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Dear Mile High City –
The June 30th State Primary Election is just around the corner and we’ve been preparing — as should you. There are some things I want to make sure you’re aware of.
First, the Colorado legislature is hard at work advancing a bill that would expand access to the ballot. The proposed legislation – HB 1113 – would among other things extend the window that you have to cast your vote. It would require that all 24-hour drop boxes open 22 days before an election statewide, (something Denver already does), rather than the current 15-day minimum mandate. Additionally, ballots could be mailed to voters up to 29 days before Election Day, up from 22 days right now. As Clerk & Recorder expanding voter access is always a top priority, and I am supportive of these efforts.
Some of these changes are technical and part of regular updates, as well as additional protection from external threats to elections that Colorado clerks have also asked be included. You may have seen that allies of the Trump administration are drafting about executive orders and proposed laws that would attempt to give the president unprecedented power over elections.
Make no mistake – these challenges to weaken our democracy will fail. The Constitution is crystal clear on this. States run elections, not the Federal government, much less the President.
Another item you should know about is the governor’s apparent openness to granting some form of clemency to Tina Peters, a former county clerk who broke the law by gaining unauthorized access to election machines after the 2020 election. Ms. Peters is a felon and I - as well as other clerks, Unaffiliated, Republicans and Democrats alike - have urged Governor Polis to not reward those who without remorse willfully tried to sabotage and undermine our secure elections.
Ballots are set to go out in a little over two months on June 8th. Please make your plan to vote now so you’re prepared for the June Primary election. Despite everything we may face, my promise to you is that my office will continue our work of providing safe, secure, and accurate elections at the level that Denver voters have come to expect.
In Solidarity,
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