Threat Tier: 2 — HIGH Last Researched: September 7, 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)

• September 4–7, 2026: The federal fight over the USPS mail-ballot rule (Executive Order 14399) moved again nationally: Judge Talwani’s September 4 preliminary injunction is now the operative order blocking the rule (superseding the June 25 injunction, which was vacated August 26). The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to stay the September 4 order; that application is pending. Colorado is one of 25 plaintiff jurisdictions in the underlying suit — this is Colorado’s mail-ballot system’s single biggest live federal exposure, since Colorado runs universal mail voting.
• August 18, 2026: DOJ noticed an appeal to the 10th Circuit after its suit demanding Colorado’s voter data was dismissed on 8/3/26. DOJ has not won any of its 31 voter-data suits nationwide on the merits.
• July 9, 2026: After a nine-day count, the Associated Press called Colorado’s Republican gubernatorial primary for Victor Marx, a first-time candidate and ministry founder, who edged state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer by roughly 2,000 votes out of nearly 516,000 cast (39.9%–39.4%, with state Rep. Scott Bottoms a distant third at 20.8%). Marx faces Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser, who defeated U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in the June 30 Democratic primary, in November.
• June 30, 2026: Colorado’s primary produced open-seat nominees for all three top statewide offices, since Gov. Polis, SoS Griswold, and (by virtue of her running for governor) the AG’s office are all turning over. Most consequential for this playbook: James Wiley, described by Democracy Docket as having “fully embraced the election denial movement” and who has said he wants to eliminate voting machines statewide, won the unopposed Republican nomination for Secretary of State. He faces Jefferson County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez, who won the Democratic nomination over state Sen. Jessie Danielson 63%–37%, in the seat that will administer Colorado’s elections starting January 2027.
• June 2, 2026: Governor Polis signed HB 26-1113 (“Modifications to Elections”) — allows county clerks to begin mailing ballots up to 29 days before Election Day (up from the prior 22-day floor, a direct response to concerns about federal interference with postal delivery), strengthens the 100-foot interference radius around drop boxes and voting centers, and includes the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act. It also includes a provision barring a candidate seeking a third presidential term from the Colorado ballot; no legal challenge to that provision has been confirmed as of this writing.

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 structural defenses (codified in legislation, not tied to any one official) provide real resilience, and Colorado is one of 25 plaintiff jurisdictions in the federal suit currently blocking the USPS mail-ballot rule, which matters more to Colorado than almost any other state given that nearly every Colorado voter receives a ballot by mail. But the state’s central 2026 vulnerability, flagged in this playbook since July, has now fully materialized: term-limited 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 — won the Democratic primary for Attorney General and is leaving the SoS office. Her seat will be filled by either Jefferson County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez (D), a former Common Cause Colorado director who has pledged to continue Griswold’s posture, or James Wiley (R), an unopposed nominee whom Democracy Docket has specifically named among the nation’s “election deniers and anti-voting activists who want to run their states’ elections,” and who has said he wants to eliminate Colorado’s voting machines outright. DOJ’s suit demanding Colorado’s voter rolls was dismissed on the merits on August 3, 2026, and DOJ has appealed to the 10th Circuit — part of a 0-for-31 record nationally. Colorado’s Attorney General’s office, currently led by Weiser (now the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, still serving as AG through the transition), has been an active co-litigant in the federal USPS fight. Louisiana v. Callais has minimal direct application in Colorado, which is not among the states the ruling frees to redraw maps and which draws its congressional lines through an independent redistricting commission rather than the Legislature. The single biggest thing a Colorado voter can do in 2026 is understand what is actually at stake in the Secretary of State’s race — a codified defense stack is real protection, but the office that runs elections still matters.

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 remain in effect for 2026. This structure provides substantial insulation from the kind of mid-decade, legislature-driven redistricting seen in several other states in 2025–2026, and Colorado is not among the states Louisiana v. Callais (April 29, 2026) frees to redraw maps.

