Secretary of State Jena Griswold Joins Group of National Secretaries of State Requesting Election Funding in Stimulus

Denver, July 31, 2020 – Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold has joined a bi-partisan group of 11 Secretaries of State from across the nation to request the Senate include election funding as part of the next stimulus legislative package. Currently, the stimulus legislation under consideration by the Senate includes no funding for election assistance, which is vital for states to conduct elections during COVID-19.

“To have accessible elections in the midst of the pandemic, we need to rapidly expand vote by mail for all across the nation,” said Secretary Griswold. “That’s why I’m joining colleagues in encouraging the U.S. Senate to include election funding in subsequent COVID-19 relief packages. All Americans deserve the same type of election access that we have in Colorado.”

The Brennan Center for Justice has estimated that states need $2-4 billion to ensure free, fair and secure elections continue amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act, signed into law in March, provided $400 million in election assistance funding to states. The HEROES Act passed in the House in May contained $3.6 billion in election assistance funding.

In addition to Colorado, Secretaries of State from Arizona, California, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington joined in making the request. The complete letter can be accessed here.

For more information, please visit www.sos.state.co.us.