Nevada Supreme Court Declines to Address Election Certification Controversy

On Tuesday, August 20, Nevada’s Supreme Court declined to intervene in a controversy surrounding election certification despite requests from the state’s top election officials.

The issue arose when the Washoe County Commission initially voted against certifying recount results from the June primary, leading to concerns from Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and Attorney General Aaron Ford. Aguilar and Ford sought a ruling from the court that counties do not have the legal authority to refuse to certify election results.

However, the high court ruled that the matter was moot since the Washoe County Commission later reversed its decision and certified the results in a subsequent vote. While the justices dismissed the request, they indicated the court has the authority to make such a declaration if the issue arises again.

Aguilar and Ford expressed disappointment with the court’s decision not to provide additional legal clarity before the upcoming general election on Tuesday, November 5. They warned that the lack of clarity could contribute to distrust in the electoral process, particularly in Washoe County, a critical swing region in Nevada.

Republican commissioners Jeanne Herman and Mike Clark, along with Republican Clara Andriola, initially voted against certification. Andriola, who later reversed her vote, stated that after consulting with the county district attorney’s office, she recognized the commission’s legal obligation to certify election results.