Overview
- More than 250 chief local election officials departed between November 2020 and November 2025 across Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
- Turnover accelerated after the 2024 cycle, with 53 exits in the post-election period and a 10-point increase from Issue One’s 2023 snapshot of the region.
- Most departures were voluntary, and nearly half occurred before terms ended, raising concerns about lost institutional knowledge and election continuity.
- State-level churn varied sharply, with every Arizona county reporting at least one exit, New Mexico at 91%, Nevada at 65%, and Utah reporting turnover in 69% of counties.
- Departing officials and the report cite threats, harassment, stress, and politicized pressure as key factors, and the group urges targeted funding, legal protections, and retention policies.