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Tag: Election Integrity

From critics to champions: How a ballot transparency tool won over Idaho voters—and inspired Mesa County
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Approved, Local, National, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

From critics to champions: How a ballot transparency tool won over Idaho voters—and inspired Mesa County

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice When Ada County launched a ballot audit tool built by a small independent company, no one knew what to expect. But what followed surprised even the clerk who helped shape it.  Election skeptics became supporters, recount demands dropped and voters started tracking their own ballots—sometimes using nothing more than a $2 bill. What began as a simple idea sketched on napkins between an Idaho election official and a civic-minded data entrepreneur would grow into a public-facing ballot verification platform now used by counties in multiple states, including Mesa County, Colorado. This article is Part 2 of a three-part series on the Ballot Verifier: Mesa’s launch, Ada County’s pilot and the debate over election transpa...
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Mesa County launches Ballot Verifier, giving voters unprecedented access to ballots
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Mesa County launches Ballot Verifier, giving voters unprecedented access to ballots

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Mesa County launched a first-of-its-kind ballot transparency tool last month, allowing residents to view redacted ballot images and corresponding cast vote records online—without filing a CORA request. Supporters say it could reshape public trust in elections. Others say it doesn’t go far enough. But one thing is certain: Mesa County is at the heart of a national battle over election integrity, and the Ballot Verifier came to fruition out of demand — and the innovation of an election stats company that wanted to answer to it. Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Bobbie Gross said the tool was made possible by an initial $30,000 investment to develop the system and redaction process. “I believe $20,000 every year to keep it goin...
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Tina Peters asks court for relief, feds ask for caution—judge asks why
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Approved, denvergazette.com, National, State

Tina Peters asks court for relief, feds ask for caution—judge asks why

By Michael Karlik | Denver Gazette A federal judge on Tuesday struggled to understand why the United States government is claiming an "interest" in a relatively narrow issue related to the prosecution and conviction of former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters. Although the government now alleges Peters' state criminal case may have been politically motivated, the U.S. Department of Justice's attorney would not say what evidence, if any, the department has to that effect. When the federal government files a statement asserting it has an interest in a case, "the typical situation is, 'We have an interest, judge, that you may not know about and we want you to be aware of it,'" said Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak during a hearing. "I’m just struggling to see what you all br...
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House approves SAVE Act election integrity measure
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Approved, National, The Daily Signal

House approves SAVE Act election integrity measure

By Jacob Adams | Daily Signal The House of Representatives on Thursday approved the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act 220-208. Four House Democrats broke ranks and joined 216 Republicans to pass the election integrity measure, while 208 Democrats voted against it. The four Democrats who sided with the GOP were Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state, Henry Cuellar of Texas, and Ed Case of Hawaii. The SAVE Act is designed to help reduce voter fraud by prohibiting states from registering individuals to vote in federal elections unless they first prove that they are American citizens with approved documentation. It also makes it a crime to register someone who does not provide proof of American citizenship, and it orders state...
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Griswold sues against Trump’s executive order on elections but is a case study for it
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Approved, National, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Griswold sues against Trump’s executive order on elections but is a case study for it

By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board When Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced that she was joining a multi-state lawsuit to block President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) on election integrity, she declared the action a defense of democracy itself. “We will not wait on the sidelines while Donald Trump tries to legislate from the Oval Office and defies the Constitution,” Griswold said in an April 3 press release. But while Griswold accuses President Trump of federal overreach, her own record suggests a pattern of constitutional violations that have unfolded under the banner of election protection.  In fact, her treatment of Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters has become a case study in why federal oversight of elections—as President Trump’s EO proposes—may be more nec...
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Rahn: Trump’s election order restores faith in voting
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Approved, Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Rahn: Trump’s election order restores faith in voting

By Priscilla Rahn | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice As a Frederick Douglass Republican and former Vice Chair of the Colorado GOP, I’ve always believed that a fair and transparent electoral system is the foundation of our nation. President Trump’s recent executive order, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” addresses critical vulnerabilities in our election system—vulnerabilities that have eroded trust and threatened the integrity of our democracy.  This order provides much-needed reforms to secure our elections and ensure that every legitimate vote is counted fairly. The executive order covers a broad range of election reforms, not just voter ID laws. While voter ID is one component, it also tackles issues like voter eligibility, mail-in vot...
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21 Million Voters Can’t Provide Proof Of Citizenship — Making The SAVE Act Even More Necessary
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Approved, National, The Federalist

21 Million Voters Can’t Provide Proof Of Citizenship — Making The SAVE Act Even More Necessary

By Brianna Lyman | The Federalist The left-wing Brennan Center for Justice claimed that more than 20 million Americans “lack ready access” to proof of citizenship documents. What’s more, the group asserted that survey data shows nearly 4 million Americans “don’t have these documents at all.” The Brennan Center apparently relied on the honor system when performing its survey, so it’s not clear that the respondents are even American citizens — as is often the case with the current voter registration system. But even if they are citizens, failing to require proof of citizenship still poses a threat to the integrity of U.S. elections. Yet the left and the propaganda press oppose the SAVE Act because they claim Americans are essentially too lazy to get their citizenship documents in order...
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Epp: Shake Ups at CDoS — Is a Perkins Coie Alum Now Running CO Elections?
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Approved, Colorado Free Press, Commentary, Top Stories

Epp: Shake Ups at CDoS — Is a Perkins Coie Alum Now Running CO Elections?

By Ashe Epp | Colorado Free Press On Wednesday, the Secretary of State issued a much anticipated response to President Trump’s Election Integrity EO. Jena hasn’t posted on X since November, and the department has been quiet — hence the “much anticipated” billing. The release fell flat. But the header information is news. The Deputy Secretary of State is listed as Andrew Kline. What happened to Christopher Perry Beall? There has been no official announcement that (former?) Deputy Secretary Christopher Perry Beall left the Department. It’s an explosive development.  Colorado Free Press spoke to a county clerk that confirmed, “[He] told us Monday he took a five week sabbatical. He said he used to work for Phil Weiser, and he was going to go back to being a l...
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Trump order sparks backlash from Colorado election officials over proof of citizenship rule
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Approved, kdvr.com, State

Trump order sparks backlash from Colorado election officials over proof of citizenship rule

By Heather Willard | Fox31 News DENVER (KDVR) — President Donald Trump signed a new executive order Tuesday that would overhaul U.S. elections. The order includes requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, among other measures. Colorado elections officials called the order “unlawful.” Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold told FOX31 that her office is still reviewing the entire order in conjunction with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, but said the order would, in some states, “effectively become a poll tax.” The executive order is called “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” with a stated goal of cultivating free, fair and honest elections. The order requires proof of citizenship on national...
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