Colorado's Secretary of State established strict parameters for Department of Justice monitors seeking to visit Adams County voter centers. Under the conditions, DOJ personnel must be accompanied by observers appointed by the Secretary at all times and cannot enter a voting center without them.
The permitted activities for DOJ monitors are limited. They may only communicate with election workers about accessible voting equipment and bilingual poll workers, must observe the voting process from areas designated by election officials, and may review posted election materials for Spanish-language versions. They are prohibited from speaking with voters, accessing voting equipment, or recording photographs, video, or audio.
Secretary Griswold stated that failure to comply with the parameters would result in revocation of authorization. "The DOJ must agree to our strict requirements to visit Adams County voting centers," she said. "DOJ personnel must be accompanied by our observers at all times, and they may not speak with voters inside a voter center, interrupt any election processes, or attempt to access any unauthorized area."
Adams County Clerk Josh Zygielbaum said if monitors are authorized, "they will see what voters see: the best run elections in the nation that prioritize access, security, and a process that works for all eligible voters."
The Secretary's office said formal authorization letters have not yet been issued while the Department of Justice responds to the conditions. On October 9, 2026, Secretary Griswold enacted amended election rules with immediate effect. These included Rule 8.17, which requires official observers to receive an authorizing letter outlining their access and permissible conduct, and notes that observers "may be removed by the Secretary of State if they fail to comply" with Colorado law or their authorizing letter.