Nevada judge dismisses lawsuit challenging Election Worker Protection Act

CARSON CITY, Nev. (KOLO) – A Nevada judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Election Worker Protection Act.

The motion to dismiss was filed on behalf of the office of the Nevada Attorney General on behalf of Governor Joe Lombardo and Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar.

Judge Cristina Silva dismissed the suit on the grounds that the plaintiffs failed to allege a credible threat of prosecution and dismissed it with prejudice.

“I’m grateful to Judge Silva for dismissing the case against Governor Lombardo and I with prejudice. The Election Worker Protection Act was brought by a Democratic Secretary of State, passed with unanimous bipartisan support, and was signed by a Republican Governor. Nevada has said loud and clear: threats and harassment against election workers will not stand.” said Aguilar.

“Elections don’t work without people. As we approach the June Primary and November Presidential Election, our local election officials and poll workers will be protected when they go to work and at home thanks to this bill.  Our focus remains on conducting some of the most secure, transparent and accessible elections in the country,” he continued.

Plaintiffs Susan Vanness, Alexandrea Slack, Martin Waldman, and Robert Beadles challenged the constitutionality of sections 1 and 2 of the Act as alleged violations of the 1st and 14th Amendments of the Nevada Constitution.

The Election Worker Protection Act came into being after being passed in the Nevada Legislature in April 2023. Aiming to combat a statewide shortage of election workers, it contained provisions that criminalized the use, threat, or attempted use of force, intimidation or violence that intends to interfere with the duties of an election worker.

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