(Nicole Herris) – Washoe County’s Registrar of Voters, Andrew McDonald, recently gave an update on the county’s election process, voter roll maintenance, and election integrity concerns following the 2024 election. His presentation to the county commission covered key issues such as mail ballot signature curing, undeliverable ballots, and the status of voter roll cleanup efforts.
Voter Roll Maintenance: The Numbers Matter
One of the most important topics McDonald addressed was the maintenance of voter rolls. Keeping the rolls up to date is crucial for election integrity, and Washoe County has been working to remove ineligible voters.
According to McDonald, over 8,600 voters were inactivated in February after failing to respond to address confirmation notices. These notices are triggered when official election mail is returned as undeliverable. If a voter does not respond within 33 days, they are marked as inactive.
The 2024 election also saw a high number of undeliverable mail ballots. In the primary election, 25,000 ballots were returned as undeliverable, and in the general election, the number was 22,000. While some voters later updated their records or voted in person, about 12,000 voters will be sent another confirmation notice in March 2025, which could lead to further inactivations.
Election Integrity Complaints: The Public Speaks Up
McDonald also discussed concerns raised by citizens about election integrity. Over the course of the 2024 election cycle, 113 Election Integrity Violation Reports (EIVRs) were filed with the Nevada Secretary of State’s office regarding potential violations of NRS Title 24, Nevada’s election law.
So far, 79 of these reports have been closed with no violations found. Another 34 complaints remain under investigation, though no immediate action is required from Washoe County at this time. Critics argue that these reports highlight vulnerabilities in the system, while election officials insist that the process is working as designed.
Signature Curing: Fixing Ballots Before They’re Tossed
Mail ballots with signature mismatches have been a controversial issue, with concerns about both election security and voters’ ability to correct errors. Washoe County provided five ways for voters to “cure” their ballots if their signature was challenged:
- Visiting the election office in person
- Calling the office
- Mailing a signed cure affidavit
- Using a text-based system called Text2Cure
- Scanning a QR code to complete the process online
Election officials worked with political parties and vendors to improve signature curing and ensure challenged ballots were properly reviewed.
Future Plans: More Cleanup, More Oversight
The county is preparing for additional bulk voter roll maintenance. On March 28, 2025, another round of voter cancellations will take place for inactive voters who have failed to update their registration or vote in two consecutive federal elections.
McDonald also mentioned ongoing recommendations from The Elections Group, an outside consulting firm, which issued 122 recommendations on improving election administration. Some changes may involve adding new ballot printers, updating vote center locations, and improving poll worker management.
The Debate Over Election Integrity
Election officials, including Washoe County Commission Chair Alexis Hill, praised McDonald’s office for their work, with Hill thanking him for his leadership during a “really difficult election season.”
However, many voters remain skeptical. With thousands of ballots going undelivered, reports of election violations, and concerns over mail-in voting, some argue that Nevada’s election system still needs serious reform. Others, including election administrators, say the process is transparent and fair, with proper checks in place.
The conversation isn’t going away anytime soon, but for now, Washoe County is pressing forward with efforts to clean up its voter rolls and improve election procedures ahead of the next election cycle.
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