Colorado Election Integrity

Colorado’s election system is widely recognized as one of the best in the country. By working to balance access with security, our system serves as a national model that guarantees all eligible voters can seamlessly cast their ballots in all elections while also ensuring those ballots cast are counted accurately and then entire system remains secure. You can read more about how Colorado’s system works, track your own voter registration and ballot and learn from the experts – Colorado’s county clerks – more about how they protect and provide our right to a fair and free elections, our most sacred right as Americans.

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Looking forward to seeing county clerks at the 2026 Summer Conference.

CCCA Opposes USPS Proposed Rule Affecting Ballot Mail

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 

The Colorado County Clerks Association (CCCA) is a membership organization of 63 Colorado county clerks and their designees. Colorado’s county clerks serve as the chief election officials in their respective jurisdictions. The following are CCCA’s comments on the proposed rules released by the USPS on June 2, 2026.

The Colorado County Clerks Association opposes the proposed rule and respectfully urges the United States Postal Service to withdraw it for the reasons set forth below.

The Postal Service has long been a trusted partner in election administration in Colorado. Election officials across the state rely on the USPS to perform a critical but limited function: the secure, reliable, and timely transportation of election mail. For that reason, we appreciate the Postal Service's continued focus on ballot delivery and its efforts to improve operational reliability and efficiency.

Proposed DMM 705.24 represents a significant departure from the Postal Service's traditional role. Rather than focusing on the delivery of election mail, the proposal would require election officials to transmit voter-level information to the federal government for compilation and maintenance in a USPS-administered system. The Postal Service acknowledges that it “does not have any legal responsibility for management of state voter rolls or administration of federal elections within each state.”[1] But the proposed rule would place USPS squarely in the middle of both activities.

It is disconcerting that USPS has expressly premised this proposal on Executive Order 14399. An executive order cannot expand the authority Congress has granted to a federal agency. The Postal Service identifies no clear statutory authority authorizing it to require the creation of voter-specific participation lists or to condition mail-ballot processing on the submission of voter information. The federal criminal statutes prohibiting election fraud cited in the proposed rule likewise provide no such authority. To the extent the proposal relies on the Executive Order or those statutes as a source of authority, it exceeds the scope of USPS's regulatory role.

The proposal also raises serious constitutional concerns. The Elections Clause in the Constitution gives states the principal responsibility for administering elections.[2] States determine voter eligibility, establish absentee and mail-ballot procedures, maintain voter registration records, and regulate the conduct of elections. The proposed rule would insert a federal agency into that process by requiring the transmission of voter-level data to USPS and by creating a federally managed participation list framework that is contrary to Colorado election law.

The resulting conflict with Colorado law underscores the constitutional problem. Colorado conducts elections by mail and requires election officials to issue ballots on a rolling basis through the eighth day before election day. The proposed rule assumes that election officials can maintain a complete and continuously updated voter participation list with USPS but provides no assurance that USPS can process those updates on the timelines required by Colorado law. This creates an unnecessary conflict between federal postal requirements and state statutory obligations, leading to a substantial risk that ballot mailings may be delayed or rejected.

Since publication of the proposed rule, a federal district court has preliminarily enjoined implementation of the Executive Order on which the proposal expressly relies. Although that litigation remains pending, the injunction underscores the significant legal uncertainty surrounding these proposed requirements and provides an additional reason for USPS to withdraw or suspend this rulemaking until the underlying legal issues are resolved.

Proposed DMM 705.24.2 and 705.24.4 are incompatible with Colorado’s ballot-mailing requirements.

Colorado law requires election officials to mail a ballot to every active registered voter.[3] For the November 2026 General Election, Colorado county clerks will begin mailing ballots to voters in early October and will continue to mail ballots to newly registered voters and those who need replacement ballots through the eighth day before election day.[4] As a result, the universe of voters who will receive a ballot is not fixed 30 days before an election, it continues to change throughout the ballot issuance period.

The proposed rule assumes that election officials can submit and maintain a complete and accurate participation list through the USPS Ballot Mail Portal before ballots are mailed. That assumption is inconsistent with Colorado law and election administration practices. New registrations, replacement ballots, address updates, and other voter-record changes occur daily during the voting period. County Clerks work closely with our print and mailing vendors to generate and mail new and replacement ballots each day, ensuring that voters receive ballots as quickly as possible and in accordance with Colorado law. Ballot production and mailing is a continuous operational process rather than a single mailing event, requiring election officials to issue thousands of ballots based on continually changing voter information. 

