Threat Tier: 2 — HIGH Last Researched: July 1, 2026

Data currency notice: Election law, official contact information, and legislative status change frequently. Verify all information within 30 days of use.

Recent Developments (Entry Point for Updates)

• June 25, 2026: Colorado is a plaintiff state in the Talwani ruling blocking the USPS mail ballot Executive Order — nationwide preliminary injunction preserves mail ballot delivery standards.
• June 2, 2026: Governor Polis signed HB 26-1113 “Modifications to Elections” — extends ballot mailing timelines, opens drop boxes earlier, strengthens the 100-foot interference radius around drop boxes and voting centers, and includes the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act.
• Ongoing 2026: SoS Jena Griswold is running for Attorney General, leaving the Secretary of State seat open in 2026 — the first open SoS race since Griswold took office in 2019.

State Threat Profile

Colorado operates the nation’s gold-standard election model — universal mail voting, automatic voter registration, bipartisan election observer access, and mandatory risk-limiting audits. The state’s defenses are strong but face two convergent threats. First, the DOJ has sued Colorado over voter roll data, seeking unredacted voter registration records as part of the administration’s nationwide campaign against states that refuse to hand over sensitive voter information. Second, and more critically, Secretary of State Jena Griswold — a national leader in election defense who has personally received over 2,300 death threats since 2023, with at least three individuals convicted of threatening her — is leaving the office to run for Attorney General. The open SoS seat creates the state’s most significant vulnerability: an election-denier candidate could capture the office that administers Colorado’s elections. Colorado’s structural defenses (codified in legislation, not SoS policy) provide resilience, but the loss of a nationally prominent defender requires voter vigilance on the SoS race.

Legal Disruption Routes

State-Level Legal Disruption

Federal Actions Targeting This State

Redistricting

Colorado uses an independent redistricting commission established by Amendments Y and Z (2018). Congressional maps were drawn by the commission for 2022 and are in effect for 2026. The commission structure provides substantial insulation from partisan gerrymandering.

Officials in Key Positions

Secretary of State

SourceColorado SoS press releases; Denver Post; Colorado NewslineName: Jena Griswold Party: D In office since: 2019 Status: Running for Attorney General in 2026 — leaving SoS seat open Key documented actions: National leader in election defense; led Colorado’s resistance to federal voter data demands; championed the Colorado Election Security Act (SB22-153, first-in-nation insider threat protection for election systems); recipient of 2,300+ death threats since 2023, with at least 3 individuals convicted of threatening her

Governor

SourceColorado Governor’s office, 2022-2026Name: Jared Polis Party: D Term-limited: Yes — cannot run again Key stance on election issues: Strong voting rights defender; signed HB 26-1113 and prior election protection legislation including the Vote Without Fear Act and Election Official Protection Act

Attorney General

SourceColorado AG office filings, 2025-2026Name: Phil Weiser Party: D Status: Running for Governor in 2026 Key documented action: Joined multi-state legal actions defending state election administration authority against federal overreach; co-litigant in Talwani case

U.S. Senators

Key U.S. House Members (Competitive Districts)

Official Statements on Election Integrity

Statements Indicating Defense of Fair Elections

Jena Griswold, Secretary of State — June 2026

“It is more important than ever to fortify our elections from Trump’s federal interference.”

SourceColorado SoS press release, June 2026 Evidence tier: Documented Context: Statement made in connection with HB 26-1113 signing and ongoing federal resistance. Griswold has been the most visible SoS nationally in opposing federal voter data demands and election interference.

Jena Griswold, Secretary of State — 2023-2026

Griswold has publicly documented receiving over 2,300 death threats since 2023, noting that at least three individuals have been convicted of threatening her. She has used this experience to advocate for election worker protection legislation nationally and in Colorado.

SourceDenver Post; Colorado Newsline; congressional testimony, 2023-2026 Evidence tier: Documented Context: The death threats underscore the personal risk faced by election officials who defend voting access and resist federal pressure.

Key Prior Legislation (Colorado’s Defense Stack)

Step-by-Step Defense Playbook

For Every Voter in Colorado

1. You are already registered if you have a Colorado driver’s license or state ID — Colorado has automatic voter registration. Verify your registration:

→ https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter/pages/pub/olvr/findVoterReg.xhtml → Same-day voter registration available: Yes — at any voter service and polling center through Election Day

1. Your ballot comes to you — Colorado is a universal mail ballot state. Every active registered voter receives a ballot by mail.

→ Ballots begin mailing approximately 22 days before Election Day (extended by HB 26-1113) → If you do not receive your ballot by 14 days before Election Day, contact your county clerk → You can also vote in person at a voter service and polling center

1. Return your ballot — three options:

→ Mail: Post at least 8 days before Election Day to ensure USPS delivery → Drop box: 24-hour drop boxes available at locations across your county — now open earlier under HB 26-1113 → In person: Return to any voter service and polling center → Track your ballot: https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter/pages/pub/olvr/findVoterReg.xhtml (BallotTrax system)

1. Know the 100-foot rule — under HB 26-1113 and the Vote Without Fear Act, no person may intimidate, threaten, or interfere with voters within 100 feet of drop boxes, voting centers, or ballot counting facilities. Firearms (including concealed carry) are prohibited in this zone.