Officials in Key Positions

Secretary of State

SourceColorado SoS press releases; Denver Post; Colorado NewslineName: Jena Griswold Party: D In office since: 2019 Status: Won the Democratic primary for Attorney General (June 30, 2026); leaving the SoS office when her term ends in January 2027. Her successor will be decided in the November 3, 2026 general election between Amanda Gonzalez (D) and James Wiley (R). 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); has received 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 — leaving office January 2027. The Nov. 3, 2026 general election is Democratic AG Phil Weiser vs. Republican Victor Marx. 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: Won the Democratic nomination for Governor (June 30, 2026, defeating U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet); continues to serve as AG through the transition, facing Republican Victor Marx in November. Key documented action: Joined multi-state legal actions defending state election administration authority against federal overreach; co-litigant in the ongoing USPS mail-ballot litigation.

U.S. Senators

Neither of Colorado’s Senate seats is up in 2026.

Key U.S. House Races (Competitive Districts)

Official Statements on Election Integrity

Statements Indicating Defense of Fair Elections

Jena Griswold, Secretary of State — 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 the 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; she will leave office in January 2027 having won the AG’s race.

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.

Amanda Gonzalez, Democratic nominee for Secretary of State — June 2026

Speaking about the risk of an unanswered election-denier candidacy: “It just communicates to other election deniers or people who are going to make threats, that threatening our democracy might not have real consequences.”

SourceColorado Sun candidate issue guide, June 1, 2026 Evidence tier: Documented Context: Gonzalez, the Jefferson County Clerk and former Common Cause Colorado director, has pledged to continue Griswold’s posture toward federal pressure on election administration if elected.

Statements Indicating Potential Threat

James Wiley, Republican nominee for Secretary of State — 2026

Has stated he wants to eliminate Colorado’s voting machines if elected.

SourceDemocracy Docket, “The election deniers and anti-voting activists who want to run their states’ elections,” April 11, 2026; Democracy Docket, “Election denier James Wiley wins Colorado GOP secretary of state nomination,” July 1, 2026 Evidence tier: Documented Context: Wiley ran unopposed for the Republican nomination and will face Gonzalez in November for the office that will administer Colorado’s 2026 general-election machinery, its risk-limiting audits, and its response to any further federal pressure on voter data.

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.

→ Under HB 26-1113, county clerks may now begin mailing ballots up to 29 days before Election Day (up from the prior 22-day floor) → If you do not receive your ballot with a reasonable margin before Election Day, contact your county clerk immediately → You can also vote in person at a voter service and polling center

1. Return your ballot — three options, and the deadline is RECEIPT, not postmark:

→ Your ballot must be physically received by your county clerk by 7:00 PM on Election Day — a postmark of November 3 does NOT count. Colorado’s Secretary of State’s office is explicit on this point. → Mail: send it no closer than about a week before Election Day to be safe, given normal USPS transit time → Drop box: Colorado has more than 350 official 24-hour drop boxes statewide — now able to open earlier under HB 26-1113. You can use any drop box in the state; if you use one outside your home county, the clerk there will route it to your county for counting. → In person: Return to any voter service and polling center → Track your ballot: BallotTrax, via the Secretary of State’s website

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 Secretary of State’s race matters more this cycle than it has in years. Amanda Gonzalez (D) and James Wiley (R) — the latter identified by Democracy Docket as an election denier who wants to eliminate Colorado’s voting machines — are the general-election nominees for the office that will administer Colorado’s elections starting January 2027. Research both candidates before you vote.

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. Signature-cure process — if a ballot signature doesn’t match the one on file, the county clerk mails the voter a letter; the voter has until 11:59 PM on the eighth day after Election Day to cure the discrepancy through the Secretary of State’s website. Make sure voters whose ballots are flagged know this process exists.

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 Secretary of State’s race. This is Colorado’s single greatest 2026 election vulnerability, and it is no longer hypothetical — the Republican nominee is a named election denier who has said he wants to eliminate voting machines. Educate voters about both candidates’ positions on election administration, voter data privacy, and federal cooperation.

1. Monitor down-ballot election-denier candidacies for county clerk races as well — a Tina Peters-aligned candidate ran for Mesa County Clerk and Recorder in the June 2026 primary (and trailed in early returns), a reminder that this dynamic is not confined to the statewide SoS race.

1. Train election observers — Colorado’s bipartisan observer system is a strength. Ensure trained watchers are deployed in all 64 counties, particularly in the CO-3 and CO-8 congressional races, both nationally targeted.

