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RENO, Nev. — More than two dozen local officials around the nation have refused to certify federal elections in recent years and most remain in office, according to the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. This has raised concerns that some of them might do it again, sowing doubt about the results of the 2024 election and — potentially — chaos.
But many election experts say officials in swing states are ready to shut down attempts to deny certification. They cite a recent example in northern Nevada as illustrative.
Washoe County is home to about half a million people and abuts Lake Tahoe. The county seat, Reno, calls itself “The Biggest Little City in the World,” and is ringed by snow-capped mountains this time of year. Back in July, the Washoe County commissioners voted 3-2 against certifying the recounts of two primary election results.
