Ensuring Election Security in Washoe County

The Washoe County Registrar of Voters is committed to protecting the integrity of the election process, safeguarding voter rights and encouraging public participation. At every stage, from registration to tabulation, the county implements strict protocols designed to uphold transparency, security and public confidence.

Through a combination of physical security, procedural controls and robust cybersecurity, Washoe County ensures that every ballot cast is accurately counted and securely handled.

Physical Security

Voting equipment used in Washoe County is decentralized and not connected to the internet or any other network. These systems are air-gapped, meaning they operate independently and cannot communicate with external devices or each other. This prevents remote interference or hacking attempts. (See NRS 293B.063 for requirement that voting systems meet or exceed federal standards.)

All voting systems are stored in secure, access-controlled areas. Only authorized election staff may enter these rooms or access election servers. Server racks are locked at all times, and the central tally room can only be accessed using badge credentials by approved personnel. (See NAC 293B.055 for security of and access to voting systems.)

Each piece of equipment is sealed with barcoded, tamper-evident labels. Cable locks, lock boxes and secure storage methods ensure that machines cannot be altered without detection. All activity related to equipment handling is documented in detailed audit logs. (See NAC 293B.022 for maintenance and sealing requirements.)

All voting machines include a paper audit trail via the ballot marking devices. This allows each voter to review their selections on a printed summary before casting their vote. These paper records are retained for post-election audits and are used to verify the accuracy of vote counts.

The voting system and voter registration system are completely separate. The voter registration database does not interact with voting machines, and it never contains vote selections. It simply records that a voter participated in an election, not how they voted. (See NRS 293.247 and NRS 293.2546(2) regarding voter system security and privacy.)

Procedural Protections: Oversight and Accountability

Election workers receive comprehensive training on equipment security, chain-of-custody procedures, and voter privacy protocols. The Registrar of Voters’ Office follows the Washoe County Security Policy to guide secure system use, access and incident response. (See NAC 293.2504 for training course requirements related to election procedures.)

Before each election, all voting systems undergo logic and accuracy testing. These tests confirm that the machines count votes correctly and perform as expected. A bipartisan Accuracy Certification Board observes and certifies the testing process. (See NRS 293B.150 and NAC 293B.090 for pre-election testing requirements.)

Following the election, the county performs audits comparing electronic results to paper records. These audits are designed to detect discrepancies and verify the accuracy of reported vote totals. (See NAC 293.255 and NAC 293B.120 for postelection audits.)

The Registrar’s Office maintains emergency response plans in case of technical failure or unexpected incidents. Backup systems and contingency procedures ensure elections continue without disruption. (See NAC 293.202 for county clerk contingency plan requirements.)

Cybersecurity

All voting equipment used in Washoe County must meet or exceed federal security standards and be certified by the Nevada Secretary of State. Software and firmware are verified through cryptographic hash values to confirm authenticity before and after every election. (See NAC 293B.110 for certification of software and NAC 293B.120 for postelection audits.)

The county employs a dedicated cybersecurity team that monitors, audits and responds to potential threats. The team uses modern tools and collaborates with state and national partners to detect vulnerabilities and prevent breaches. (Supported by general authority in NRS 293.247.)

Washoe County participates in several national security networks, including:

Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC)
Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC)
Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN)
The Election Center
Center for Internet Security (CIS)
International Association of Government Officials (iGO)
Nevada Association of Counties (NACO)
County Fiscal Officers Association of Nevada (CFOA)

These partnerships provide access to training, alerts and best practices that support the county’s cybersecurity efforts.

Ballot Drop Box Procedures

Ballot drop boxes are available only during official voting hours and are monitored by trained election workers. Boxes are locked and sealed at the end of each day, and workers inspect them for signs of tampering before reopening. (See NRS 293C.26321 for requirements on drop box procedures.)

