The Old Blog in the Desert

A group of officials, including figures from Washoe County and the state of Nevada, have been hit with temporary restraining orders (TROs) halting the recount of votes cast in the June 11 Primary Election. The TRO filings are in response to planned recount activities set to begin before a court ruling on a preliminary injunction.

Individuals and Entities Named in TROs:

• Cari Ann Burgess, individually and as Registrar of Voters
• Mikki Huntsman, individually and as city clerk for the City of Reno City of Reno, Nevada
• Washoe County Registrar of Voters
• Eric Brown, individually and as Washoe County Manager
• Alexis Hill, individually and as Chairwoman of the Washoe County Board of Commissioners
• Washoe County
• Francisco Aguilar, individually and as Secretary of State
• Nevada Secretary of StateNevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, individually and as Nevada Attorney General
• DOES I through X and ROE BUSINESS ENTITIES I through X, inclusive

The TROs aim to prevent the defendants from conducting the recount before the court can rule on the motion for a preliminary injunction.

According to the motion, the Washoe County Registrar of Voters plans to commence the recount on Sunday, June 30, despite the pending court ruling. Emails from the Washoe County District Attorney’s office confirmed these plans, with the recount set to begin early Sunday morning and finish over the weekend.

The plaintiff asserts that the recount should be conducted by hand, as allowed by law, not by machine. They argue that conducting a machine recount violates their right to inspect each ballot by hand.

The candidates cover the costs of recounts, which do not burden taxpayers, the state, or the county. Meanwhile, the plaintiff is questioning these official’s determination to proceed with a machine recount, suggesting that their actions may be an attempt to conceal issues with the election process.

The filing and subsequent actions have sparked significant controversy and distrust among the public. Critics argue that the official’s refusal to allow a hand recount undermines confidence in the electoral process.

They suggest that the media’s portrayal of the recount dispute as a partisan issue further erodes trust in election integrity. The court’s decision on the preliminary injunction will determine whether the recount proceeds as planned or halted for further review.