Nevada County Election Official Goes on Stress Leave Just Weeks Before Election

With less than six weeks left until Election Day, a prominent election official in a crucial Nevada county is stepping back due to health concerns.

The stakes are high in Nevada, where recent surveys indicate that Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is slightly ahead of former President Donald Trump in what is expected to be a neck-and-neck race.

Cari-Ann Burgess, the interim registrar of voters for Washoe County—home to Reno and the state’s second-largest population—has taken medical leave starting Thursday due to stress.

“She experienced stress issues and requested medical leave,” noted Washoe County spokeswoman Bethany Drysdale on Friday.

Currently, Deputy Registrar Andrew McDonald is stepping in to handle Burgess’ responsibilities, with support from the county staff and guidance from the state’s election office. Whether Burgess will return before the election remains unclear.

Burgess’ role has seen frequent changes; the former registrar resigned last year after facing multiple threats, and her predecessor left abruptly just weeks before the presidential primaries. Burgess stepped in this January but is now on leave while preparing for early voting and mail ballot distribution.

Although there have been no specific threats against her, Drysdale remarked to the Associated Press that the work environment has been “stressful,” with negativity directed at Burgess and her office.

Since Trump’s narrow loss in Nevada during the 2020 election, the county’s election operations have come under scrutiny from conspiracy theorists. Despite his claims of widespread voter fraud, there is no evidence supporting those assertions.

To bolster security ahead of Election Day, jurisdictions in other states, such as Georgia, are preparing accordingly. In Cobb County, for instance, ballot locations will have local law enforcement and a panic button available for immediate emergencies.

“We will have a secure, safe, and efficient election in November,” Drysdale assured the AP.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.