Commissioners in Washoe County, Nevada, which is the state’s second most populous county, have officially certified the results of two local recounts after a controversial vote last week against certification led to legal action and uncertainty. The 4-1 decision to certify the election recount results from June’s primary, which covers a politically diverse area including Reno, is a reversal of the earlier vote and could influence the upcoming November elections in a crucial swing county.
Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and Attorney General Aaron Ford are awaiting a decision by the state Supreme Court on their petition challenging county commissioners’ obligations to certify election results. This situation could have implications for other counties in Nevada facing similar refusals to certify results in the future.
The county’s chief deputy district attorney, Mary Kandaras, recommended certifying the vote in accordance with state law just before the commissioners’ redo vote on Tuesday. Election certification, once considered routine, has become a focal point since the 2020 election, with some commissioners expressing concerns about the county’s election processes.
Republican Washoe County commissioners, Jeanne Herman and Mike Clark, who have previously voted against certification, changed their stance and voted in favor of certification during the recent meeting. Clark, in particular, mentioned feeling pressured to change his vote, emphasizing the mandatory nature of the certification process.
Republican Commissioner Clara Andriola, who had been targeted by far-right groups in the primaries, also switched her vote to support certification on Tuesday. She highlighted gaining confidence in the election processes in Washoe County after discussions with voting officials and legal experts.
The presence of the far-right movement at commission meetings, promoting conspiracy theories and distrust of election procedures, has been notable. During the public comment portion of the meeting, some attendees made baseless claims of election fraud, called for additional verification measures, and even accused individuals of corruption without evidence.
Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding recent election processes in Washoe County, the commissioners ultimately certified the local recount results, emphasizing the importance of following the law and upholding the integrity of the electoral system.
