DENVER – Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold pledged Monday to fight any potential executive order from President Donald Trump that would eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 election.
Trump posted on social media that he intends to “lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS” and called voting machines “Highly Inaccurate, Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial.” He claimed—without evidence—that widespread voter fraud had led other nations to abandon mail-in voting.
Griswold condemned Trump’s remarks as a “direct attack on democracy.”
“Donald Trump is trying to grab power ahead of the ’26 election and says he’s going to ban vote by mail,” she said. “The Constitution very clearly states that states oversee elections, not Trump. We will challenge any unlawful executive order that he issues, and we’re going to win.”
She noted that both Democrats and Republicans in Colorado use mail-in ballots, citing 2024 turnout when 92% of Republican voters cast ballots by mail despite the availability of early voting, in-person centers, and same-day registration.
Griswold warned that ending mail-in voting would cause widespread voter disenfranchisement, adding:
“Coloradans overwhelmingly choose to use the mail ballot because they’re safe and secure, and foreign adversaries cannot hack a piece of paper. This isn’t about security or accessibility — it’s about a power grab.”
Denver Clerk & Recorder Paul D. López also criticized Trump’s plan, calling it illegal and unconstitutional:
“Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution grants the states the authority to establish the times, places, and manner of holding elections. Not the president. Trump’s recent rant … would drag our country backward, stripping away rights that generations of Americans fought and died for. In Colorado, mail-in voting is secure, accessible, and trusted by every party — including Republicans, who made big gains with it in 2024. This isn’t about security — it’s about power.”
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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