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Author: Jen Schumann

Schumann: Griswold’s apology for election security breach draws comparisons to Tina Peters’ case
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Schumann: Griswold’s apology for election security breach draws comparisons to Tina Peters’ case

By Jen Schumann | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In a recent turn of events, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is now expressing regret over the actions coming from her office. In a November 4th press release, Griswold stated, "I am regretful for this error. I am dedicated to making sure we address this matter fully and that mistakes of this nature never happen again." Griswold's sentiment is in response to her office’s exposure of BIOS passwords for election equipment in 63 counties. The passwords, vital for securing voting system components, were posted on a subpage of the Department's website and had been accessible online since June. This apology, however, has drawn attention due to Griswold’s previously strict stance on election security breaches, especially in t...
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Durango band teacher indicted on charges of sexual predator acts
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Durango band teacher indicted on charges of sexual predator acts

By Jen Schumann, Rocky Mountain Voice On July 23, 2024, a Durango teenager told police that an adult male approached them online. He offered to engage in sexual acts with the 16-year-old.  The Durango Police Department quickly identified the suspect as 28-year-old local Benjamin Smith using information from the minor. After a swift investigation, detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at Smith's home this morning, resulting in his arrest and booking for Sexual Exploitation of a Child on July 25. The Durango Police Department recently posted a press release on the indictment of Escalante Middle School band teacher Benjamin Smith. They also requested public assistance on the ongoing sexual predator investigation. Smith, once a teacher in a position of trust to D...
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How BIOS password exposure could threaten election integrity
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

How BIOS password exposure could threaten election integrity

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Election security is key to a constitutional republic by, for, and of the people. Each part of the voting system should be designed to prevent interference. BIOS passwords are vital to this security. They are the first defense against unauthorized access to a voting machine's core settings. Recent concerns have arisen around how the exposure of BIOS passwords might allow bad actors to manipulate voting systems. Cyber security professionals argue this could create risks even without physical access to the machines. It’s important to consider how such exposure could disrupt elections.  The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) controls a machine's basic operations. It includes hardware settings and connectivity options. In vo...
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Prop. KK is a 6.5% tax on gun owners, firearm retailers that with local tax is ‘more like 30%’
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Prop. KK is a 6.5% tax on gun owners, firearm retailers that with local tax is ‘more like 30%’

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Proposition KK has turned Colorado's gun stores like Jerry’s Outdoor Sports into the front line of a battle over 2nd Amendment rights. Tim Holt, owner of Jerry’s Outdoor Sports, is speaking out. He argues Proposition KK targets the wallets of responsible gun owners and threatens small businesses. If Prop. KK passes, a 6.5% excise tax will be added to firearm and ammo sales. It would tax manufacturers, dealers, retailers and ammo vendors. The stated goal appearing in Colorado's Blue Book is to raise $39 million a year for victim services, mental health and school safety. Proponents say the tax is vital for public services. Critics say it's adding more unfair burdens on lawful gun owners. For Holt, Prop. KK is another restric...
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Colorado Republicans call for Griswold’s resignation amid security breach
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Colorado Republicans call for Griswold’s resignation amid security breach

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice In response to the recent leak of election system passwords by Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s office, Colorado House Republicans issued a call for her resignation. The statement came shortly after Griswold acknowledged the incident, which she described as a “partial” leak involving passwords for some voting components, adding that her office is actively investigating. Minority Leader Pugliese questioned the extent of Griswold’s oversight, stating, “Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s reckless disregard for professional standards and consistent lack of transparency has threatened trust in our democratic system by causing doubt in the security of our election process.” Pugliese called for Griswold’s resignation, emphasizing, “The people of Colo...
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Was Mesa County election fraud case a result of Sec. Griswold’s reduction to one signature verification judge?
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Was Mesa County election fraud case a result of Sec. Griswold’s reduction to one signature verification judge?

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice On Aug. 26, 2021, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold made a number of emergency election rules permanent. One rule mandated that only one election judge oversee the first step of signature verification. This rule removed the option for county clerks to use bipartisan teams of election judges at a critical first step. It is where signatures are analyzed, often with machines, before separating ballots from envelopes. In Mesa County, a recent fraudulent ballot scheme may have been preventable. It might have been, if Griswold had left more control to county election clerks. A rule to use just one election judge in the first step of signature verification has led to a costly, time-consuming reexamination of thousands of b...
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Why Western Colorado stands opposed to the Dolores River National Monument
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Why Western Colorado stands opposed to the Dolores River National Monument

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice On Saturday in Nucla, Colo., hunters emerged from the wilderness. They paused from their morning hunt and headed to the town park in camouflage, joining with neighbors and locals to meet candidates for election. At the heart of this gathering was a shared concern: the proposal to designate the nearby Dolores River as a national monument. Environmentalists praise its potential for conservation. But, it has sparked a fierce debate in Nucla.  Sean Pond, a Navy veteran and former nuclear engineer, leads the opposition through Halt the Dolores. Pond has criticized news media for ignoring those who would be most impacted by the Dolores Monument designation. He expressed gratitude to Rocky Mountain Voice for responding to the chall...
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Here’s how to use BallotTrax to safeguard your vote in Colorado
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Here’s how to use BallotTrax to safeguard your vote in Colorado

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice In Colorado, voters can ensure transparency and increase self-awareness with BallotTrax, an online ballot tracking tool which provides real-time updates on the status of your ballot. Are you signed up for it yet? If not, following is some detail. Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross emphasizes the system’s importance, especially in light of recent fraudulent ballot-casting concerns. BallotTrax empowered voters to reach out to Gross when discrepancies arose. “The voters were notified, they contacted our office, which is absolutely what they should be doing,” she said.  Because these voters had registered with Ballotrax and were monitoring notifications, they were able to take swift action, helping Mesa County officials to inv...
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Panel at Colorado Mesa debates merits, concerns with Prop. 131, the ranked-choice voting measure
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Panel at Colorado Mesa debates merits, concerns with Prop. 131, the ranked-choice voting measure

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Imagine if your vote could genuinely reflect your voice. Some argue Proposition 131, the ranked-choice voting measure, can do just that. During a Grand Junction event hosted by Restore the Balance and Colorado Mesa University, both proponents and opponents of the measure debated the proposition. Panelists tackled tough questions about ranked-choice voting's potential to enhance democracy, versus the risk of confusion at the polls. Following is some of the key discussion between the panel, from Phil Izon, a prominent figure in Alaska’s efforts to repeal ranked-choice voting, to Kent Thiry, who heads up the support side of the Colorado proposition. From left, Josh Daniels, Sheila Reiner, Dr. Tim Casey, Kent Thiry, and Maeve Suns...
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Grand County passes resolution opposing Prop. 127, citing ecological, economic harms
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Grand County passes resolution opposing Prop. 127, citing ecological, economic harms

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice In the heart of Colorado's rugged landscapes, a battle brews over the fate of its wildlife, vital to the fabric of its rural economy. Rural communities like Grand County are pushing back against Proposition 127, which would prohibit the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx.  Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Grand County commissioners recently passed a formal resolution condemning the measure, warning of the far-reaching consequences for both wildlife management and the rural economy. Grand County Commission Chair Merrit Linke has been vocal in his opposition. “Agriculture contributes $14 million to our local economy and that’s a very different $14 million compared to what we get from tourism,” Linke explains. “I...
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