Washoe County approves early-vote and election-day sites as residents press to remove three standalone drop boxes

Washoe County commissioners on April 14 formally acknowledged the Registrar of Voters' selections for 22 early-voting sites and 50 election-day vote centers for the 2026 primary, while members of the public pressed the board to remove three standalone mail-ballot drop boxes.

Registrar Andrew McDonald outlined the election plan, saying 22 early-voting locations will mostly operate 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 50 election-day vote centers will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the county will begin using ballot-marking devices that print full-length ballots at vote centers. He said most early sites mirror the 2024 general-election footprint, with seven new early sites and six new election-day centers. The registrar told the board all standalone mail-ballot drop boxes will be staffed by bipartisan teams of three during operating hours and locked when unattended; mail ballots will be collected and returned to central headquarters each evening.

Public commenters raised multiple concerns. Penny Brock and others said a November 2025 contract approving ballot-marking devices from Liberty Vote (formerly Dominion) may have lacked required solicitation under Nevada contract law (NRS chapter 332) and cited external reports alleging device vulnerabilities. Several speakers urged removal of a drop box planned for the CARES Campus, arguing the site's operations and resident population present security risks and that state law does not permit stand-alone drop boxes outside polling places. Others referenced the governor's veto of AB 306 and asked for greater transparency.

McDonald and his staff disputed assertions that drop boxes would be left unattended. He said the three stand-alone drop boxes are inside staffed facilities (not unattended on sidewalks), will be supervised during open hours by partisan-balanced teams, and will be locked at day's end. For CARES Campus specifically, his deputy said the drop box will sit at the facility entrance inside a controlled public-access area; staff and allied security personnel will be present. McDonald also highlighted the county's first-in-state ADA curbside voting program to maintain accessibility for voters who cannot access vote centers.

District Attorney Mike Large said his office coordinates with the Registrar's Office and is vetting site compliance with state law and federal requirements.

After public comment, the board amended the motion to acknowledge the Registrar's site selections to explicitly require that locations comply with applicable state and federal law and asked the Registrar to return with a short update on security and site compliance. The motion to acknowledge the Registrar's choices, amended to include the legal-compliance language, passed unanimously.

What happens next: McDonald confirmed the Secretary of State has received the vote-center list and the county will mail sample ballots (starting April 23 for some and May 20 for in-state ballots), publish a vote-center map at washoecounty.gov/votcenters, and provide written materials (English and Spanish) at vote centers. The Registrar returned to the board for a follow-up update scheduled ahead of the May 12 close of registration.

Why it matters: The selection of vote centers, deployment of ballot-marking devices and the handling of mail ballots affect access, trust and security in local elections. The board's explicit requirement that sites comply with state and federal law and the Registrar's pledge of bipartisan staffing and locked overnight procedures were intended to address residents' concerns while keeping a broad set of accessible vote options in place.

Authorities and formal actions: The board recorded an acknowledgement of the Registrar's selection of early voting and election-day sites; the motion (amended to require compliance with state and federal law) passed unanimously. The board discussed NRS chapter 293 (election law) and the registrar referenced ADA Title II obligations and the county's curbside voting protocol.

Speakers quoted (selected): "All mail ballot drop box only locations are staffed with a bipartisan team of three individuals the entire time they are open," Registrar Andrew McDonald said, describing staffing and locking procedures. Penny Brock said the county "did not solicit bids" for the Dominion/Liberty Vote purchases and urged the board to "look into this." DA Mike Large said his office "works in conjunction with the registrar of voters on a daily basis" to ensure sites comply with law.

Provenance: Topicintro SEG 2520; Topfinish SEG 3819.