Top election official in key Nevada county takes stress leave
FILE-A voter returns an activation card after voting at the Veterans Memorial Leisure Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
A top election official in an important Nevada swing county is taking a stress-related leave of absence with a little over a month to go before Election Day.
Washoe County interim Registrar of Voters Cari-Ann Burgess announced she was taking time off, with the Associated Press reporting she was the third registrar for the county.
Burgess was the third registrar since 2020 in Washoe County.
Nevada is one of seven highly competitive states in the presidential election.
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The Associated Press reported a previous registrar resigned in 2022 after she received threats and her replacement left a month before this year's presidential primary season, thrusting Burgess into the role in January.
Burgess’ responsibilities will now be reassigned as the registrar’s office prepares to send out mail ballots and gets ready for the start of early voting.
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Washoe County spokesperson Bethany Drysdale tells the Associated Press there were no threats against Burgess and the elections office, but Drysdale admitted the workplace was "a stressful environment" and that Burgess and the office had been targeted by negative comments.
The AP noted that the Nevada Secretary of State’s office is providing advice and assistance to Washoe County while Burgess is on leave. Deputy Registrar Andrew McDonald has taken the administrative role, with staff and county administration stepping in to help.