The Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder’s office tried something new for the November 2023 election : a hole in the ballot return envelope meant to help expedite ballot counting and be another quality control measure.
But the placement of the hole could have potentially revealed voters’ choices on their ballots, leading to outcry from some candidates for local office.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office recently issued a new rule that closes a loophole on how holes are placed on ballot return envelopes, but SOS spokesperson Jack Todd declined to confirm if the rule was spurred by the snafu in Pueblo County.
The temporary rule has been put in place ahead of the March 5 presidential primary and is good through May 9, Todd said in an email. Any permanent rulemaking could be done through the department without the involvement of the state legislature.
“The Department of State is dedicated to ensuring Colorado’s elections are safe and secure so that every eligible voter can make their voice heard. This rulemaking process is in furtherance of that goal,” Todd said. “Voters have a constitutional right to a secret ballot and counties must ensure that their ballot and ballot envelope designs protect that right.”