DENVER — On Thursday, the governor of Colorado, a Democrat, announced the mobilization of state aircraft and vehicles to assist in the urgent task of changing voting system passwords that were unintentionally disclosed on a state website. This situation arises amid ongoing doubts regarding voting systems, despite the broader assurance that elections across the U.S. are conducted in a fair and reliable manner.
The Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, revealed on Tuesday that the passwords had been publicly accessible within a spreadsheet online for several months. In response, local, state, and federal agencies are collaborating to ensure that these passwords are updated by Thursday evening and are analyzing logs to confirm that no unauthorized activities have taken place.
The Colorado County Clerks Association issued a statement emphasizing that the state’s voting systems are fortified with multiple layers of security, and with the corrective measures currently underway, local clerks can confidently assert that elections in Colorado are secure. Concerns surrounding the leaked information have also been echoed by former President Donald Trump’s campaign, which reached out to Griswold, following a similar communication from the Colorado GOP chairman.
Griswold has previously touted Colorado as a model for election security, although this incident follows a technical issue encountered in 2022. The state has implemented several security features, including continuous surveillance, badge-controlled access to sensitive areas, and multiple passwords that must be entered in person, all of which are carefully monitored. Voters in Colorado utilize paper ballots, which undergo a thorough auditing process post-election.
Matt Crane, the executive director of the clerks association and a former Republican county clerk, reaffirmed that the voting system is designed with extensive security measures to prevent occurrences like this. “Every clerk is addressing this issue with utmost seriousness and remains fully committed to providing the safe and accurate elections that the citizens of Colorado have come to expect,” Crane stated.
Efforts to change the compromised passwords involve working in pairs and under meticulous oversight from local election officials, as outlined in a statement from the governor’s office. “Our goal is to guarantee that every vote is counted fairly and accurately in this election and all future ones,” Governor Jared Polis remarked.
Griswold expressed gratitude for the governor’s prompt action in resolving this unfortunate development, acknowledging Colorado’s extensive security measures aimed at ensuring that every voter’s voice is taken into account.