At day’s end, election workers count the number of ballot envelopes and place them in a sealed bag. Two designated ballot runners deliver the sealed bag to the Registrar of Voters. Upon arrival, the seal is verified, and the contents are checked against custody records. (See NAC 293B.040 for chain-of-custody documentation.)

State and Federal Certification

Nevada law requires that all voting systems and software undergo rigorous testing and approval. Washoe County meets or exceeds these requirements throughout the election cycle.

Software and system certification – NAC 293B.110
Pre-election logic and accuracy testing – NRS 293B.150, NRS 293B.155
Election program filing – NRS 293B.135, NAC 293B.050
Audit of paper trail – NAC 293.255
Post-election software audit – NAC 293B.120
Mechanized report – NRS 293.387
Malfunction and process reports – NRS 293.4695
Federal survey participation – Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), see Public Law 103-31 (107 Stat. 77)

Voter Privacy and Data Security

Voter registration database
The voter registration database is used solely for administrative purposes. It contains information about registered voters, precinct assignments, and vote status (whether a person voted), but it never records how anyone voted. (See NRS 293.2546(2) for voter privacy rights.)

Ballot choices are confidential. Voting machines do not link ballot selections to individual voters. This strict separation protects the secrecy of the vote, as required by law and reinforced by system design. (See NRS 293.2546(1)(c) for secrecy of the vote.)

Logic and Accuracy Testing

Logic and accuracy testing, commonly referred to as L&A testing or LAT, is a state-mandated process conducted before and after each election to verify that Washoe County’s voting system is functioning properly and accurately tabulating votes.

Under Nevada law, logic and accuracy testing requirements are established in NRS Chapter 293B, which governs mechanical and electronic voting systems used in Nevada elections.

The purpose of logic and accuracy testing is to confirm that all contests, candidates, ballot questions, ballot styles, languages, and applicable ballot rotations have been programmed correctly into the election management system and that voting equipment accurately records and tabulates votes as cast.

Washoe County conducts two phases of logic and accuracy testing during each election cycle: pre-election testing and post-election testing.

Pre-Election Logic and Accuracy Testing

Pre-election logic and accuracy testing takes place before any live ballots are tabulated for the election. This testing is performed after ballot programming has been completed and before voting equipment is placed into service.

During this process, test ballots are created using predetermined voting patterns. These ballots are designed to test contests and voting scenarios that may appear during the election, including different ballot styles, political parties, languages, precinct combinations, and ballot rotations.

Test ballots are scanned through the same tabulation equipment used during the election. The results generated by the voting system are then compared against the expected outcomes from the predetermined test ballots. For the test to pass, the tabulated results must match the expected results.

Washoe County tests both hand-marked paper ballots and ballots produced using Ballot Marking Devices. Ballot Marking Devices allow voters to make selections on a touchscreen device and print a paper ballot reflecting those selections. The printed ballot is then scanned and tabulated.

The ballots used during logic and accuracy testing are test ballots only and are never included in official election results.

Post-Election Logic and Accuracy Testing

After Election Day, Washoe County conducts a post-election logic and accuracy test.

The post-election test serves as an additional verification step to confirm that the voting equipment continued to function properly throughout the election and accurately tabulated ballots during official election operations.

During post-election testing, test ballots are again run through the tabulation equipment and the results are compared against known expected outcomes.

Conducting both pre-election and post-election testing provides additional verification that the voting system operated accurately throughout the election process.

Election Security and Transparency

Logic and accuracy testing is one component of Washoe County’s broader election security procedures. Voting equipment used in Nevada must be certified for use by the Nevada Secretary of State and is tested, secured, and verified throughout the election process.

Washoe County elections utilize paper ballots, allowing voters to review a physical ballot before it is scanned and tabulated. The use of paper ballots, combined with pre-election testing, post-election testing, bipartisan staffing, physical security procedures, and post-election audits, helps support the accuracy and integrity of the election process.

Logic and accuracy testing is open to public observation. Members of the public may observe the testing process in accordance with Nevada law and applicable observer guidelines established by the Washoe County Registrar of Voters.