Proposed voting changes pulled from Tuesday’s county commission meeting

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - The Washoe County Commission announced Monday it would be pulling an agenda item that proposes significant changes to voting in the county, citing a violation of the Open Meeting Law.

Agenda Item 14 was slated to be heard at Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting. Commissioners said there was in issue with the process by which the item was introduced.

Washoe County District Attorney Christopher Hicks released a statement saying in part:

“Specifically, Item 14 was submitted the day before the agenda deadline by a commissioner and did not go through the customary agenda review process. As a result, the agenda item description does not match the resolution that has been submitted for possible approval and does not adequately describe the possible action to be taken.”

Hicks said the item may be resubmitted at a later date.

Republican commissioner, Jeanne Herman, put forward the proposal that lists 20 different measures to ensure “the accuracy, security, and purity of elections.”

Among the proposals, Herman wants to move to using ‘stealth paper ballots’ as the primary voting method. Only one electronic kiosk would be available at every polling site to comply with ADA regulations.

Also proposed, requiring Nevada National Guard members to be at each polling/ballot box location, as well as the central counting center. Ballots would also have to be counted by hand, and anyone participating in same-day voting would be given a different colored provisional ballot. Voters in Washoe County would also be required to reregister to vote every five years.

The proposals have received significant pushback from Democratic lawmakers. Commissioner Alexis Hill posting on her official Facebook account saying, “We have a well run election system in Washoe County and the changes requested are not only NOT necessary, they are illegal. Our State Legislators have fought for more access to the ballot for our community members and this resolution seeks to remove that access.”

To read the proposal for yourself, click here.