The security breach at the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office has sparked significant concern among state officials, including Governor Jared Polis, who is calling for an independent investigation. The breach involved the accidental posting of passwords for voting systems across 63 of Colorado’s 64 counties on a public website, remaining unnoticed for months.
Governor Polis expressed disbelief over the situation, particularly regarding the lack of communication about the breach. He learned about it through a news report rather than from Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who reportedly did not inform anyone, including county clerks and the governor himself.
The incident came to light when the Colorado Republican Party notified county clerks about the exposed passwords. In response, Polis has deployed cybersecurity experts to update the passwords and ensure the security of the voting equipment, emphasizing that multiple layers of safeguards are in place to protect the integrity of the election process.
State Rep. Lisa Frizell, chair of the Legislative Audit Committee, voiced her concerns about the repeated errors from the Secretary of State’s Office, including past incidents where voter registration postcards were mistakenly sent to non-citizens. She has called for an audit of the election division to address these systemic issues.
State Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, also a member of the audit committee, is advocating for immediate answers from Griswold to reassure Colorado voters about the integrity of the upcoming election. He stressed the need for transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
In light of the breach, former President Donald Trump’s attorney has called for drastic measures, including stopping ballot processing in counties where passwords were current and retesting the voting equipment. However, local election officials, including Matt Crane from the Colorado County Clerk’s Association, assert that such measures are not feasible with the election imminent, stating confidence that the safeguards in place prevented any unauthorized access.
The Colorado Attorney General has indicated that a thorough review of the breach is critical, but details on any formal investigation remain unclear. Governor Polis has raised critical questions about accountability and the potential consequences for the employee involved in the breach, highlighting the need for clarity and trust in the electoral process.