Washoe County commissioners have voted 3-1 to certify the local results of the 2024 General Election after an hours-long meeting in which one board member got up and left.
Commissioner Mike Clark told the board that he had a conflict of interest and would not vote in the canvass. He said that he and the interim registrar of voters share the same law firm. This prompted the board to take a recess, after which Commissioner Clark did not return to the podium.
While reconvening the meeting, Chair Alexis Hill told the crowd, "Commissioner Clark inappropriately tried to recuse himself and then stormed off."
Vice-chair Jeanne Herman was the sole vote against the canvass of the results.
The decision came after hours of tense public comment, with some members of the crowd making so-far unfounded claims of election interference.
Audience members jeered at one another or broke out into applause, depending on whether they agreed with the latest speaker’s comments.
During the board's discussion, Commissioner Clara Andriola emphasized to voters that the commissioners are legally obligated to certify election results, and do not have the power to launch investigations into an election.
She was the swing vote during a primary election recount in July, when the board initially took a failed vote to certify the results, but later reconvened and reversed the decision.
