Colorado Voting System Password Leak Sparks Election Security Concerns

A scandal is unfolding in Colorado over leaked passwords to voting systems that were made publicly accessible online. The incident occurred due to an error by employees in the Secretary of State’s office, sparking concerns ahead of the upcoming elections. The employee responsible for the leak has already been dismissed, and an internal investigation is underway.

Jena Griswold, Colorado’s Secretary of State, stated that the leaked passwords were only partially accessible and did not grant full access to the systems. According to Griswold, the leak was accidental and does not pose a threat to election security.

Nonetheless, Colorado election officials are scrutinizing the systems and reviewing access permissions to eliminate any risks. Boulder County Clerk Molly Fitzpatrick noted that using the leaked data would require physical presence and access to the equipment, which is rigorously controlled.

Some election officials became aware of the issue only after the Colorado Republican Party publicly disclosed the information. State officials expressed frustration that the Secretary of State’s office had known about the incident for nearly a week but had not alerted local authorities.

Concerns over election security have already been a topic of discussion in the state, particularly following the case involving former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters. Her actions last year led to the enactment of a law making it a criminal offense to publish passwords for election equipment.

State Republicans, including Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, are calling for Griswold’s resignation, accusing her of “negligence” and undermining confidence in the election system. They also reference past incidents in which her office sent voter registration notifications to non-residents.

In response to the criticism, Griswold stated that her office faces funding shortages and emphasized that her team is working diligently to protect the voting system amid ongoing threats and conspiracy theories.

Meanwhile, Colorado Republican Party Chair Dave Williams has demanded explanations for the incident, pledging to pursue legal action if the responses fail to address election security concerns.