Colorado officials encourage voters to be wary of election intimidation, misinformation • Colorado Newsline

Early 2024 survey found a third of adults in the United States believe false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Claims of widespread fraud in recent US elections have been denied by election officials, experts, media investigations, law enforcementAnd the courts.

Federal law enforcement has issued dire warnings about potential threats to the 2024 election. Colorado election officials and workers have been subjected to hundreds violent threats. A suspicious package containing white powder was sent by post to Jena Griswold, Colorado’s Secretary of State, in September. Federal officials charge a Cortez man in August with threats toward election officials in Colorado and Arizona.

Voter intimidation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and imprisonment of up to 364 days, or both. Weiser’s notice says people cannot campaign inside voting centers or within 100 feet of a building where a voting center is located. Voter intimidation can occur regardless of location.

Election observers must be appointed and have their name placed on an official list with their respective county clerk after completing certification training. Election observers are prohibited from recording photos or videos in a voting center where confidential voter information is visible. They are also subject to voter intimidation laws and cannot attempt to pressure voters into voting one way or another.

Griswold, a Democrat, encouraged voters to rely on trusted sources when searching for election information, particularly URLs that use a “.gov” domain such as GoVoteColorado.gov Or ColoradoSOS.gov. The Federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency oversees all websites that use a .gov domain.

Griswold encouraged voters to be aware of sensational content intended to incite anger or promote false information, and to verify information from reliable sources with state and local election officials before sharing it to avoid amplify misinformation.

“We must continue to combat election misinformation,” Griswold said in a statement. “Coloradans should always use trusted sources for election information, including GoVoteColorado.gov and their county clerk’s office. »

The Secretary of State’s office also highlighted a new Colorado law which requires political candidates to clearly label ads featuring AI-generated content. This includes fake voices, videos and images created by a computer to sound or resemble an individual, called deepfakes. The law focuses on identifying AI-generated political content, rather than controlling its distribution.

Voters can file a complaint reporting a misdisclosed deepfake with the Secretary of State’s office, and it will then be subject to an administrative hearing similar to those held for campaign finance complaints.

Another new Colorado law prohibits firearms in voting centers, in buildings where voting centers are located, and within 100 feet of a ballot box. Exceptions are in place for people on their private property, security officers and peace officers.

Anyone who witnesses someone attempting to interfere with another’s right to vote should contact local law enforcement, the county clerk’s office, or the attorney general’s office.