Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and Secretary of State Jena Griswold joint statement on Colorado Department of State v. Baca argument before the U.S. Supreme Court

May 13, 2020 (DENVER, Colo.)— Attorney General Phil Weiser and Secretary of State Jena Griswold released the following statement regarding the landmark elections case, Colorado Department of State v. Baca, that the state argued today before the U.S. Supreme Court:

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser:

“The U.S. Constitution gives the States the exclusive authority to select electors. This authority includes removing a bribed elector, one who engages in rebellion, or one who would perpetrate a bait-and-switch on the people of their state by voting contrary to a binding pledge and against the voters’ wishes. Colorado law guards against such harms. States must be able to enforce these pledges to protect the true character of our Nation’s democratic principles and system of stable governance. We cannot toss out 230 years of constitutional tradition in favor of a treacherous experiment. We urge the Court to reject this dangerous time bomb and avoid a potential constitutional crisis during the 2020 elections.”

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold:

“I am hopeful that today’s oral arguments underscore to the Supreme Court that Americans’ right to self-governance must be protected. American voters must be able to cast a ballot for president this November assured that their voices will be heard and their votes counted. Without the ability to enforce state law, presidential electors could willingly disenfranchise millions of American voters or be bribed for their electoral vote. We hope that the Supreme Court will protect American voters, state law, and our elections with its decision.”

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Contact: Lawrence Pacheco
Director of Communications
Mobile: (720) 245-4689
lawrence.pacheco@coag.gov