators, and some of the largest public budgets in our

General Improvement District Trustees

Some Nevada communities elect trustees to General Improvement Districts. Depending on the district, these boards may oversee water, sewer, sanitation, recreation, parks, utilities, or fire protection. They can approve budgets, set rates and fees, issue debt, and make infrastructure decisions that directly affect residents.

Hospital District Trustees

In counties with public hospitals or hospital districts, trustees may be elected to oversee hospital operations, budgets, facilities, leadership, and access to health care. These positions are especially important in rural communities, where the local hospital may be the region’s primary health-care provider.

Conservation District Supervisors

Conservation district supervisors help guide local work involving soil health, water conservation, wildfire resilience, invasive species, agricultural lands, and natural-resource stewardship. Nevada conservation districts are governed by elected supervisors together with appointed members.

Constable

Constables are elected in some Nevada townships and help execute court orders and civil processes, including evictions, property seizures, and service of legal documents. Their duties vary by jurisdiction, but their work can directly affect housing stability and access to justice.

Faithful civic engagement means more than voting at the top of the ballot. It means learning about every office, researching the candidates, asking how they will use their authority, and voting the entire ballot.

City Attorney

In some Nevada cities, the City Attorney is elected. This office serves as the city’s chief legal counsel, advises the mayor, council, and city departments, represents the city in legal matters, and may prosecute violations of city ordinances. In Reno, for example, City Attorney is an elected office.

Town Board Members

In unincorporated Nevada communities, voters may elect town board members. These boards advise or work with county commissioners on local services, community facilities, land use, and neighborhood priorities. Their authority varies by county and town.

Irrigation District Directors

In agricultural communities, voters may elect directors for irrigation districts, including the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District. These boards oversee water delivery, infrastructure, assessments, and policies affecting farms, ranches, and local water users.

Water District or Local Improvement District Directors

Some communities elect boards for water, sewer, sanitation, or other infrastructure districts that are not labeled General Improvement Districts. These positions can affect water rates, service reliability, infrastructure investments, and long-term growth. Nevada law also provides for elected local improvement district directors.