As the 2026 Primary Election cycle officially begins in Colorado, Secretary of State Jena Griswold has issued a vital reminder to the electorate: the integrity of the democratic process relies heavily on the discernment of the voters themselves. With ballots scheduled to reach households across the state beginning next week, the Secretary emphasized that the looming election period is a prime window for bad actors to target citizens with deceptive content. By establishing a clear protocol for accessing information, the state aims to fortify the electorate against the increasing sophistication of modern election interference.
Secretary Griswold’s call to action is rooted in the reality that election disinformation has become a primary tool for those seeking to erode public faith in democratic institutions and foster societal division. Whether through online platforms, ubiquitous social media channels, or direct messaging, the persistence of false narratives remains a significant hurdle for election integrity. The Secretary’s guidance serves as a necessary shield, encouraging Coloradans to bypass the noise of unverified claims by turning exclusively to official, non-partisan channels.
The cornerstone of the Secretary’s advice is the direct utilization of government-vetted resources. Voters are strongly urged to rely solely on the official web portals of the Colorado Secretary of State, accessible at www.ColoradoSOS.gov, or the state’s dedicated voting hub at www.GoVoteColorado.gov. Additionally, the office notes that local County Clerk’s offices remain the most reliable partners for citizens looking to clarify technical questions regarding registration, ballot casting, or local election results, ensuring that information is processed through legitimate, verified state infrastructure.
A significant portion of the Secretary’s alert focuses on the rise of “deepfakes” and artificially generated media, which are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish from genuine communications. These advanced technologies are frequently deployed via robo-calls, anonymous texts, and deceptive emails designed to mimic official entities. By creating a sense of urgency or confusion, these operations aim to mislead voters about their polling locations, registration statuses, or the mechanics of the voting process itself, ultimately serving to dampen voter turnout or sow widespread chaos.
Furthermore, the Secretary’s office highlighted the persistent threat posed by foreign actors who utilize sensationalist content to manipulate public sentiment. These entities often exploit social media algorithms to incite fear, anger, and polarization, frequently masquerading as grassroots movements or neutral news sources. To counter these tactics, the state advises voters to practice rigorous “digital hygiene”: evaluating the credibility of the authors behind a post, questioning the underlying intent of provocative headlines, and refusing to amplify unverified or suspicious information across personal social networks.
Ultimately, the goal of this advisory is to empower Colorado voters to act as the primary defense against systemic disinformation. By exercising critical judgment, scrutinizing the source of any election-related claim, and directing all inquiries to official state and local election offices, residents can help ensure a secure and transparent electoral process. As the primary ballots land in mailboxes across the state, the Secretary of State’s message remains consistent: when in doubt, default to the official record and verify before you vote.