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Agenda Item
11. Discussion and direction to staff regarding legislation or legislative issues proposed by legislators, by Washoe County, or by other entities permitted by the Nevada State Legislature to submit bill draft requests, or such legislative issues as may be deemed by the Chair or the Board to be of critical significance to Washoe County. Possible actions under this item may include the Board taking official positions on AB287 and/or AB316 and/or AB333. Pending legislative bills can be located here: < <https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/83rd2025/Bills/List> >. Current bills the County is tracking that may be reported on or discussed are listed under Government Affairs at <https://www.washoecounty.gov/mgrsoff/divisions/government-affairs/index.php>. Due to time constraints inherent in the legislative process, a list of specific bills that staff will seek direction from the Commission on during this item will be posted on the web site under Government Affairs at by 6:00 p.m. the Friday before the meeting. Due to the rapid pace of the legislative session, additional bills upon which comment may be sought from the Board of County Commissioners will be posted as soon as known. Manager. (All Commission Districts.) FOR POSSIBLE ACTION
My name is Ryan Vortisch and I am the Northern Nevada Democracy Coordinator with Silver State Voices. On behalf of my organization and the Let Nevadans Vote Coalition, I am here to advocate for Washoe County’s support on Assembly Bill 287.
We view AB287 as a bill that addresses inequity within our representative democracy. Many races at the city or county level are won by just a handful of votes; however, our current recount process exponentially favors the candidates with the deepest pockets. A standardized recount threshold of 0.25% or less will even this playing field.
Additionally, AB287 will prevent counties— such as Washoe County— from being overburdened with frivolous recount requests that aim to sow distrust in our elections process.
During the 2024 election cycle, you all heard numerous concerns about the transparency and security of our elections. The implementation of a standardized threshold to trigger an automatic recount will solve this problem by ensuring that all races whose results fall within a reasonable margin of error are reevaluated— without giving favor to better-resourced candidates.
Nevada should join the other 24 states, as well as the District of Columbia, who provide for automatic recounts. In fact, AB287 should be especially favorable given that its implementation will come at no cost to the county; any qualifying recounts will instead be paid by the state’s Reserve for Statutory Contingency Account.
I urge you all to support this bill.
Thank you.
Ryan Vortisch
Northern Nevada Democracy Coordinator
Silver State Voices
Good morning Chair Hill and Commissioners,
My name is Ryan Vortisch and I am the Northern Nevada Democracy Coordinator with Silver State Voices. On behalf of my organization and the Let Nevadans Vote Coalition, I am here to advocate for Washoe County’s support on Assembly Bill 287.
We view AB287 as a bill that addresses inequity within our representative democracy. Many races at the city or county level are won by just a handful of votes; however, our current recount process exponentially favors the candidates with the deepest pockets. A standardized recount threshold of 0.25% or less will even this playing field.
Additionally, AB287 will prevent counties— such as Washoe County— from being overburdened with frivolous recount requests that aim to sow distrust in our elections process.
During the 2024 election cycle, you all heard numerous concerns about the transparency and security of our elections. The implementation of a standardized threshold to trigger an automatic recount will solve this problem by ensuring that all races whose results fall within a reasonable margin of error are reevaluated— without giving favor to better-resourced candidates.
Nevada should join the other 24 states, as well as the District of Columbia, who provide for automatic recounts. In fact, AB287 should be especially favorable given that its implementation will come at no cost to the county; any qualifying recounts will instead be paid by the state’s Reserve for Statutory Contingency Account.
I urge you all to support this bill.
Thank you.
Ryan Vortisch
Northern Nevada Democracy Coordinator
Silver State Voices