Although proposed DMM 705.24.4 allows supplemental submissions, the proposal contains no processing standards, no turnaround commitments, and no mechanism for election officials to confirm that updated voter information has been incorporated into USPS systems before ballots are ready for mailing. The proposal provides no meaningful assurance that USPS can timely process, update, and reconcile these submissions on an ongoing basis. Election officials would have substantial uncertainty about whether newly registered voters or voters requiring replacement ballots will appear on USPS participation lists in time to mail ballots without disruption. A federal postal regulation should not place state election officials in the position of choosing between compliance with state election law and compliance with USPS administrative requirements. Nor should it jeopardize any voter’s ability to timely receive and cast a ballot by mail.

Proposed DMM 705.24.4(b) is incompatible with Colorado’s in-person mail-ballot issuance requirement.

Proposed DMM 705.24.4(b) requires Ballot Portal Users to provide USPS with the name and address of each voter together with the unique Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) assigned to both the outbound and return ballot envelopes. This proposal appears to assume (incorrectly in Colorado’s case) that every return ballot envelope is uniquely associated with a specific voter at the time the ballot is issued. 

County Clerks routinely issue mail ballots in person at Voter Service and Polling Centers, including replacement ballots and ballots issued to individuals who register to vote in person. To facilitate this service, election officials keep preprinted ballot packets and return envelopes available for immediate issuance. Those return envelopes contain IMbs for mail processing purposes, but they are not assigned to a particular voter in advance. Instead, election officials print and affix labels in real time that contain the voter-specific information used to identify the voter when the ballot is returned.

The proposed rule appears to require election officials to create and report a voter-specific association for every in-person issued mail ballot before the ballot could be returned by mail. This is at odds with Colorado law, which requires county clerks to issue mail ballots to in-person voters who request them.[5]

It is unclear whether election officials would be required to maintain inventories of unique, voter-assigned return envelopes at every Voter Service and Polling Center, whether USPS would require (or could accommodate) real-time updates to participation lists before those ballots could be issued, or how this process would work when a voter registers and receives a mail ballot in a single in-person transaction. This proposal reflects a critical misunderstanding of election administration in a mail-ballot state like Colorado.

The compliance review process under Proposed DMM 705.24.5 is not feasible.

 Proposed DMM 705.24.5 creates a process for USPS to review outbound ballot mailings before acceptance to determine whether they satisfy the participation-list requirements and states that noncompliant mailings “will not be accepted and will be returned.”

The proposal provides almost no information about how this review process will operate in practice. It does not identify who within USPS will conduct the review, whether verification will occur at local postal facilities or elsewhere, the anticipated processing time for verification, or the standards that USPS will apply when it identifies discrepancies. And it provides no mechanism for election officials to obtain immediate resolution of mismatches or other errors that may prevent acceptance.

This lack of clarity is particularly significant for Colorado county clerks, who, depending on county size, present thousands or tens of thousands of mail ballots under compressed statutory timelines. CCCA lacks confidence that USPS has the operational capacity to review voter-specific participation data at this scale without delaying ballot acceptance and distribution.

Furthermore, DMM 705.24.5d. states that USPS “assumes no responsibility for any outbound ballot mailing presented until it is accepted into the mail” and “is not responsible for service delays” resulting from Ballot Portal or preparation issues. This is a glaring abdication of responsibility within a rule proposing to insert USPS into state election administration. It ignores critical chain-of-custody standards, does not explain whether election officials will receive immediate notice of rejections, how quickly deficiencies may be corrected, whether corrected mailings will be expedited, or if there is recourse when delays caused by USPS threaten statutory mailing deadlines.

Most importantly, the proposal fails to address the impact on voters. If ballot mailings are delayed because USPS has not completed verification or because participation-list information has not been timely updated, eligible voters may receive their ballots later than required by state law through no fault of the voter or the election official. The proposal offers no explanation of how USPS intends to prevent these voter impacts.

CCCA values the longstanding partnership between Colorado election officials and the Postal Service. We urge USPS to withdraw the proposed participation-list requirements and continue to focus on its critical mission of providing secure, reliable, and timely delivery of election mail. We welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with USPS on operational improvements that support ballot delivery while respecting the constitutional and statutory authority of states to administer elections.

[1] Proposed DMM 705.24.6.

[2] U.S. Const. art. I, § 4, cl. 1 (“The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof . . .”).

[3] C.R.S. § 1-7.5-107.

[4] C.R.S. §§ 1-2-217.7 and 1-7.5-107.

