(Photo Courtesy of Pam Anderson for CO Secretary of State)
In the 2022 primary election for Secretary of State, Republican voters don’t need to make a choice between a candidate who supports securing our elections and one who can win the general election in November. We can do both.
Colorado has a long history of electing Republicans to lead the Secretary of State’s office to drive cutting edge policies that promote participation, while preserving election integrity. The past few years, we’ve seen Secretary Jena Griswold outsource her communications to Planned Parenthood and launch a short-lived U.S. Senate exploratory committee. Her hyperpartisan and divisive approach only alienated Colorado voters and dismissed their concerns.
Now is the time for Republicans to unite behind a candidate who will secure elections and who can win. The stakes are too high – if we don’t unite as a party then we will have another term of Griswold.
Now is the time for Republicans to unite behind a candidate who will secure elections and who can win. The stakes are too high – if we don’t unite as a party then we will have another term of Griswold.
– pam anderson
Elections should be a non-partisan affair, always. And when it comes to setting the rules, policymakers check their partisanship at the door and put the voters first. The opposite is true for HR-1, the Democratic Party’s attempt at a national takeover of our elections in Congress. The legislation was endorsed by President Biden and most Congressional Democrats and very quickly by Colorado’s Secretary of State Jena Griswold.
The bill takes an irresponsible “kitchen sink” approach and removes the vital safeguards that are in place to provide for secure elections. Clearly Jena Griswold never read the bill or ignored the flaws in the interest of a partisan fist-bump. HR-1 is bad legislation, highly partisan and would be bad for Colorado and its elections.
Such expansive federal mandates would continue to erode voter confidence. As Jefferson County clerk, I served one of the most politically diverse counties in the nation. The elections were conducted in a manner that were fair and transparent. With my bipartisan colleagues, I advanced access for voter-centric choice and increased integrity with paper ballots, audits, and independent verifiability. Coloradans know that innovation is the cornerstone of true progress in Colorado. States must remain in control so that We the people can continue to improve and advance our voting systems.
Our founding fathers intentionally delegated the responsibility of elections to the states. In this hyper-partisan and polarized climate, we should be suspect of massive federal legislation on elections that does not garner broad bi-partisan support. Election administration should not be used as a partisan wedge by either party. We need true leaders that will stand up to those sorts of shenanigans. Colorado needs a secretary of state with a proven record of non-partisan professionalism and responsible innovation for voters. I will continue to do just that as your next secretary of state.