Passage of legislation will make voting safer and add election safeguards 

DENVER, CO – Today, Colorado Common Cause celebrated the end of a productive legislative session during which lawmakers passed legislation that will make voters and election workers safer and safeguard our election systems. The result of this session demonstrates Coloradans’ commitment to a strong, equitable democracy.

“On Election Day, every voter should be able to fairly cast a ballot and every election official should be able to do their job, without fear or intimidation,” said Cameron Hill, Colorado Common Cause Associate Director. “This legislation ensures that we can make our voices heard at the polls and our election workers can do their jobs without being threatened or harassed. Violence has no place in our democracy and the Vote without Fear Act and Election Official Protection Act make that the law in Colorado.”

Colorado Common Cause championed two bills that will protect voters and election officials from intimidation, violence, and harassment. Colorado Common Cause supported HB 1086, The Vote Without Fear Act that bans the open carry of guns at vote centers, polling locations, and drop boxes and HB 1273, the Election Official Protection Act that creates new protections for election workers. The Vote Without Fear Act was signed into law by the Governor last month and the Election Official Protection Act was passed and sent to the Governor for his signature.

Colorado Common Cause also prioritized supporting SB 153, the Colorado Election Security Act, which passed the legislature Tuesday night. The legislation is a first of its kind bill that will add new security requirements for County Clerks and provides grant funding to help upgrade existing or purchase new security equipment. “This bill will ensure that Colorado’s elections have safeguards against all new and emerging threats, including internal ones,” said Hill.

The Vote Without Fear Act bans the open carry of firearms within 100 feet of Voter Service and Polling Centers, ballot drop boxes, and vote count facilities. This bill will ensure that Coloradans can vote in-person, drop their ballots off, or serve as election judges without fear of intimidation by firearms.

The Election Official Protection Act creates new protections for election officials and election workers. It makes it illegal to threaten, harass, or intimidate election workers and creates new protections against doxing these officials. The bill will help ensure our election workers can do their jobs without being harassed, threatened, or doxed.

The Colorado Election Security Act adds certain security measures and protocols for state and county election officials. These updates will safeguard our elections from all new and emerging threats, including internal ones.