Colorado residents deserve secure elections and transparency from state officials. However, a serious security breach involving Secretary of State Jena Griswold raises significant concerns.
On Oct. 30, Griswold admitted her office had exposed BIOS passwords for 63 of 64 counties’ voting machines online in an unprotected spreadsheet – accessible since June. This lapse, reportedly discovered on Oct. 24, was not immediately disclosed to county clerks or the public. Griswold only addressed the issue after it was publicly revealed by the Colorado GOP.
Her office’s response? Shrugging off accountability and adopting a last-minute rule change allowing her team to alter BIOS passwords without proper oversight. This action undermines trust and contradicts state election rules her office previously advocated.
Colorado law (C.R.S. § 1-13-708) explicitly prohibits the public release of voting system passwords, deeming it a felony. Moreover, C.R.S. § 18-8-405 addresses official misconduct by public servants who neglect duties or violate laws related to their office. These statutes demand accountability.
An independent investigation – not led by the secretary of state – is critical to determine the full impact of this breach. County officials, the attorney general, and district attorneys must step up to ensure election integrity and enforce the law.
Regardless of party affiliation, I urge all Coloradans to demand transparency and accountability by contacting their district attorney’s office. Request a follow up in this regard. Without it, confidence in our elections – and the officials tasked with safeguarding them – will continue to erode.
Kelly Hegarty
Durango
