“Trump Doesn’t Like Colorado’s Voting System Because He Doesn’t Win Here”

Ten years ago this month, the Colorado Republican Assembly voted to support Ted Cruz for the GOP’s presidential nomination…which didn’t make Donald Trump happy. He immediately called Colorado’s election system “rigged,” and after he won the presidency in 2016, he set up a presidential election commission to investigate the system, which abandoned its efforts two years later.

Then came the 2020 election, and renewed accusations of fraud from the election deniers. And on March 31, Trump issued “Ensuring Citzenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” an executive order establishing a national voter-eligibility list and imposing new restrictions on mail-in voting, which he calls “mail-in cheating.” (This despite the fact that Trump had just voted by mail in a special election in Florida — which his candidate lost.)

Colorado immediately joined other states in suing to block the executive order, noting that the federal government does not oversee state elections. In their comments on the Westword Facebook post of the news, most readers jumped to the support of Colorado’s system, which has been called the “gold standard” for elections. Says Chris:

These are the actions of a man who knows he will lose if he doesn’t cheat.

Adds Ray:

Doesn’t matter what he posts or signs. Trump has NO authority over elections, and that must really piss him off.

Responds Nick:

The states do a great job of administering elections. Easy access and virtually zero fraud. Felon Trump and his minions would only screw them up.

Comments Susan:

Coloradans should be proud of this state’s mail-in voting. Trump doesn’t like Colorado’s voting system because he doesn’t win here.

Notes Bob:

The only fraud that has ever happened from mail-in ballots in Colorado was Tina Peters. So how come, with literally millions of mail-in ballots over a decade, have we not seen this worry play out? Oh, ’cause it’s not an issue. Use your brain cells.

But Richard concludes:

More secure elections or more public confidence in elections, either or both.

What do you think of Colorado’s current election system? Do you use mail-in ballots? Post a comment or share your thoughts at editorial@westword.com.