The U.S. Department of Justice will not enter Colorado's voter centers, according to an agreement reached between federal officials and the Colorado Secretary of State's Office.
The Secretary of State offered to allow DOJ monitors inside Adams County polling places with specific restrictions, including that observers be accompanied at all times. The DOJ declined the conditions and said its monitors would remain outside the facilities, staying at least 100 feet away from the entrances, according to the Secretary's office.
"My office provided reasonable restrictions on DOJ monitors, which they refused to accept," the Secretary of State said in a statement. "As a result, the DOJ will not be allowed to enter voter centers in Adams County."
The arrangement followed a letter from the Secretary of State's office outlining monitoring rules to the Justice Department. In response, DOJ said: "While we appreciate your efforts to accommodate us, we will have to decline your offer. Our monitors will remain outside of polling places and not come within 100 feet of the building in accordance with Colorado state law."
The Secretary of State said her office would take seriously any suggestion of voter intimidation and act accordingly.
Colorado enacted amended election rules in October that specify how official observers are authorized and what they can do. The rules require official observers to receive an authorizing letter from the Secretary of State outlining their access and permitted conduct. Observers "may be removed by the Secretary of State if they fail to comply" with state law. No observer is permitted to take or record pictures, video, or audio.