Statement from Washoe County

Statement regarding complaint about the way committees were formed to write arguments for and against WC-1.

Reno, Nevada. Sept. 12, 2016. The 2015 Nevada Legislature mandated the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners to submit to Washoe County voters the recommendation of the Public Schools Overcrowding and Repair Needs Committee (SB 411).  Washoe County School District Ballot Question (WC-1) will appear on the Nov.  8, 2016 General Election Ballot. A complaint has been made regarding the manner in which required committees were formed to write arguments for and against WC-1 by one of the members of one of the committees.

Pursuant to a resolution adopted on March 22, 2016, the Board of County Commissioners authorized the Washoe County Registrar of Voters to appoint members of the public who volunteered to participate in this process as contemplated by NRS 295.121. Volunteers on both committees began their work in late April. 

Arguments for and against have been written and submitted. The two member committee opposing the question reached a stalemate on the rebuttal to the proponents’ argument. The stalemate persisted throughout several extensions of deadlines. Ultimately, the Registrar‘s looming deadlines for translation and printing forced the decision to move forward without a rebuttal to the proponent’s argument. 

“As always, our goal is to be able to provide our voters with as much information as is available in order to help them make an informed decision when they go to vote,” said Washoe County Registrar of Voters Luanne Cutler.

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