DENVER – An unfortunate incident occurred when passwords related to Colorado’s voting system were unintentionally published on the public website of the Secretary of State. Fortunately, state election officials have assured that this oversight will not jeopardize the approaching elections scheduled for November 5. The passwords, part of a two-password system necessary to access these voting systems, are embedded within a more comprehensive security framework, according to Jack Todd, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office.

Colorado’s Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, a Democrat, has often emphasized that the state stands as a benchmark in election security. Despite her claims, she faces criticism from leaders of the Colorado Republican Party, especially given the current increased focus on election integrity across the country.

Election officials discovered the issue last week when they found a spreadsheet containing the passwords, hidden in a concealed tab, accessible on the website just days ahead of the election. Upon noticing this mistake, the Secretary of State’s office acted promptly by notifying the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and is actively working to address and mitigate any potential risks.

Matt Crane, the executive director of the Colorado Clerks Association, commented on the situation. While he admitted that the situation was alarming, he expressed confidence in the Secretary of State’s swift action to resolve the matter. Crane stated, “The truth is, is this a concern? Yes. Is it being mitigated? Yes.”

It’s crucial to note that these passwords are exclusively meant for in-person access to the voting systems. Colorado regulations dictate that voting equipment must be stored in closely monitored and secure environments, ensuring that access is logged and tracked meticulously.

In a related context, earlier this month, a county clerk from Colorado, Tina Peters, was sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in a scheme linked to alleged voting machine fraud from the 2020 presidential election. Peters was convicted of enabling an individual to misuse a security card for unauthorized access to a county election system, coupled with misleading authorities regarding the individual’s identity.