Colorado election leaders hire former Justice Department official to defend against federal meddling

Colorado’s top election official hired a former U.S. Justice Department official to lead contingency planning to respond to any attempts to interfere with the state’s elections.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold in a press call Monday told reporters that Colorado voters should not be afraid to cast their ballot and that so far the Nov. 3 election has proceeded as usual. 

“We have been working with the attorney general’s office, the governor’s office, the county clerks association, to make sure that we are as prepared as possible for any of the situations that could arise,” Griswold said. 

Her office has “a wide array of contingencies prepared” in the event that any election observers attempt to interfere with voters, she said. The former Justice Department official she hired has led a small team working for almost two years to prepare for any scenario. Her office declined to identify the former official by name or share details of the work the person has led. 

Justice Department threats against election officials are persistent across the country, Griswold said, and leaders on a bipartisan basis are “standing strong” against any threats of federal interference. The Trump administration has pursued escalating actions to control elections, including its lawsuit to access confidential Colorado voter information and efforts to limit mail-in voting.

“I don’t want Coloradans to hear that they should be scared. They should absolutely not be scared. They should go cast their ballot,” Griswold said. 

The Justice Department’s plans to deploy election monitors to Adams County have raised alarms about potential election meddling, but Griswold said the monitors cannot access any ballot processing locations or interfere with voters. Department monitors must abide by the same rules as any other member of the public and stay 100 feet away from voting centers, Griswold said. 

The department declined terms set by Colorado officials that would have restricted federal election monitor activities inside Adams County election buildings, and the department said the monitors would deploy to election sites but not enter them. The monitors will not be visually identified as Justice observers. 

Congressional observers, which are authorized by federal law to be present in voting centers, are registered with local county clerks’ offices where they intend to observe. Griswold said monitors with U.S. House Republicans will observe in Colorado’s 5th and 8th congressional districts, monitors with House Democrats will observe in El Paso and Adams counties, and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet’s office will have observers in Adams County.

Griswold’s office will also have workers paired with attorneys from the attorney general’s office in Adams County. Adams County is home to many Democratic voters within Colorado’s competitive 8th Congressional District, a race that could decide which party controls the House.

“I do think if there is any type of misbehavior or concerning behavior, we will know very quickly and then take appropriate steps,” Griswold said.

Voters have until 7 p.m. Tuesday to drop off their ballot to their county clerk or be in line to vote in person. 

Griswold is the Democratic nominee for attorney general.