DOUBLE VOTES INVESTIGATION OVER
she said. “There are things that we can’t discuss, obviously, that took place, and I think we’ve got those particular issues addressed — we just aren’t able yet to bring them to the public.”
The Secretary of State’s Office has concluded an investigation into double votes, finding that these were almost entirely people who weren’t sure their ballots were actually cast. The state is working with counties to make sure poll workers are following protocol as well as only allowing supervisors to reissue voting cards, Thorley said.
Some of the confusion was tied to the new equipment rolled out statewide for the primary this year, a transition funded by counties and $8 million from the state. Voters are issued cards at the polling place that they insert into the new voting machines to make their selections. These cards can tell poll workers whether a ballot has actually been cast.
“We have a brand-new voting system that we’re using in this state, so it’s a learning process not only for our poll workers but for our voters too,” Thorley said.
Much of the event was closed for security, but it focused overall on communication from top federal agencies down to local governments and vice versa; and responding to possible incidents, like a state’s online voter registration system coming under attack.
Nevada also held a sister event at the Nevada National Guard complex in Carson City for about 60 officials in elections administration, information technology and emergency response, among other experts.
“Anytime we all come together collectively, it’s very beneficial to every one of us,” Cegavske said. “You can ask questions, there’s things that other states bring up that we might not have thought of, or we might get information to them that they might not have thought of.”
Nevada is looking to take West Virginia’s lead in collaborating with the state’s National Guard to monitor threats, Thorley said.
“We’ve heard some great ideas from the other states,” Thorley said.
After the simulation concluded, Thorley said the conversations helped bring a better understanding of which federal agencies to go to in the event of an election incident. For criminal issues and investigations, states can contact the FBI, Thorley said, while DHS can help with mitigating whatever the problem might be to ensure the election can continue.
“A lot of good collaboration, sharing and exchanging of ideas,” Thorley said. “I hope they continue to have these types of trainings and exercises as we work to secure elections in Nevada.”