Secretary Griswold Appoints Election Supervisor to Monitor General Election in Elbert County

Denver, October 19, 2022 - Today, Secretary of State Jena Griswold issued an Election Order appointing an Election Supervisor in Elbert County to ensure the fair and accessible conduct of the upcoming General Election.

“Every eligible Coloradan – Republican, Democrat, and Unaffiliated alike – has the right to cast a ballot in accessible and secure elections. That’s why I am taking action to appoint an Election Supervisor in Elbert County,” said Secretary Jena Griswold. “I will continue to uphold Colorado Election Law and provide the support and oversight needed to ensure secure access to Colorado’s elections.

The Election Supervisor in Elbert County will monitor decisions made and actions taken related to the administration of the 2022 General Election in that county starting today, October 19. The Supervisor is authorized to monitor the activities of the elections staff of Clerk and Recorder’s Office and is there to help the County meet its duties and obligations under state and federal law. The County Clerk and staff will take any and all lawful direction from the Election Supervisor and any other Secretary of State designee on any and all election matters.

The decision to appoint a Supervisor in Elbert County follows a 2021 election security protocol breach where Republican Clerk Dallas Schroeder violated Colorado Elections Rules by giving unauthorized individuals copies of images of the county’s voting system hard drives. In addition, after the 2022 Primary Election, Elbert County’s Elections Manager notified the Secretary of State’s Office that the Elbert County Clerk’s office discovered dozens of voted ballots which were not verified or counted during the regular counting process. The Department directed the clerk’s staff to count those misplaced ballots during the statewide recount that was then ongoing, and those votes eventually were added to the abstract of the results of the election. If not for the recount, those voters’ ballots could not legally have been counted, and those voters would have been disenfranchised due the Clerk’s error.

Christi Coburn, a professional election administrator, will monitor all decisions made and actions taken in Elbert County related to the administration 2022 General Election.

In 2021, Secretary Griswold appointed Election Supervisors in Mesa County, after Clerk Tina Peters compromised her county voting equipment. Griswold also sent additional support to Mesa County during the 2022 Primary Election.

During the 2022 Primary, Griswold appointed an Election Supervisor in Elbert County after Clerk Dallas Schroeder violated Colorado Elections Rules by giving unauthorized individuals copies of images of the county’s voting system hard drives. During the primary, Griswold also appointed an Election Supervisor in Pueblo County following multiple errors, and announced on Monday that an Election Supervisor would also be in place during the 2022 General Election to ensure the accessible conduct of the upcoming General Election.

The Secretary of State’s Office also sent additional support to Alamosa County during the 2022 Primary.

The Secretary of State’s Office will continue to work closely with all 64 counties to provide the support and oversight needed to carry out the 2022 General Election and protect the right to vote.