Colorado election officials left their jobs at a high rates
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Twenty-nine chief local election officials in Colorado left their jobs in the last five years, a troubling loss of expertise that a new report attributes to ongoing threats and pressure from conspiracies about the 2020 election.
Why it matters: The threats to election officials are still real, especially because President Trump continues repeating false claims about election fraud and the FBI's recent raid of a county's election office in Georgia.
Driving the news: The number of departures equates to turnover in 28 of the state's 64 counties, more than previously known, according to an analysis released Tuesday from Issue One, an organization that tracks threats to American democracy.
- Many of the departures came soon after the 2020 election, but three more — in Dolores, Kiowa and Yuma counties — departed after the 2024 election, further adding to the brain drain.
By the numbers: 66% of the county clerks who oversee elections left their positions for personal reasons, while another 21% were term-limited.
- 7% lost re-election, the report found.
What they're saying: "One of the ramifications has been increased stress, increased harassment, increased threats … and that this political environment is taking a toll on our election officers," Michael Beckel, one of the lead authors of the report, told us in an interview.
The big picture: The concern is particularly intense in the West, where half of all chief local election officials left their jobs, Issue One found in its case study.
- That equates to more than 250 officials, or about one of every eight in the 11-state region studied. Again, many left for personal reasons, often partway through their terms.
What we're watching: Colorado has taken steps to protect local election workers in the aftermath of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters' indictment for tampering with election equipment.
- Issue One is advocating for more state and local protections. The report recommends new policies to retain and support local election officials and attract the next generation of election workers.
- These protections "are critical measures as the status of the Justice Department's Election Threats Task Force remains uncertain under the Trump administration," the report concludes.
The bottom line: Secretary of State Jena Griswold added, "County clerks and election workers – Republican, Democrat and unaffiliated alike – are the heart and soul of our gold-standard elections in Colorado."