Washoe County Election Official Alleges Forced Departure

In a contentious lead-up to the November presidential election, Washoe County’s interim registrar of voters, Cari-Ann Burgess, claims she was forced out of her role by county management just weeks before the high-stakes contest.

Burgess, who led election operations in northern Nevada’s politically significant Washoe County, disputes the official narrative that she requested medical leave due to stress, stating she was pressured to submit the leave request in writing despite her desire to continue.

Her departure has further unsettled the county, impacted by ongoing election irregularities.

Since 2020, Washoe County has seen high turnover in election staff, with Burgess being the fifth person to hold the registrar role within four years. At a recent county commission meeting, officials reiterated the stance that Burgess voluntarily sought leave, a claim Burgess disputes. She has since retained legal counsel to explore her options.

Burgess described her sudden removal as unexpected, given recent praise for her performance. She believes the pressure to leave stemmed from her resistance to personnel changes within her department, including a proposal to reassign some of her election staff while maintaining their presence within the office. She said these changes would limit her ability to oversee their roles, an idea she refused to accept.

Washoe County’s election climate has remained tense, with ongoing demands from a vocal public to hand-count votes and install additional measures against voter fraud. During primary elections earlier this year, the county’s commission initially voted not to certify results, later reversing the decision but raising concerns among election office staff.