In every county across Colorado, the county clerk plays a key role in keeping local government running. We’re not just the ones managing records. We are the ones making sure elections are secure and accessible.
We also handle things like vehicle registrations, marriage licenses, property recordings and a lot more. It is work that impacts nearly every resident, every day.
But in recent years, that work has gotten a lot harder. Clerk offices across the state are dealing with staff shortages, tighter budgets and rising political pressure. On top of that, we’re seeing more false claims, more intimidation and even threats of violence.
Despite all of this, all of Colorado’s clerks, whether Democrat, Republican or unaffiliated, continue to show up and do the job with honesty, transparency and a strong commitment to the law.
We would know. We are county clerks: one Democrat, one Republican and one unaffiliated. We come from different parts of the state and represent communities of all sizes.
We don’t always agree on politics, but we do agree that Colorado’s elections are some of the most secure and accessible in the country. That’s because clerks — whether from rural or urban, left or right — work together to serve voters, not political agendas.
That cooperation was put to the test recently. Three Republican clerks were contacted by someone claiming to represent the federal government and were asked to allow unauthorized access to their voting systems. All three said no. Why? Because Colorado law clearly prohibits third-party access to election equipment. They did the right thing. They followed the law and stood up for election integrity.
Unfortunately, that same integrity is now being threatened by proposed federal legislation like the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE. On the surface, it claims to promote election security.
However, the truth about the SAVE Act is deeply problematic because it requires in-person documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for every voter registration transaction, effectively eliminating online and mail-in registration options that are critical for accessibility. This would disproportionately burden seniors, students and historically underrepresented communities, such as low-income and minority voters, who may lack immediate access to documents like passports or birth certificates or face challenges traveling to election offices.
Even more troubling, the proposal makes it a federal crime, punishable by fines and up to five years in prison, for election officials to register anyone without the required documentation, even if the person is in fact a citizen. That means an honest paperwork mistake could become a criminal offense, potentially deterring officials from helping eligible voters and undermining the stability of election administration.
This kind of proposal risks pushing good people out of the profession at a time when we’re already struggling to hire and keep staff. Threatening election officials with jail time isn’t going to make our elections safer. It’s just going to make it harder to run them.
And the threats aren’t just legal or political. They’re personal. Our staff worry about their safety every day.
In June, someone firebombed the Archuleta County Election Office in what seems to have been a politically motivated attack. The office had to close for weeks, delaying services and disrupting the community. Still, the clerk and her team came back to work focused, resilient and determined to serve.
Sadly, that’s not an isolated incident. All across Colorado, election officials are facing hostility just for doing their jobs. But despite the threats and pressure, clerks and their teams in every county continue to show up, do the work and put their communities first. This isn’t about politics. It’s about people.
Let’s be clear. We are professionals. We take an oath to follow the law and serve the public. We’re accountable to voters, not to party operatives or political influencers. And we work together, across party lines, because that’s what democracy requires.
Every time you vote, register or interact with the election process, there’s a team of dedicated public servants making sure everything works the way it should. We’re proud of Colorado’s election system and even prouder of the people who make it happen.
In a time when it feels like everything is pulling us apart, Colorado’s county clerks are showing what’s possible when public servants come together and put people first. That’s how we protect democracy, together.
Tina Harris, Republican of Fort Collins, has served as the Larimer County clerk and recorder since 2023.
Lori Mitchell, Democrat of Salida, has served as the Chaffee County clerk and recorder since 2015.
Jenny Thomas, unaffiliated of Hayden, has served as the Routt County clerk and recorder since 2022.
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