Election Mismanagement in Washoe County Raises More Questions

In Washoe County, allegations of election mismanagement have surfaced, with concerns about security practices, signature verification speeds, and potential errors in voter data processing.

Whistleblowers and community members have voiced concerns over procedures within the county’s Registrar of Voters office, suggesting that certain practices may compromise the integrity of election results. According to reports, up to 19 staff members in Washoe County have taken county-issued laptops home.

These devices reportedly have access to essential voting and signature verification systems. Critics argue that this practice could introduce security vulnerabilities, as any changes made offline could be injected into the system upon reconnection, leaving the process open to tampering risks.

Whistleblowers also allege that some staff members verify signatures at unusually high speeds, far faster than the recommended one-to-two-minute review per signature. Reports indicate that, in some cases, employees verified signatures at a rate of one per second, raising concerns about the accuracy and thoroughness of the signature verification process. At such speeds, an individual employee could theoretically approve thousands of ballots in a single shift, which may compromise the validity of the results.

Other reports indicate potential red flags within Washoe County’s network, with claims of suspicious connections where data is reportedly being received and transmitted under questionable circumstances. It has raised concerns about the potential for unauthorized data access and breaches of election security protocols.

Further fueling the controversy, statements from Washoe County’s former Registrar of Voters suggest potential violations of federal and state election laws, specifically around ballot distribution. It includes the possibility of ballots sent to incorrect addresses or individuals other than intended recipients, which could affect the accuracy of vote totals.

With vote totals from Washoe County potentially impacting statewide outcomes, these allegations have sparked demands for a comprehensive review. Local and national leaders are now pressing for action, with some calling on the Republican National Committee (RNC) to investigate.

With potentially tens of thousands of ballots in question, the impact on several candidates, including Senate hopeful Sam Brown, may be significant. The RNC and state election officials have yet to respond to requests for comment on the situation in Washoe County.