Leanna Lehman
Churchill County released updated information today, June 12, regarding the ballot issue affecting the Fallon City Council Ward 1 race, clarifying the nature of the error and outlining the legal process that could lead to a new election.
As reported by The Fallon Post on June 9, election officials identified an issue affecting the Ward 1 contest and initially stated that 881 ballots had been issued without the city council race.
In her initial explanation of the issue, Churchill County Clerk-Treasurer Linda Rothery said the problem stemmed from a mapping issue involving precinct and ward boundary files used in the election software.
"Our software was correct, but it didn't push into the voter registration side," Rothery said. "The process was done correctly. It just didn't finish the process."
Rothery also said election staff discovered the issue June 8 and immediately began working with the Nevada Secretary of State's Office, Fallon city legal counsel, and the Churchill County District Attorney's Office to determine the appropriate remedy.
In an updated statement issued June 12, county officials clarified that the issue involves voter assignments rather than ballots themselves. Pictured above: Churchill County Ballot Summary.
According to the county, 881 voters were listed in Precinct 2 when they should have been assigned to Precinct 1, which corresponds to Fallon City Council Ward 1. Because those voters were assigned to the wrong precinct, they were not given the opportunity to vote in the Ward 1 city council contest.
The Ward 1 race was the only contested Fallon City Council election on the June 9 primary ballot. Candidates Daniel Doty, Lori Norcutt, and Ryan Swirczek are seeking the seat. Under Nevada election law, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote to win outright; otherwise, the top two candidates advance to the general election. Ward 3 Councilman Paul Harmon was unopposed and was not affected by the issue.
The county stated it has now determined the appropriate legal process and has been working with the City of Fallon and the District Attorney's Office.
On June 11, Rothery submitted an affidavit to the City of Fallon pursuant to Nevada Revised Statute 293C.710. The matter is scheduled to go before the Fallon City Council during its June 18 meeting.
"We understand the seriousness of this issue and its impact on candidates, voters, and public confidence in the election process," Rothery said. "We are committed to transparency, accuracy, and keeping candidates and voters informed."
The City of Fallon also released a statement on June 12, stating that it is working closely with election officials from the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office and Churchill County to address the election issue affecting the Ward 1 City Council race. The city maintains that while it has no direct role in the administration of the election process, it will "ensure transparency and the appropriate remedies are taken so that every eligible voter of Ward 1 is able to have their voice heard through the election process."
What This Means
The issue appears to be limited to the Fallon City Council Ward 1 race and does not affect county, school board, state, federal, or other city contests.
The error does not involve vote counting, voting machines, or tabulation of ballots. Instead, it involves voter assignment records that determine which races appear on a voter's ballot.
In simple terms, eligible Ward 1 voters were assigned to the wrong precinct and therefore received ballots that did not contain the Ward 1 contest.
The county's updated explanation is important because it clarifies the root cause of the issue. The original public information focused on ballots that did not contain the race. The revised explanation identifies the underlying problem as a precinct assignment error that prevented affected voters from receiving the correct ballot style.
What This Means for Candidates
For Doty, Norcutt, and Swirczek, the outcome of the Ward 1 race may not yet be final.
Because 881 voters who should have received the Ward 1 contest were unable to vote in that race, the city must now determine whether a new election will be required under Nevada law.
The issue is particularly significant because the Ward 1 race was the only contested City Council election on the ballot.
What This Means for Voters
For the 881 affected voters, the issue means they did not receive the opportunity to vote in a race for which they were eligible.
For other voters, the issue does not affect votes cast in other races and does not impact the overall administration of the primary election outside of the Ward 1 contest.
What Happens Next?
Nevada law provides a specific process for addressing this type of election error.
Under NRS 293C.710, election officials must submit an affidavit documenting the issue to the city. Once the affidavit is received, a candidate in the affected race may request relief. The statute states that upon such a request, the governing body of the city shall order a new election in the affected precinct or district.
The Fallon City Council is expected to review the affidavit during its June 18 meeting.
Will There Be a New Election?
Possibly.
The county's original June 10 statement indicated a special election would likely be required. The June 12 update identifies the statutory process now being followed and confirms that the required affidavit has been submitted to the city.
Additional details regarding if and how a new election would be conducted, who would be eligible to vote, and the timing of any election are expected to become clearer following the City Council's discussion next week.
The Fallon Post will continue to follow the issue and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
See original June 9, 2026, story here: Ballot Error May Require Special Election for Fallon Ward 1 Race.
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