Despite the breach, officials only took broader actions after the Colorado Republican Party publicly highlighted the issue, intensifying the controversy surrounding Griswold’s response to the incident.

Griswold’s office later notified Governor Jared Polis, raising questions about the timing and transparency of the response. Following the disclosure, Governor Polis confirmed that officials immediately changed all compromised passwords to secure the voting machines.

Governor and Secretary of State Reassure Public on Election Security

Griswold has tried to downplay the severity of the incident, stressing that accessing the voting machines would require a physical presence and not just the passwords. She assured the public that the elections’ security remained intact despite the leak.

The Governor's office supported this view by stating, "This password disclosure did not pose a security threat to Colorado’s elections, nor will it impact how ballots are counted," emphasizing that the response was out of an abundance of caution.

Nevertheless, critics argue that the potential for a security lapse was significant. Former Secretary of State Scott Gessler, representing the Trump campaign, pointed out the grave nature of the breach, indicating that it could have been a Class 5 felony under state law if done knowingly.

Political Figures and Public Demand Accountability

House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese was vocal in her criticism, calling Griswold's capability into question and demanding her resignation for what she termed as "incompetence." Pugliese’s comments reflect a growing distrust among some Colorado residents and officials.

Similarly, Denver radio host Jimmy Sengenberger linked the breach to a pattern of errors under Griswold's tenure, further undermining her credibility. Griswold's previous missteps include sending voter registration postcards to noncitizens, adding to the calls for her to step down.

George Brauchler has demanded an independent investigation into the incident, arguing that failing to initiate such an inquiry could appear as a partisan cover-up and potentially erode public trust in the voting system.

Secretary Griswold Responds to Criticism

In response to the mounting criticism, Griswold thanked Governor Polis for deploying state cybersecurity personnel to assist with the password changes and highlighted the multiple layers of security that protect Colorado’s elections.

Griswold stated, "Colorado has countless layers of security to ensure our elections are free and fair, and every eligible voter should know their ballot will be counted as cast," in an effort to reassure the public ahead of the elections.

As the story unfolds, the focus remains on how this incident might affect Griswold's future and the overall confidence in Colorado's electoral system. The situation underscores the challenges of protecting election integrity in an increasingly digital age.