Washoe County Voter Rolls Still Dirty

A recent Reno Gazette-Journal (RGJ) article about voting in Washoe County missed the mark. The RGJ headline read, “Early voting update: Washoe County Democrats turning out in higher numbers for primary,” but buried within the article were alarming statistics about undeliverable mail ballots.

According to the RGJ, approximately 14,000 Democrats and 11,000 Republicans voted in the primary election. Simultaneously, the Washoe County Registrar (ROV) has received around 24,000 mail-in ballots marked undeliverable.

Critics argue the number of undeliverable ballots is troubling, pointing to a potential waste of resources and risks of voter fraud. Each ballot costs about $10 to produce, representing a possible $240,000 in wasted funds, according to the Secretary of State’s Deputy of Elections, Mark Wvlashin.

Concerns about the integrity of the voter rolls are mounting, with allegations that inaccurate records and outdated registrations are still unaddressed. Nevada Revised Statute 293.530 § 1(a) mandates the ROV “may use any reliable and reasonable means available to correct the portions of the statewide voter registration list. . . and to determine whether a registered voter’s current residence is other than that indicated on the voter’s application to register to vote.” And, 1(b): “with the consent of the board of county commissioners, make investigations of registration in the county by census, by house-to-house canvass or by any other method.”

Many residents have shared their frustrations, reporting that despite living in their homes for decades, multiple voters are still registered at their addresses who have never resided there. Homeowners have provided affidavits and historical deeds as proof yet claim the ROV has dismissed their concerns, citing that these misplaced voters have signed affidavits under penalty of perjury.

The controversy extends to legal battles as well. A lawsuit in the Nevada Supreme Court aims to address these discrepancies, supported by affidavits and certified reports from the county. The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) has also recently sued to push for cleaner voter rolls.