Nye County Hand-Counting Process Challenged in New Lawsuit by ACLU of Nevada

LAS VEGAS—The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Nye County to prevent the County from moving forward with its proposed unlawful hand-counting scheme during this year’s elections.

The organization is representing Nye County voters who risk having their freedom to vote suppressed by the county’s proposed procedures for this year’s election. The case is ACLU of Nevada v. Nye County, Case No. CV22-0503.

The ACLUNV is asking the 5th Judicial District court to prohibit the county from publicly announcing the selected candidates on each ballot prior to the close of polls on Election Day, from limiting the use of ADA touch screens to individuals with so-called “special needs,” from allowing election workers to ask about a voter’s disability or turn away otherwise eligible voters based on arbitrary decision making, and from using “stringent signature verifications” that violate state law. (A file-stamped copy of the court filing is enclosed.)

ACLU of Nevada voting rights attorney Sadmira Ramic said:

“Nye County’s proposed process is a rushed attempt to circumvent democracy. With weeks until voting begins, Nye County’s proposed hand-counting process will unravel the election integrity protections currently in place and will undoubtedly make it harder for Nye voters to exercise their freedom to vote.”

ACLU of Nevada executive director Athar Haseebullah said:

“A General Election is not the time for political hacks to try to suppress voting rights so they can look strong to people who have been manipulated by disinformation campaigns and conspiracy theories. A good democracy should hear the voices of all voters and not just the ones cherry-picked by those seeking a political victory. Nye County’s actions should alarm anyone who cares about our democracy.