The following are highlights from today’s Washoe County Board of County Commissioners meeting:
1. Update from Registrar of Voters: Registrar of Voters Andrew McDonald presented a status report on the 2026 election cycle. McDonald noted the high percentage – nearly 20 percent – of Primary Election mail ballots that were received by his office on Election Day. Mail ballots take time to process, and if they are received early, the election office can have them ready to count by Election Day. With a higher turnout expected for the General Election, he emphasized that Election Day mail ballots can create a backlog in processing, and he advised that voters return their mail ballots ahead of Election Day or vote in person.
“It takes about 12 hours to process a mail ballot from beginning to end depending on the mail ballot drop from the U.S. Postal Service per day,” McDonald said.
Chair Clara Andriola reiterated the delay in processing caused by mail ballots received on Election Day: “Vote early and in person to help with ballot processing.”
New this election cycle was the addition of ballot-marking devices, ADA curbside voting and the creation of “super centers” that can accommodate a higher volume of voters. Super centers offer additional ballot-marking devices, more voter check-in stations, and substantially larger election boards to improve voter flow and reduce wait times on Election Day. For the 2026 General Election, there will be 18 early voting locations and 43 Election Day Vote Centers, five of which will be designated super centers.
Early Voting is Oct. 17-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
2. Bill Draft Requests for 2027 Legislature: Washoe County is permitted to submit two bill draft requests (BDRs) for each legislative session, which are due to the Legislative Counsel Bureau by September 1. The session begins Feb. 1, 2027.
Government Affairs Manager Cadence Matijevich presented four recommendations, which the Board voted to accept:
- To direct staff to submit as a Washoe County BDR the requirement that a local government that submits an erroneous billing file to a county treasurer to reimburse the county for any expenses incurred by the county due to the errors contained in the billing file, contingent upon NACO not selecting this item as a NACO BDR.
- To rescind prior direction to seek a sponsor or to submit as a Washoe County BDR amendments to NRS 244A.7645 to allow a maximum of three (3) percent of revenues from a surcharge imposed by a county for enhancement of the telephone system used for reporting emergencies and purchase and maintenance of event recording devices (911 Telephone Surcharge) to be used by the county to pay the costs associated with administration of the surcharge revenues.
- To direct staff to continue discussions with the Office of the Secretary of State regarding the types of documents eligible to filed in the Nevada Lockbox and the entities authorized to access the Nevada Lockbox, and to return to the Board on August 25, 2026, to provide an update on those discussions.
- To direct staff to work directly with Assemblymember Heather Goulding regarding a BDR to allow for local government to expedite abatement of public nuisances under certain circumstances.
Additionally, Matijevich has submitted two recommendations to the Legislative Committee for Review and Oversight of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Marlette Lake Water System. These two recommendations are related transient occupation tax in Incline Village/Crystal Bay to be used toward paying the cost of public transit.
Chair Andriola thanked Matijevich for her work with other organizations and with legislators to advance Washoe County objectives.
“The respect you have at the Legislature should not be ignored,” Andriola said. “I’ve heard from many other organizations that have an immense amount of respect for your integrity and hard work, and that is really carrying Washoe County, so thank you for that.”
3. Planning Commission appointments: The Board reappointed Daniel Lazzareschi to represent District 1, and appointed Wendy Leonard to represent the At-Large North of the River seat, on the Washoe County Planning Commission. Both terms are four-year terms beginning immediately.
4. Library Board of Trustees appointment: The Boardappointed Elizabeth Cadigan to fill a partial term on the Library Board of Trustees vacated by the resignation of Gianna Jacks in June. The partial term will begin Aug. 1 and expire June 30, 2027.
