Colorado Secretary Of State Faces Criticism For Alleged Leak Of Voting Machine Passwords

Colorado’s Secretary of State Jena Griswold has come under fire following accusations that her office exposed voting system passwords on a public website. According to an affidavit cited by the Colorado GOP, over 600 BIOS passwords for voting equipment in 63 of the state’s 64 counties were available online from August until late October 2024, sparking concerns about the security of Colorado’s election infrastructure.

These BIOS passwords control essential settings on the voting systems, such as disabling Wi-Fi connections and preventing external drives from being connected. The Colorado GOP raised concerns about this alleged security lapse, stating that it shows a failure in proper password management by the Secretary of State’s office. They requested confirmation that new passwords have been put in place and that updated security protocols are being followed.

Griswold’s office responded by saying that once they were informed of the issue, immediate actions were taken, including notifying the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). A spokesperson explained that the voting machines require physical access to use these passwords, suggesting that vote integrity was not directly at risk.

Matt Crane, a former Republican clerk who now heads the Colorado Clerks Association, acknowledged the incident as a concern but assured that it does not automatically endanger election outcomes. “It’s concerning but doesn’t mean votes are vulnerable,” Crane commented. However, the Colorado GOP is calling for more transparency from Griswold’s office about the measures they’re taking to protect election systems.

With the November election fast approaching, Republican leaders have urged Griswold to respond promptly. They are requesting a list of corrective actions, including how any vulnerabilities will be addressed before votes are tallied.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR