Opinion ID: 2630289
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Substantial compliance is the appropriate standard

Text: The proponents argue that substantial compliance is sufficient. The Secretary of State applied a strict compliance standard initially but concedes on appeal that substantial compliance is the correct standard. Of the other opponents, only the Nevada State Education Association argues on appeal for a strict compliance standard. The district court applied a substantial compliance standard without discussion, concluded that the affidavits were defective, and then noted that the affidavits would necessarily fail a strict compliance standard. In Nevadans for Nevada v. Beers, [29] this court recognized that a substantial compliance standard generally applies to statutory requirements. Moreover, this court has not before required strict compliance with a statutory requirement in the election context, instead looking for substantial compliance. [30] And a substantial compliance standard accords proper deference to the people's initiative power. [31] We thus conclude that substantial compliance is the correct standard.