Colorado officials have launched an investigation into a case of attempted election fraud involving at least 12 mail-in ballots in Mesa County. The incident came to light when it was discovered that the ballots had been intercepted, filled out, and returned before reaching the intended voters.
The Colorado Secretary of State's office confirmed that the ballots were intercepted on October 23 and tampered with before being sent back through the mail. Fortunately, the state's system designed to detect election fraud worked effectively in this case.
Upon the ballots' return to the Mesa County Board of Elections, the signature verification process identified inconsistencies and flagged the ballots for further review. Several affected voters were alerted to discrepancies in their signatures and were asked to cure their ballots.
One voter also noticed irregularities through the BallotTrax system, which allows voters to track the status of their ballots. This prompted Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross to issue a statement acknowledging the ongoing investigation into the attempted election fraud.
Gross emphasized the importance of handling the investigation with care and diligence to ensure accountability for those responsible. The Clerk's office is working to gather more information and has refrained from disclosing further details to prevent compromising the investigation.
The incident serves as a reminder of the critical role that election security measures play in safeguarding the integrity of the voting process. Colorado officials are committed to upholding the trust and transparency of the electoral system by addressing instances of potential fraud promptly and thoroughly.
