Statement from Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold Regarding Ongoing Investigation into Security Protocol Breach in Mesa County

Denver, August 10, 2021 - Today, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold released the following statement regarding the ongoing investigation into Mesa County Clerk and Recorder’s breach of election security protocol.

“Yesterday I ordered the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder to comply with inspection of election equipment, video footage, and other documents in the county. The Clerk’s Office must prove that chain of custody remains intact and that there has been no unauthorized access to voting equipment in the county. Failure to do so will result in decertification of the specific voting equipment in Mesa. Colorado has the best election system in the nation, with built in security redundancies. As Secretary of State, my number one priority is to ensure all election security protocols are followed and to safeguard Coloradans’ right to vote.”

Yesterday, the Secretary of State’s office sent an Order to the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder requiring the inspection of election equipment, video footage of the election equipment, and other relevant materials. The Mesa County Clerk and Recorder failed to respond to the Order or any request for information.

Today civil servants with the Secretary of State’s Office, accompanied at all times by officials from Mesa County, began to inspect voting equipment and other relevant documents. During their inspection, the Secretary’s staff were in contact with the District Attorney and his representatives, who were conducting their own separate, independent investigation. The Secretary directs any inquiries concerning the District Attorney’s investigation to that office.

Pending the outcome of the Secretary’s preliminary investigation, the Secretary of State’s office will determine if it is necessary to take the further action of prohibiting the use of or decertifying specific voting systems equipment in Mesa County.

This breach in security protocol has not created an imminent direct security risk to Colorado’s elections, and did not occur during an election.