Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold Calls for Boycott of Alabama

In Response to New Law in Alabama Limiting Women’s Civil Rights and Rights to Reproductive Health Care, Secretary Griswold Calls for Boycott of Alabama and Takes Action at Department of State

Denver, May 16, 2019 – Today, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold calls on the Election Center to relocate their training out of Alabama and is restricting Colorado Department of State employees' travel to Alabama.

“Until the laws of Alabama allow for safe and legal access to health care for women, we call on the Election Center to move the location of its trainings from Alabama. I will not authorize the spending of state resources on travel to Alabama for this training or any other purpose,” said Secretary Griswold. “This is one action that I can take in response to this egregious law against women.

Colorado Department of State employees regularly travel to Auburn, Alabama to attend the Certified Election Registration Administrator (CERA) training and certification. This training is hosted by the Election Center (also known as the National Association of Election Officials), a non-profit organization aligned with Colorado’s values of fair, accessible, and equitable elections.

This week, Alabama passed the most restrictive abortion ban in the country. It makes performing an abortion, even in the cases of rape and incest, punishable by law.

“This restrictive law, which does not even allow exceptions for incest and rape, is appalling. We should not spend Colorado state resources in a state that restricts women’s basic rights to health care. I call on other state and local leaders in Colorado and across the country to join me in this boycott,” continued Griswold.