[5] C.R.S. § 1-5-102.9(3)(k).

May 15, 2026                                                                                                                                                                  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  CCCA STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR POLIS’S COMMUTATION OF TINA PETERS

(Littleton, CO, May 15, 2026) -- We are furious, disgusted, and deeply disappointed by the Governor’s decision. We have met with him privately to make our position unmistakably clear: Tina Peters deserves the accountability imposed through Colorado’s judicial system, and the Governor should, at the very least, respect that process and allow it to fully play out before intervening.

This case was thoroughly investigated, prosecuted, and adjudicated through the rule of law. Undermining that process before it has fully concluded sends a reckless and dangerous message to the public, to election officials, and to anyone entrusted with safeguarding our democratic institutions.

Election officials across Colorado, Republicans and Democrats alike, have stood up at every turn to tell the truth about our elections, even while facing harassment, intimidation, threats, and relentless political attacks. They have defended the rule of law, protected voters, and continued serving the public despite enormous personal and professional costs.

Rather than standing with those public servants and defending one of our nation’s most cherished rights, the right to vote, Governor Polis is bending the knee to the same political forces and conspiracy movements that are actively undermining confidence in our democratic institutions. That choice carries consequences far beyond this single case.

Tina Peters’ actions have made life harder not only for election officials in Colorado, but for election officials across the country. Her conduct became a rallying point for election conspiracy movements that fueled hostility and distrust toward the very people responsible for administering free and fair elections.

Last year, an election office in Colorado was firebombed. While the suspect is entitled to the presumption of innocence and the case must proceed through the legal process, public reporting indicates the individual appeared influenced by the same stolen-election conspiracy narratives that Tina Peters helped amplify and legitimize. Election officials are not speaking in hypotheticals anymore. The threats, fear, and escalation are real.

At a time when election officials need strong support, this decision abandons them and supports the attack on the legitimacy of American elections.

There is no escaping the significance of this moment. This is now Governor Polis’s legacy. He will not be able to run from it or redefine it later. When given the opportunity to stand firmly for the rule of law, for the integrity of Colorado’s elections, and for the public servants who defend them, he chose a different path. 

This decision is shameful. It rewards criminal conduct connected to attacks on our election system, weakens confidence in accountability, and undermines the very institutions that protect the freedom to vote. Colorado voters deserve leaders who defend democracy, not leaders who legitimize efforts to damage it.

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CCCA Letter to Governor Polis

November 21, 2025

The Honorable Jared Polis
Governor of Colorado
200 E. Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80203

Dear Governor Polis:

We, the multi-partisan Colorado County Clerks Association, respectfully ask that you not transfer former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters to federal custody.  We also request an in-person meeting with you prior to any decision, so you can hear directly from the election officials who experienced the consequences of Ms. Peters’ actions.

Colorado’s clerks, Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated, have spent decades building one of the most accessible, secure, and transparent election systems in the nation. They have done so by following the law exactly as written, preserving all required records, maintaining air-gapped and physically secured systems, enforcing chain-of-custody procedures, and working openly with bipartisan judges, canvass boards, and observers. Every clerk in the state adhered to Colorado’s meticulous certification, audit, and oversight requirements. These officials did their work with professionalism, accuracy, and integrity, even under tremendous pressure.

Ms. Peters was the one clerk who chose not to. Her actions were not mistakes or misunderstandings; they were deliberate violations of Colorado law and/or attempts to undermine public trust. Security cameras in restricted election areas were turned off. Unauthorized individuals were brought into secure spaces under falsified credentials. Established safeguards were bypassed, and routine election procedures were misrepresented as evidence of wrongdoing. None of these actions protected her county; instead, they created vulnerabilities where none had existed and forced Mesa County taxpayers to spend millions replacing compromised equipment and responding to the fallout.

A jury of Mesa County residents examined the evidence, weighed the testimony, and convicted Ms. Peters on multiple felonies and misdemeanors, all tied to her own conduct. Her guilt was not a political determination, nor was it based on policy disagreements or election administration philosophy. It was the result of a lawful judicial process rooted in factual evidence and decided by the community she served.

When the events in Mesa County became public, clerks across Colorado stepped forward to explain the truth: the systems had worked, the safeguards had worked, and Ms. Peters’ claims were not accurate. For doing so, many clerks and their families, including their children, were subjected to harassment, intimidation, and threats, some credible enough to involve law enforcement. We are deeply concerned that, if transferred, Ms. Peters would continue disseminating the same false narratives that have already endangered clerks throughout Colorado and across the country. Her pattern of knowingly repeating false claims, long after they were disproven, has fueled harassment, threats, and intimidation against the very officials who protected the integrity of our elections.

