As Washoe County faces growing scrutiny over alleged election mismanagement, Clark County revealed on Thursday, November 14, that 1,600 mail ballots had gone uncounted during this month’s election.
The ballots delayed in the “duplication stage” of processing were later tallied and remained under county control at all times. Officials claim the additional votes did not change the outcome of any races.
The developments in Clark County come as Washoe County battles claims of voter roll mismanagement and allegations of over 100 election violations. These include chain-of-custody breaches and signature verification errors, according to GOP donor Robert Beadles, who has been a vocal critic of Nevada’s election systems.
Beadles’ allegations gained attention after the online publication The Nevada Independent accused him of promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, including claims of global Jewish control. Beadles has not responded to the publication’s characterization of his statements as anti-Semitic or potentially defamatory.
Clark County’s disclosure of uncounted ballots prompted questions about its mail-in ballot duplication process, which involves bipartisan teams replicating ballots unreadable by scanners due to damage or unclear markings. County spokesperson Stephanie Wheatley declined to provide further details, citing the county’s statement as the best available information.
In a letter to Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, Clark County committed to reviewing its duplication procedures and announced plans for an audit in coordination with state election officials. Aguilar pledged accountability measures to ensure similar errors do not occur in the future.
The uncounted ballots, discovered just one day before statewide election certification, allegedly did not alter results, including the closely watched Ward 2 race for North Las Vegas City Council. Incumbent Ruth Garcia-Anderson’s lead narrowed slightly, from nine votes to eight, but remained decisive.
The Nevada Republican Party criticized Clark County’s handling of the election and called for greater transparency, arguing the error raised “serious questions” about the administration of mail ballots. Meanwhile, statewide data showed the rejection of over 9,000 ballots due to voters failing to cure mismatched signatures by the statutory deadline.
In Washoe County, Beadles’ accusations have continued to place pressure on the lack of election integrity within the county. Beadles has claimed widespread irregularities and alleged that Democrats manipulated the U.S. Senate race against Republican Sam Brown, who conceded last week after losing to Senator Jacky Rosen.
The 2024 election cycle in Nevada has seen fewer public disputes over voter fraud compared to 2020, partly attributed to Donald Trump’s victory in the state this year. However, administrative errors like those in Clark and Washoe Counties ensure that election integrity remains a polarizing issue in Nevada’s political landscape.
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