Washoe County Question No. 1 — Advisory: Annual Road Use Fee on Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

What it does

THIS QUESTION IS ADVISORY AND NON-BINDING: Do you support an annual road use fee on all electric and hybrid passenger vehicles registered in Washoe County, which would be adjusted annually for inflation? These fees are intended to approximate the annual contribution that owners of gasoline powered vehicles pay per year in local fuel taxes to support local transportation infrastructure. The revenue from these fees would be dedicated to the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County subject to annual audits and public disclosure of spending, and the revenue would be used solely for the funding of transportation projects that will reduce traffic congestion, repair and maintain roads, improve air quality, and increase safety.

A YES vote means

In this non-binding vote, voters would support a yearly road use fee, adjusted for inflation, on electric and hybrid passenger vehicles registered in Washoe County, with the money going to the Regional Transportation Commission for road, traffic, air quality and safety projects.

A NO vote means

In this non-binding vote, voters would not support this yearly road use fee on electric and hybrid vehicles.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

According to the County staff report, the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County board voted unanimously on February 20, 2026 to ask the County Commission to place this advisory question on the ballot. The question was presented to the Commission as Resolution R26-25 at its June 23, 2026 meeting.

The staff report says local transportation funding depends mainly on fuel taxes. Better fuel economy and more electric and hybrid vehicles have let vehicle miles traveled outgrow fuel-tax revenue.

The report notes that a state funding study identified a flat fee on electric and hybrid vehicles as an option, but the Legislature has not enacted one. A 2025 study commissioned by RTC Washoe from the Kenny Guinn Center ranked such registration fees as the best revenue option.

An RTC-commissioned December 2025 poll of 800 likely voters, summarized in the report, found 61% support for a fee of up to $250 a year. Supporters cited infrastructure needs and fairness; opponents cited rejecting new fees, wasteful spending, and penalizing or deterring EV ownership.

Put on the ballot by Washoe County Board of County Commissioners (Resolution R26-25, June 23, 2026 agenda), at the request of RTC Washoe.

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Washoe County Question No. 1 mean?

In this non-binding vote, voters would support a yearly road use fee, adjusted for inflation, on electric and hybrid passenger vehicles registered in Washoe County, with the money going to the Regional Transportation Commission for road, traffic, air quality and safety projects.

What does a NO vote on Washoe County Question No. 1 mean?

In this non-binding vote, voters would not support this yearly road use fee on electric and hybrid vehicles.

How many votes does Washoe County Question No. 1 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Washoe County Question No. 1?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.