The risks to these public servants would only grow if she were allowed to use a new legal narrative to further these falsehoods. These election professionals stood up for the law, for the truth, and for the voters of Colorado. In return, they endured fear for their safety and reputational attacks that continue even today.

To remove Ms. Peters from Colorado custody now, at the urging of political actors outside our state, would send a deeply damaging message to the clerks who upheld their oath under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. It would imply that accountability for violations of Colorado law can be negotiated or avoided, while those who acted honorably were left to face the consequences alone. It would also undermine the work of Colorado’s prosecutors, jurors, and judicial system, each of whom fulfilled their responsibilities thoroughly and independently.

Because of the significance of this issue for election officials statewide, we ask that you decline any request to transfer Ms. Peters to federal custody. Colorado’s judicial process should be respected, and the sentence imposed by a Colorado court should be carried out under Colorado’s authority. Send a message to all Coloradans, to the nation, and to every public servant watching that this state does not abandon those who do what is right. Courage, integrity, and the law still mean something here.

Colorado’s clerks have demonstrated extraordinary courage throughout this challenging period, upholding the law, defending the truth, protecting the election process, and serving voters despite threats, harassment, and intense political pressure. Now, more than ever, they need your support. We now ask you to show that same courage on behalf of the election officials of this state. 

Governor, please stand firmly with those who honored their oath, safeguarded our democratic institutions, and protected the rule of law.  Doing so will send a powerful message that Colorado does not retreat when the truth is tested. For these reasons, we expect that you will meet personally with Colorado’s clerks before any final decision is made. This personal meeting is crucial to ensure that the voices of those who bore the brunt of these events are fully heard.

Respectfully,

The Colorado County Clerks Association

PRESS RELEASE

Sept. 2, 2025

The Colorado County Clerks Association (CCCA) today reaffirmed the security, transparency, and accessibility of Colorado's voting practices.

(Denver, CO, Sept. 2, 2025) -- Denver, CO- In response to recent criticism from President Trump, the Association emphasized that Colorado's mail-in voting system is safe, secure, and fair.

“It is deeply ironic that President Trump made a decision about the Space Force based on Colorado’s election model, yet moved it to Alabama, a state whose system provides neither the access nor the security that Colorado’s does,” said Matt Crane, Executive Director of the CCCA.

 “In 2013, Colorado’s county clerks, at the time, the vast majority of them Republicans, designed and championed the nation’s first modern mail ballot system. Their work laid the foundation for what is now recognized as the most reliable, transparent, and accessible election model in the country. Our system was deliberately structured to serve Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike, ensuring that seniors, military personnel, and every eligible voter can cast a ballot safely and securely.

"Colorado’s model is proof that strong access and strong security can coexist. Voters can track their ballots online and know with certainty that their votes are counted. Independent audits after every election confirm the accuracy of our results, safeguards that states like Alabama simply do not have. In fact, the Washington Post has called Colorado the safest state in which to cast a ballot.”

 Colorado has consistently been recognized as a national leader in election security and voter access. The state’s election system includes:

• Mail Ballots for Every Voter – All registered voters receive a mail-in ballot, allowing them time to study the issues and vote at their convenience.

• Multiple Voting Options – Secure ballot drop boxes, in-person vote centers, and accessible voting for individuals with disabilities.

• Layered Security – Ballot tracking, signature verification, and post-election audits that confirm accuracy.For more than two years, county clerks across Colorado have worked to dispel mis and disinformation about elections and continue to do so today. Voters can help them by reaching out to their county clerk for official information if they have questions about what they are seeing online and sharing that accurate information in their communities.

• Transparency and Accountability – Public testing of voting equipment and bipartisan oversight at every step of the process.

 “The results speak for themselves,” said Hayle Johnson, CCCA President and Jackson County Clerk and Recorder. “In the 2024 Presidential Election, Colorado achieved 73.1% turnout of eligible voters compared to just 58.8% in Alabama. Colorado leads the nation because our clerks take their responsibility to democracy seriously. They are neighbors and community leaders who work tirelessly to safeguard every ballot and every voter’s voice.”

 Colorado’s unwavering commitment to the principle of separation of powers and its secure, transparent elections reinforces the state’s role as a model for democracy nationwide. By prioritizing voter access and election integrity, Colorado continues to set the standard for how elections should be conducted in a free and fair society.

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