1. If it appears that the provisions of this chapter have been violated, the Secretary of State may:

(a) Conduct an investigation concerning the alleged violation and cause the appropriate proceedings to be instituted and prosecuted in the First Judicial District Court; or

(b) Refer the alleged violation to the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall investigate the alleged violation and institute and prosecute the appropriate proceedings in the First Judicial District Court without delay.

2. A person who believes that any provision of this chapter has been violated may notify the Secretary of State, in writing, of the alleged violation. The notice must be signed by the person alleging the violation and include:

(a) The full name and address of the person alleging the violation;

(b) A clear and concise statement of facts sufficient to establish that the alleged violation occurred;

(c) Any evidence substantiating the alleged violation;

(d) A certification by the person alleging the violation that the facts alleged in the notice are true to the best knowledge and belief of that person; and

(e) Any other information in support of the alleged violation.

3. As soon as practicable after receiving a notice of an alleged violation pursuant to subsection 2, the Secretary of State shall provide a copy of the notice and any accompanying information to the person, if any, alleged in the notice to have committed the violation. Any response submitted to the notice must be accompanied by a short statement of the grounds, if any, for objecting to the alleged violation and include any evidence substantiating the objection.

4. If the Secretary of State determines, based on a notice of an alleged violation received pursuant to subsection 2, that reasonable suspicion exists that a violation of this chapter has occurred, the Secretary of State may conduct an investigation of the alleged violation.

5. If a notice of an alleged violation is received pursuant to subsection 2 not later than 180 days after the general election or special election for the office or ballot question to which the notice pertains, the Secretary of State, when conducting an investigation of the alleged violation pursuant to subsection 4, may subpoena witnesses and require the production by subpoena of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, agreements or other documents or records that the Secretary of State or a designated officer or employee of the Secretary of State determines are relevant or material to the investigation and are in the possession of:

(a) Any person alleged in the notice to have committed the violation; or

(b) If the notice does not include the name of a person alleged to have committed the violation, any person who the Secretary of State or a designated officer or employee of the Secretary of State has reasonable cause to believe produced or disseminated the materials that are the subject of the notice.

6. If a person fails to testify or produce any documents or records in accordance with a subpoena issued pursuant to subsection 5, the Secretary of State or designated officer or employee may apply to the court for an order compelling compliance. A request for an order of compliance may be addressed to:

(a) The district court in and for the county where service may be obtained on the person refusing to testify or produce the documents or records, if the person is subject to service of process in this State; or

(b) A court of another state having jurisdiction over the person refusing to testify or produce the documents or records, if the person is not subject to service of process in this State.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 592; A 1975, 1486; 1977, 1365, 1372; 1983, 1375; 1987, 697; 1989, 1062, 2142; 1991, 1400, 1924; 1995, 1516; 1997, 253; 2005, 2278; 2011, 1695; 2013, 1364, 2413)