Washoe County Board of Commissioners Meeting – June 18, 2026

The Washoe County Board of Commissioners met on June 18, 2026, primarily to canvass the 2026 Primary Election held on June 9. The meeting included a legal update, a presentation from the Registrar of Voters, extensive public comment, and a vote to certify the election results. The Board voted 4-1 to approve the declaration of canvass, with Commissioner Jeanne Herman dissenting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mary Richardson expressed full support for certifying the election, praising the new paper ballot system, poll worker professionalism, and ballot security.
• Maureen McElhoyne supported the election process, noting improvements in transparency, the new website, and curbside voting for people with mobility issues.
• Tammy Holtz Still opposed certification, alleging disenfranchisement due to undeliverable ballots and a flawed sample ballot process in District 5. She also questioned the integrity of the voter rolls.
• Nicholas St. John presented data purporting to show vote changes after early voting ended, claiming 230 ballots were moved from third-party to major parties. He urged the Board to delay certification and conduct a hand count of early voting paper ballots.
• Kate Vineyard questioned the reliability of election data on the Secretary of State and Registrar of Voters websites, citing a discrepancy showing 63,998 ballots still outstanding.
• Cliff Nellis argued that the Board has discretion to deny certification and suggested empaneling a grand jury to investigate election integrity.
• Penny Brock opposed certification, citing the new ballot marking devices as unsecure, and claimed that the system is fraudulent.
• Roblin Williams reported observing 40 hours in the observation room and alleged that staff used computers for non-election purposes, compromising chain of custody.
• Deborah Jalen described inadequate observation conditions on election night, including poor lighting and lack of high chairs, and called for the Board not to certify.
• George Eddie Lorton, a mayoral candidate, noted data inconsistencies in his race, questioned the 15,000 undeliverable ballots, and supported a special election or hand count.
• Veronica Cortez requested a hand count for Sun Valley, citing fraud concerns.
• Jennifer Willett (Silver State Voices) supported certification, praising the smooth process and professionalism of election workers.
• Ryan Bordish (Silver State Voices) also supported certification, noting 58 nonpartisan poll monitors observed efficient operations.

Discussion Items

• Legal Update: Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Large reported that a temporary restraining order seeking to block the canvass was denied by the court that morning, allowing the meeting to proceed. He later clarified that the canvass is a mandatory duty under NRS 293.387, but the Board has discretion to note clerical errors.
• Commissioner Announcements: County Manager Kate Thomas thanked the ROV staff and 400+ election workers. Chair Clara Andriola thanked all participants and emphasized the importance of dignity and respect. Commissioner Clark expressed concern about 15,000 undeliverable ballots, comparing the ROV’s accuracy to other county departments. Commissioner Hill praised the team’s work and new accessibility features. Vice Chair Garcia highlighted new initiatives (curbside voting, paper ballot printing, new facility). Commissioner Herman (by phone) stated that elections are “broken” and called for a return to one-day, in-person voting with ID.
• Registrar of Voters Presentation: Andrew McDonald presented a detailed report on the 2026 primary. Key points:
  • Turnout: 30.8% (99,226 votes), with 37% in-person and 63% mail.
  • 323,000 mail ballots sent; 15,000 returned undeliverable (4.6% rate, within national average of 3-5%).
  • 17 minor discrepancies were noted (e.g., training mode left on poll pads, printer jams, extra ballots scanned). McDonald stated these did not affect the outcome of any race.
  • 15 validly cast mail ballots were added on June 17 after a re-audit.
  • He noted that the county does not pay for undeliverable ballots under the state contract, saving approximately $52,500.
  • He committed to posting the discrepancy report on the website for 60 days and to answering public questions.
• Board Questions: Commissioners asked about undeliverable ballots, the discrepancy between ballots sent and registered voters, and the process for list maintenance. McDonald explained that ballots are not forwardable, and that 1,100 of the 15,000 voters updated their address and voted. He also clarified that the 323,000 mail ballots include ballots sent to voters who changed party or address, so the number can exceed registered voters.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Approve Canvass: Commissioner Hill moved to approve the declaration of canvass for the 2026 Primary Election. Vice Chair Garcia seconded. The motion passed 4-1, with Commissioner Herman voting no. The approved canvass officially declares the results and notes the clerical errors disclosed by the Registrar of Voters.
• Post-Canvass Options: The Board noted that any defeated candidate may request a recount within three working days of the canvass per NRS 293.403.
• Future Actions: The Board encouraged the public to submit questions to the ROV for the next 60 days. Commissioner Andriola requested a future presentation on the “Project Clean Sight” cybersecurity initiative to build trust.