Concerns Over Mail-In Voting Security in Colorado
In a recent development that has raised concerns regarding the security of mail-in voting, at least 12 Colorado ballots were reportedly stolen, fraudulently filled out, and submitted. The Colorado state officials announced on Thursday that these thefts took place in Mesa County, located in western Colorado. This incident has led to speculations about the possibility of other undetected forged ballots elsewhere in the state and the rest of the country.
The Colorado Department of State revealed that these ballots were intercepted before reaching the voters. They were then filled out and returned to the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder via USPS mailboxes. The fraudulent activity was identified during Colorado’s secure signature verification process.
Mail-In Ballots and the Risk of Fraud
Colorado follows a system where ballots are sent to every registered voter in the state, rather than upon request. This means around 4 million ballots are circulated through the postal system and left in mailboxes, many of which are unsecured. Apart from returning ballots through the postal service, Coloradans can also use drop boxes.
Some voters were taken aback when they received notifications that their ballots required curing due to mismatched signatures. These voters had not submitted their ballots. The Secretary of State, Lena Griswold, noted that the handwriting on multiple ballots seemed to suggest that they were filled out by the same individual.
Griswold, a Democrat, did not reveal which candidate(s) were intended to benefit from this fraudulent activity. Griswold had previously attempted to exclude Donald Trump from Colorado's 2024 ballots, claiming that he had incited an insurrection in 2021. However, the US Supreme Court ruled against her in May.
Three Fraudulent Ballots Counted
A concerning detail about this incident is that three of the fraudulent ballots will not be removed from the count. These ballots were flagged for review, but a single election judge approved them all. Once approved, there is no mechanism for remedy or removal, according to officials. The judge who approved these forged ballots has since been reassigned. Griswold assured that all affected individuals will be offered a new ballot.
Despite this incident, Griswold maintained that Colorado’s elections are safe and secure. She stated that the fraudulent attempt was quickly detected and investigated due to Colorado's robust processes and tools like signature verification, ballot tracking, and the curing process. However, this claim appears excessive considering 25% of the known fraudulent ballots are still being counted. Colorado voters can check the status of their ballots by visiting Go Vote Colorado.
Political Scenario in Colorado
Mesa County is part of Colorado's 3rd congressional district, currently represented by Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert. Boebert is now contesting to represent eastern Colorado's 4th district. She won her reelection in 2022 by a narrow margin of about 500 votes. The Economist projects Boebert will win the 4th-district in a landslide. None of Colorado's Senate seats are up for election this year. Meanwhile, Polymarket predicts a 94.8% chance of Kamala Harris winning Colorado's 10 electoral votes.
Bottom Line
This incident in Colorado underscores the importance of secure voting processes and the potential risks associated with mail-in ballots. While officials maintain that the state's elections are secure, the fact that some fraudulent ballots were counted raises questions about the effectiveness of the existing security measures. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think more needs to be done to ensure the security of mail-in voting? Share this article with your friends and let us know your views. Remember, you can sign up for the Daily Briefing which is everyday at 6pm.
Concerns Over Mail-In Voting Security in Colorado
In a recent development that has raised concerns regarding the security of mail-in voting, at least 12 Colorado ballots were reportedly stolen, fraudulently filled out, and submitted. The Colorado state officials announced on Thursday that these thefts took place in Mesa County, located in western Colorado. This incident has led to speculations about the possibility of other undetected forged ballots elsewhere in the state and the rest of the country.
The Colorado Department of State revealed that these ballots were intercepted before reaching the voters. They were then filled out and returned to the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder via USPS mailboxes. The fraudulent activity was identified during Colorado’s secure signature verification process.
Mail-In Ballots and the Risk of Fraud
Colorado follows a system where ballots are sent to every registered voter in the state, rather than upon request. This means around 4 million ballots are circulated through the postal system and left in mailboxes, many of which are unsecured. Apart from returning ballots through the postal service, Coloradans can also use drop boxes.
Some voters were taken aback when they received notifications that their ballots required curing due to mismatched signatures. These voters had not submitted their ballots. The Secretary of State, Lena Griswold, noted that the handwriting on multiple ballots seemed to suggest that they were filled out by the same individual.
Griswold, a Democrat, did not reveal which candidate(s) were intended to benefit from this fraudulent activity. Griswold had previously attempted to exclude Donald Trump from Colorado's 2024 ballots, claiming that he had incited an insurrection in 2021. However, the US Supreme Court ruled against her in May.
Three Fraudulent Ballots Counted
A concerning detail about this incident is that three of the fraudulent ballots will not be removed from the count. These ballots were flagged for review, but a single election judge approved them all. Once approved, there is no mechanism for remedy or removal, according to officials. The judge who approved these forged ballots has since been reassigned. Griswold assured that all affected individuals will be offered a new ballot.
Despite this incident, Griswold maintained that Colorado’s elections are safe and secure. She stated that the fraudulent attempt was quickly detected and investigated due to Colorado's robust processes and tools like signature verification, ballot tracking, and the curing process. However, this claim appears excessive considering 25% of the known fraudulent ballots are still being counted. Colorado voters can check the status of their ballots by visiting Go Vote Colorado.
Political Scenario in Colorado
Mesa County is part of Colorado's 3rd congressional district, currently represented by Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert. Boebert is now contesting to represent eastern Colorado's 4th district. She won her reelection in 2022 by a narrow margin of about 500 votes. The Economist projects Boebert will win the 4th-district in a landslide. None of Colorado's Senate seats are up for election this year. Meanwhile, Polymarket predicts a 94.8% chance of Kamala Harris winning Colorado's 10 electoral votes.
Bottom Line
This incident in Colorado underscores the importance of secure voting processes and the potential risks associated with mail-in ballots. While officials maintain that the state's elections are secure, the fact that some fraudulent ballots were counted raises questions about the effectiveness of the existing security measures. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think more needs to be done to ensure the security of mail-in voting? Share this article with your friends and let us know your views. Remember, you can sign up for the Daily Briefing which is everyday at 6pm.
