League of Women Voters national logo (LWV/Flickr)

That's why the League of Women Voters of Las Vegas Valley (LWVLVV) found its niche producing a nonpartisan voters guide every election cycle and decided this year to make it accessible on the internet.

"Some candidates, who were stragglers, we were able to put information in after we put it online and we were able to fix the little things," said Sondra Cosgrove, Voter Service Chair of the LWVLVV and author of the 2012 guide.  "And it cost us no money, it was just time."  

The LWVLVV is lauded for being an outlet with no political affiliation or endorsements, and Nevadan candidates from the Supreme Court Justice and District Court Judge now turn to the organization to publish statements, knowing the risk of being fined for partisan action isn't there.

In Nevada, judges must run as nonpartisan.

"We don't do any endorsements, we don't say good things or bad things, we let the candidates speak for themselves," said Cosgrove.

The League asks the candidates to submit statements with three priorities they would address if elected.  Other groups that write voter guides lack these statements, Cosgrove said, only providing information based on the group's endorsement.

"What the league is trying to do is make up for some of that lack of political immunity," said Michael Green, Cosgrove's colleague at the College of Southern Nevada where they both teach history.  

Cosgrove said the virtual element was well received by Nevada voters who live outside the state. The internet allowed their niche to be accessible anywhere. It also provides readers with links to additional election websites, including a link to online voter registration.

The use of technology for election purposes is something that Cosgrove said the league hopes to further expand on for the next election. With the threat of voter suppression laws, and controversy around misplaced voter registration forms, having an online option hints at a possible solution since it links voter registration with DMV records -- a comfort for people uneasy about strangers handling their personal information.

Cosgrove acknowledges the challenges in making sure everyone has equal access to a computer or the internet, but she said the league hopes a grant might allow them to create "hotspots" for the next election.

"It would not surprise me in the next election cycle if they tried to get rid of form registration," Cosgrove said.  

Read more on Neon Tommy's coverage of Election 2012 here.

Reach Staff Reporter Lauren Foliart here.