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 — DOJ’s suit was dismissed and is on appeal to the 10th Circuit; request county voter roll data and compare before and after any purge activity. The federal NVRA 90-day quiet period on systematic purges began August 5, 2026, and runs through Election Day — any systematic removal activity now is presumptively unlawful.

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 appeal. Dismissed 8/3/26; DOJ noticed its 10th Circuit appeal 8/18/26. Track filings; prepare to intervene if the state’s defense position could weaken under a new administration in the SoS office come January 2027.

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)
• Voter roll purges that violate the NVRA’s 90-day quiet period, which began August 5, 2026, and runs through Election Day — a live, immediately actionable posture
• Attempts by a future Secretary of State to weaken risk-limiting audit requirements or eliminate certified voting equipment

1. Defend the SoS office’s institutional independence. If James Wiley wins the SoS race in November, 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 — and cannot be unilaterally reversed by a new officeholder.

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 USPS litigation. Colorado is a named plaintiff. The rule is currently blocked by the September 4, 2026 preliminary injunction, but the administration’s Supreme Court stay application is pending — if granted, Colorado’s universal mail-voting system would need alternative return guidance quickly.

Key Contacts and Resources

Sources

1. Colorado Secretary of State, press releases on HB 26-1113 signing and federal election defense, June 2026.
2. Colorado Newsline, “‘Federal overreach’ inspired these Colorado bills during the 2026 session,” May 14, 2026 (HB 26-1113 mail-timeline detail).
3. Denver Post; Colorado Newsline, coverage of Griswold death threats and convictions, 2023–2026.
4. Colorado Sun, “Jena Griswold wins four-way Democratic primary for Colorado attorney general,” June 30, 2026.
5. CPR News, “Jeffco clerk and voting rights advocate Amanda Gonzalez wins Democratic secretary of State primary,” June 30, 2026.
6. Democracy Docket, “Election denier James Wiley wins Colorado GOP secretary of state nomination,” July 1, 2026.
7. Democracy Docket, “The election deniers and anti-voting activists who want to run their states’ elections,” April 11, 2026.
8. Colorado Sun, “Amanda Gonzalez vs. Jessie Danielson: Where the Secretary of State candidates stand on issues,” June 1, 2026.
9. Colorado Sun / Colorado Newsline / CPR News, coverage of the Weiser–Bennet Democratic gubernatorial primary, June 30–July 4, 2026.
10. Colorado Newsline, “Victor Marx wins Republican nomination for Colorado governor,” July 9, 2026.
11. Colorado Politics, “Manny Rutinel defeats Shannon Bird in Colorado’s 8th CD Democratic primary, will face Gabe Evans,” June 30, 2026.
12. Colorado Newsline, “Caraveo drops bid to win back Colorado’s 8th District seat,” September 12, 2025.
13. CPR News, “CPR News’ voter guide to the Colorado 2026 primary election,” May 29, 2026 (received-by-7pm return rule).
14. KUNC, “2026 Northern Colorado Primary Election Voter Guide” (ballot return/postmark FAQ).
15. KSUT, “Your guide to Colorado’s 2026 primary election” (drop box count and routing).
16. Colorado Newsline, “It’s Election Day. Coloradans have until 7 p.m. to vote,” June 30, 2026 (signature-cure process and deadline).
17. Colorado General Assembly, SB22-153 (Election Security Act), HB22-1273 (Election Official Protection), HB22-1086 (Vote Without Fear), HB 26-1113 (Modifications to Elections).
18. UW State Democracy Research Initiative, DOJ voter-data lawsuit tracker, updated September 4, 2026 (Colorado dismissal/appeal status).
19. Votebeat / Brennan Center / SCOTUSblog federal litigation tracking on Executive Order 14399 (see federal brief).
20. Louisiana v. Callais, U.S. Supreme Court, April 29, 2026 (VRA §2; Colorado not among named states).
21. Democracy Docket, “Colorado election litigation tracker,” democracydocket.com, 2026.
22. 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: September 7, 2026 Research method: Web research via Colorado SoS press releases, Colorado Sun, Colorado Newsline, CPR News, Democracy Docket, Brennan Center. Evidence tiers applied per PU accountability profile standards.