Washoe County interim Registrar of Voters Cari-Ann Burgess will be taking a leave of absence ahead of the November general election after experiencing “stress related health issues.”
Washoe County spokespeople confirmed the leave to The Nevada Independent on Wednesday, just six weeks before Election Day.
“[Burgess] has requested a leave of absence for self-care,” county spokesperson George Guthrie wrote in a statement. “We are committed to the health and well-being of Ms. Burgess and running a smooth and fair election is a top priority for the County.”
County officials wrote in the statement that the registrar of voters’ office is “prepared and confident” for the upcoming election. They did not address questions about who would be replacing Burgess as interim registrar of voters.
Burgess is the third registrar in a little more than two years to leave the role. She replaced Jamie Rodriguez, who announced her resignation Jan. 2. Rodriguez said that the long hours were one reason she left the position after little more than a year full-time.
“I have given everything to this position and felt that I needed to leave to allow myself a work/life balance and to be able to see family and friends again, which I have had little ability to do over the last 2 years,” Rodriguez wrote to The Nevada Independent in an email shortly after her resignation.
Rodriguez herself was an interim registrar, filling in for her predecessor, Deanna Spikula, who also noted the lack of work-life balance and increased harassment of election officials as her reasons for leaving the role after 15 years.
The news of Burgess’ leave of absence comes after the swing county made national headlines following the Washoe County Commission’s refusal to certify the results of a primary election recount. Commissioners later reversed the decision and certified the results.
County officials also faced criticism for sending ballots to voters who had opted out of mail voting and misprinting ballots, which led to $178,000 in reprint costs.
Washoe County commissioners and the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office called by The Nevada Independent did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
