The top election official in Washoe County, Nevada, a crucial area in the presidential battleground state, has announced a stress-related leave of absence just over a month before Election Day. This development has raised concerns about election operations in a county that has been under constant scrutiny from election conspiracy theorists.
The interim Registrar of Voters, Cari-Ann Burgess, has taken the leave, leading to a reassignment of her duties as the office gears up to send out mail ballots and prepare for early voting. The leave, requested due to stress issues, went into effect on Thursday, with uncertainty looming over Burgess's return before the election.
While there have been no documented threats against Burgess or the elections office, the workplace has been described as a stressful environment, with negative comments and attacks being directed towards Burgess and the office.
Washoe County, which includes Reno, is Nevada's second most populous county. The county's elections operations have been under intense scrutiny since former President Donald Trump lost the state in 2020, with conspiracy theorists closely monitoring the county's activities.
Recently, a dispute over the certification of primary election results put Washoe County in legal uncertainty and at odds with state officials. Despite initial challenges, the county eventually certified the results, but concerns remain about potential certification battles after the upcoming November election.
With Burgess on leave, the Nevada Secretary of State's office is providing guidance and support to Washoe County. Deputy Registrar Andrew McDonald has assumed the administrative responsibilities, with additional support from staff and county administration to ensure a secure, safe, and efficient election process.
