A one-day trial took place on November 4, 2024, in Denver District Court regarding the leak of hundreds of election equipment passwords that affected 34 Colorado counties. These passwords were exposed on the Colorado Secretary of State's website since June 21, 2024, and were accessible during the June 25 primary election. Plaintiffs, including the Libertarian Party of Colorado and candidates James Wiley and Hannah Goodman, argued for hand counts due to the security risks posed by the leak. Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Deputy Secretary Chris Beall defended the integrity and security of the election process during the trial.
Witness Shawn Smith, who discovered the leak on October 23, 2024, testified about the potential risks associated with the exposure of these passwords. The trial occurred just a day before the general election, with over 2 million ballots already returned by November 4, 2024. The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for public confidence in the electoral process in Colorado, particularly in light of ongoing concerns about election security and integrity.
Source: Colorado Newsline [79e364dd]