January 2, 2024
RENO, Nev. – In response to Washoe County’s Registrar of Voters Jamie Rodriguez’ resignation, All Voting is Local Action Nevada Senior Grassroots Manager Jennifer Willett issued the following statement:
“We express our heartfelt gratitude to Jamie Rodriguez for her tenure as Washoe County’s Registrar of Voters, a role she served in since 2022. During her time in this role, she notably increased the transparency of the election process, doubled staff in the Registrar of Voters’ Office, and championed legislation aimed at expanding voting access for historically marginalized communities across the state. Nevadans need officials to protect and expand democracy in our state, and we were lucky to have Jamie Rodriguez fill this role. Thank you, Jamie, for your outstanding service!
“In light of this resignation, we call on the Washoe County Board of Commissioners to appoint a successor with a strong commitment to ensuring ballot access for all Nevadans and protecting our right to vote. We also urge the Board of Commissioners to select a registrar who reflects the diversity of our county and state, particularly those communities who have historically been targeted through racist disenfranchisement and voter suppression.”
Background
Rodriguez’ predecessor, Deanna Spikula, stepped down in 2022 after facing extreme vitriol, including death threats, after the 2020 election. Rodriguez served as an interim role for several months after Spikula’s resignation before she was promoted to the permanent position.
Eleven of Nevada’s 17 counties have faced resignations from either clerks or voter registrars since 2020, with some counties dealing with multiple resignations. Some of these former county officials have cited harassment or lack of trust from voters due to election conspiracies, burn out, and more.