In the unexpected scandal that shook Colorado recently, BIOS passwords for ballot tabulation machines from half the state’s counties were shockingly discovered on the Secretary of State’s website. This distressing mishap has led to a state-wide uproar, especially as it was discovered just days before the momentous November election. The BIOS passwords are a critical element, providing access to the core software of these machines, hence, their nonchalant display online was nothing short of appalling.
As more details about this egregious security lapse continue to emerge, it paints a worrying picture about the state of affairs. These passwords were reported to have been available online from June, and were only removed on October 24. The public only got to know about this absolute catastrophe through an email from the Colorado Republican Party on October 29th. It is troubling to realize that such crucial information was kept hidden from the public for several months.
It’s important to note that solely possessing the BIOS password doesn’t automatically provide an entity control over the voting machine. To manipulate a voting machine, it also needs physical access to manually enter the password since our voting machines are securely held in multiple counties throughout the state. These machines are under round-the-clock video surveillance with key card access strictly limited to a handful of staff who have undergone background checks.
Alarmingly, the county clerks who oversee Colorado’s elections weren’t informed about this calamity until the Colorado GOP took the initiative to email them. They might have reassured that the equipment was secure, but the lingering question is, how does this gross oversight affect the public’s faith in the election system? This gaffe shakes the very core of public trust; an essential ingredient for a healthy democracy.
The Democratic Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, has reportedly alluded that a preliminary internal investigation suggests this could have been a mere accident. She claims that a former employee who created the spreadsheet containing the hidden tab is responsible for the incident. This individual left the office earlier this year under friendly circumstances, passing the baton undoubtedly to incompetence.
Adding to this bizarre turn of events, another employee, who still works for the state, later posted this ominous spreadsheet online, seemingly without knowledge of the hidden tab and sheer ignorance about its potential consequences. This spreadsheet also included public information about the voting equipment, as required by the state, but who could have surmised the dangerous secret it held hidden!
The Secretary of State’s office has admitted that this primitive storage method of keeping passwords in plain text on a spreadsheet is a direct violation of the department’s policies and procedures, which is an understatement at best. This merely affirms what we already know: this was a grave lapse of protocol. As a consequence, a personnel review is being conducted but the damage, as they say, has already been done.
Following this jaw-dropping revelation, multiple active investigations are underway. The sponsorship lead of Secretary of State’s investigation is in the hands of attorneys Beth Quinn and J. Mark Baird from Baird Quinn LLC. Simultaneously, the Denver District’s Attorney’s office has also initiated an investigation in response to requests from three district attorneys’ offices.
Under Colorado’s stringent laws, anyone knowingly publishing confidential details like passwords and keen voting equipment information can be charged with a felony. A source acquainted with the DA investigation has revealed that Secretary of State Griswold’s conduct isn’t currently under investigation and, surprisingly, no evidence of criminal activity has been discovered yet.
Colorado’s Republican Party, along with its influential members, have collectively expressed their strong disapproval and demanded Griswold’s resignation, given her party affiliation. State party chair Dave Williams rightfully pointed out the considerable incompetence and negligence in Griswold’s handling of her duties. In his view, the state’s response to this saga did nothing but raise more question marks about their credibility.
Echoing a similar sentiment, the Trump campaign also expressed outrage and urged Colorado counties to reset their machines and restart the vote counting process. Unfortunately, the campaign’s voiced concerns fell on deaf ears and no action was promptly taken. This clearly reveals the need for more assertive actions from our electoral institutions.
Adding to the intrigue is the bipartisan Legislative Audit Committee’s plan to decide in December on whether a state auditor should evaluate the operations of the Secretary of State’s office. However, the Democrats, in their typical fashion, seem inclined to procrastinate and wait for the other ongoing investigations to conclude.
In the wake of this scandal, Democratic Governor Jared Polis expressed his desire to ‘understand what exactly happened’. Yet, the pressing question remains, are the Democrats genuinely interested in unraveling the truth, or is this another move in their intricate chess picture?
Countering the well-deserved criticism from the Republicans, Griswold has staunchly defended her past advocacy for Colorado’s election system. She has even noted that the legislature denied her office’s requests for increased funding. However, clinging to these points does little to alleviate the fact that this incident has led to a severe crisis of confidence in the state’s election apparatus.
Every American citizen deserves an efficient and secure electoral system, free of negligence and incompetence. The recent incidents in Colorado serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in our democratic process. They also underscore the pressing need for competent individuals who prioritize the integrity and security of our elections above all.
Ultimately, we are left to ponder an unfortunate reality where such incidents unfortunately occur. As with all highly-charged political scenarios, it’s essential to hold individuals accountable, enforce stringent policies, and focus on rebuilding the public’s trust in our electoral system. It’s high time we shifted focus from laissez-faire politics to more responsible governing.