Secretary Griswold’s Reckless Assault on Election Integrity

By Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB” | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s recent statement rejecting the U.S. Department of Justice’s request for voter registration data is not just misguided; it is a blatant act of partisan obstruction that undermines the very foundation of the American Republic. By declaring that the DOJ “can take a hike” and lacks any “legal right” to this information, Griswold has elevated political theater over her sworn duty to uphold federal law. Her rhetoric, laced with unfounded accusations of election subversion, dismisses a straightforward federal effort to verify citizenship and ensure only eligible Americans vote.

This is not about “sensitive” data or federal overreach. It is about enforcing the law to protect the integrity of our elections, and Griswold’s refusal endangers that trust.

The Mischaracterization of “Sensitive” Data

Griswold labels the requested information, full names, dates of birth, residential addresses, and partial Social Security or driver’s license numbers, as “sensitive voting information.” This framing is deliberately alarmist and ignores reality. 

The federal government already maintains vast databases through agencies like the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security that include similar details for millions of citizens. The DOJ’s request is not an invasion of privacy but a targeted validation exercise. Federal law mandates that only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections, yet noncitizen voting erodes public confidence when it occurs.

This data is precisely what enables cross-checks against federal citizenship records via tools like the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program. Expanded under recent executive actions, SAVE allows bulk verification to “scrub aliens from voter rolls,” as DHS has stated. 

Far from exposing voters to harm, sharing this information safeguards the process by confirming eligibility. 

Griswold’s portrayal of it as a tool for “undermining elections” is fearmongering that prioritizes partisan narratives over factual compliance. Colorado voters deserve better than a leader who treats routine verification as a conspiracy.

Solid Legal Ground for the DOJ’s Authority

Griswold’s claim that the DOJ has no legal right to this data is flatly wrong. Federal statutes explicitly empower the department to demand and inspect voter registration records to enforce election integrity. 

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 requires states to maintain accurate statewide voter registration lists and cooperate in verification efforts, including data matching with federal databases to confirm eligibility. HAVA’s Title III mandates that states develop centralized, interactive databases and enter agreements for verifying voter data, precisely to prevent fraud and ensure compliance.

Complementing HAVA is the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which charges the Attorney General with overseeing state voter roll maintenance and authorizes demands for records to assess adherence. 

The Civil Rights Act of 1960 further bolsters this authority, allowing the DOJ to request “records relating to any application, registration… or other act requisite to voting” upon providing a basis and purpose, which it has done here: validating citizenship per federal mandates. 

These laws preempt state privacy concerns when federal election standards are at stake, as courts have affirmed in similar disputes.

Griswold’s office previously complied with a May 2025 DOJ request by sharing public data, yet now balks at unredacted details essential for deeper verification. This selective cooperation exposes her stance as politically motivated, not legally defensible. 

By ignoring these statutes, she risks court intervention, as seen in the DOJ’s successful suits against other noncompliant states.

A Pattern of Lawsuits and National Accountability

The DOJ has not hesitated to act against obstruction. Since May 2025, it has sued at least 14 states, including California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Maine, Oregon, Delaware, Maryland, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, for refusing to provide voter rolls. These cases cite the same HAVA, NVRA, and Civil Rights Act violations, demanding unredacted lists to enable citizenship checks. 

Colorado’s defiance places it squarely in this lineup, inviting litigation that could force compliance and waste taxpayer dollars on avoidable battles.

This wave of suits underscores a national crisis: too many states, often led by Democrats, resist federal oversight under the guise of privacy. Yet the Constitution balances state administration with congressional authority over federal elections. As Attorney General Pam Bondi has warned, “States that continue to defy federal voting laws interfere with our mission of ensuring that Americans have accurate voter lists.” 

Griswold’s November 18 letter, co-signed by nine other secretaries, demanding DOJ transparency was a stalling tactic; the agencies’ non-response does not erase the legal imperative.

Partisan Obstruction at the Expense of Democracy

Griswold’s vitriolic dismissal, accusing the “Trump Department of Justice” of plotting to “hurt the American people,” reveals the true driver: blind partisanship. 

This is not about protecting Coloradans; it is about shielding a narrative that federal integrity efforts are inherently suspect. By framing compliance as complicity in subversion, she sows division and erodes trust in elections, the very harm she claims to prevent.

Colorado’s voters, like all Americans, rely on leaders who prioritize law over ideology. Griswold’s stance invites chaos, potentially allowing ineligible votes to slip through while tying up resources in court. 

It is time for her to reverse course, honor federal mandates, and affirm that clean rolls benefit everyone. Anything less is a betrayal of her office and the citizens she serves. 

For someone vying for the job of Attorney General of Colorado, her blatant disregard for the law is stunning!

Michael is a father of five, grandfather of three, United States Air Force veteran, international recording artist, and Editor-in-Chief of the Colorado DOGE Report. He is passionate about the United States of America and the founders’ genius in crafting the Constitution.

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.