JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Bills to Safeguard Colorado’s Elections, Protect Election Officials

New laws defend election systems from internal threats, provide new protections to election officials

DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills to enhance Colorado’s voting systems, safeguard elections from internal and external threats, and provide protections to election officials.

Championed by Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, Senator Kevin Priola, R-Brighton, and Representative Susan Lontine, D-Denver, the bipartisan Colorado Election Security Act improves election security by, among other measures, prohibiting anyone from serving as an election official if they have been convicted of any election offense or any offense or conspiracy to commit sedition, insurrection, treason, or conspiracy to overthrow the government. 

SB22-153 also prohibits election officials or candidates from physically tampering with voting equipment, and from having access to or being present in a room with voting equipment without being accompanied by one or more persons with authorized access.

“Colorado sets a national example when it comes to holding free, fair, and secure elections, and we want to keep it that way,” Fenberg said. “But unfortunately, there are folks both inside and outside the election system seeking to tamper with and undermine trust in our elections. The Colorado Election Security Act increases penalties for anyone who tampers with Colorado’s gold standard elections and interferes with our democracy, and will help defend our elections from wrongdoers while giving Coloradans peace of mind at the polling place.”

“Colorado leads the nation when it comes to election access and security and is a model for other states to follow,” said Lontine. “This law is a critical step to defend our elections from insider threats and ‘Big Lie’ conspiracy theorists who have used their positions to jeopardize our elections equipment. This commonsense law strengthens our elections system and will hold people accountable when they tamper with election equipment.” 

The Colorado Election Security Act further secures Colorado’s gold standard elections by improving training for clerks and election workers, and penalizes anyone who interferes with or obstructs the notification of a potential violation, or retaliates against someone providing notice. The bill prohibits accessing electronic equipment or a reporting system without authorization, makes knowingly publishing passwords or other confidential information a class 5 felony, and directs the District and Supreme Courts to expedite scheduling and issuance of final rulings of any orders in connection with a violation of election code.

HB22-1273, sponsored by President Steve Fenberg, Senator Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, and Representatives Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, and Emily Sirota, D-Denver, provides additional protections for election officials throughout Colorado.

“The dramatic increase in threats and intimidation against our election officials cannot continue,” said Duran. “Colorado’s election workers uphold our democracy and they deserve to feel safe on the job. This bill makes it clear that it is criminal to intimidate, threaten or coerce election workers or to attempt to do so. These civil servants secure fair and free elections in Colorado and we’re prioritizing their safety and well-being.”

“More and more election officials are leaving the job because of ongoing threats against their safety and the safety of their families,” said Sirota. “We’re strengthening Colorado’s gold standard election system by protecting those who secure the right to vote. This bill increases the criminal penalties for threatening or doxxing election workers so they can feel safe on the job and continue to uphold our democracy.”

“No one should fear for their safety when they are carrying out their duty to protect the most sacred part of the democratic process - the right to vote,” Pettersen said. “The reality is too many of our election officials are facing threats to themselves and their families for simply doing their job, and we won’t stand for it. This bill implements critical protections to ensure our election officials and their families are safe from violence and intimidation while increasing penalties for those who attempt to threaten their well-being.”

HB22-1273 establishes clear penalties for threatening or doxxing an election worker. While Colorado law already prohibits individuals from interfering with an election official, this bill clarifies that intimidating, threatening or coercing an election official while they are performing official duties or retaliating against them performing their official duties is criminal activity. The law also prohibits attempts to intimidate, threaten or coerce an election official.