1. The SoS race matters — research the candidates. The 2026 SoS election will determine who administers Colorado’s elections for the next four years. An election-denier candidate in this seat could undermine the state’s gold-standard model.

1. Save these numbers before Election Day:

For Election Workers and Poll Watchers

1. Know 18 U.S.C. § 592. Any armed federal presence at a polling place is a federal crime. Document it. Call 866-OUR-VOTE immediately. See: Rules of Engagement: Federal Forces at Polling Sites

1. Know the insider threat protections. The Colorado Election Security Act (SB22-153) makes it a crime for election officials or workers to compromise voting equipment, share passwords, or allow unauthorized access to election systems. Report any suspicious insider behavior to your county clerk and the SoS office.

1. Document interference at drop boxes. HB 26-1113 strengthens the 100-foot interference radius. If you observe intimidation, photography of voters, or armed individuals near drop boxes, document and report immediately.

1. Every challenged voter gets a provisional ballot — Colorado law guarantees that any voter whose eligibility is questioned may cast a provisional ballot. Never turn a voter away.

1. Know the certification calendar:

→ County canvass boards certify results by the last Tuesday after Election Day (within approximately 13 days) → State certification: SoS certifies no later than 30 days after the election → Risk-limiting audits are mandatory before certification — Colorado pioneered this nationally

1. Election worker safety: Under the Election Official Protection Act (HB22-1273), publishing your personal information to intimidate you is a crime. Report threats to law enforcement and the SoS office.

For Organizers and Advocacy Groups

1. Focus on the SoS race. The open Secretary of State seat is Colorado’s single greatest election vulnerability. Educate voters about the SoS candidates’ positions on election administration, voter data privacy, and federal cooperation.

1. Monitor election-denier candidacies for SoS and county clerk races. Research candidates’ positions on the 2020 election, SAVE Act, and DOJ voter data demands.

1. Train election observers — Colorado’s bipartisan observer system is a strength. Ensure trained watchers are deployed in all 64 counties, particularly in competitive districts (CO-3, CO-8).

1. Build a rapid-response legal team:

→ ACLU Colorado: aclu-co.org → Democracy Docket: democracydocket.com → Colorado Election Protection Coalition → Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights: 866-OUR-VOTE

1. Watch the voter rolls — request county voter roll data; compare before and after any purge activity. Colorado’s SCORE system is well-maintained but federal pressure could force changes.

1. Coordinate with national organizations: Common Cause Colorado, League of Women Voters Colorado, Mi Familia Vota, Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable

For Lawyers

1. Monitor the DOJ voter roll lawsuit. Colorado is among states sued for voter registration data. Track filings; prepare to intervene if the state’s defense position weakens under a new SoS.

1. Prepare emergency TRO templates for:

• Federal interference with state election administration
• Voter intimidation at drop boxes or voting centers (under HB 26-1113)
• Armed presence at polling locations (18 U.S.C. § 592 and state law)
• Attempts by a future SoS to weaken risk-limiting audit requirements

1. Defend the SoS office’s institutional independence. If an election-denier candidate wins the SoS race, prepare legal strategies to enforce statutory requirements for mail ballot distribution, risk-limiting audits, and bipartisan observer access that are codified in state law (not SoS policy).

1. Know the post-election timeline:

→ Risk-limiting audits: Mandatory before certification → County canvass: Last Tuesday after Election Day → State certification: Within 30 days after Election Day → Recount threshold: 0.5% margin triggers automatic recount → Contest period: Within 20 days of certification

1. Track the Talwani ruling. Colorado is a named plaintiff. If the ruling is overturned on appeal, mail ballot voters in Colorado will need alternative return guidance.

Key Contacts and Resources

Sources

1. Colorado Secretary of State, press releases on HB 26-1113 signing and federal election defense, June 2026.
2. Governor Jared Polis, signing statement for HB 26-1113, June 2, 2026.
3. Denver Post, coverage of Griswold death threats and convictions, 2023-2026.
4. Colorado Newsline, “Griswold announces AG candidacy,” 2026.
5. Colorado General Assembly, SB22-153 (Election Security Act), HB22-1273 (Election Official Protection), HB22-1086 (Vote Without Fear), HB 26-1113 (Modifications to Elections).
6. Judge Indira Talwani, ruling blocking USPS mail ballot Executive Order, June 25, 2026 — Colorado as plaintiff.
7. DOJ voter roll lawsuit filings targeting Colorado, 2025-2026.
8. Brennan Center for Justice, “Colorado Voting Laws Update,” brennancenter.org, 2026.
9. Democracy Docket, “Colorado election litigation tracker,” democracydocket.com, 2026.
10. 18 U.S.C. § 592 (federal troops at polls).

Factual correction requests: If you believe information in this playbook is incorrect, please contact factcheck@patriot.university with the specific claim and any supporting documentation. We review all submissions and correct verified errors promptly.

Last Updated: July 1, 2026 Research method: Web research via Colorado SoS press releases, Denver Post, Colorado Newsline, Brennan Center, Democracy Docket. Evidence tiers applied per PU accountability profile standards.