Politics & Government

'Trump Does Not Have Authority To Move Election Date': Griswold

Colorado's Secretary of State Jena Griswold said the state's General Election will be held as scheduled Nov. 3.

President Donald Trump said he believes that mail-in voting will lead to an "inaccurate and fraudulent" General Election.
President Donald Trump said he believes that mail-in voting will lead to an "inaccurate and fraudulent" General Election. (Zach Gibson - Pool/Getty Images)

Colorado's top elections official issued a response Thursday just hours after President Donald Trump called for a delayed General Election. In a tweet, the president said the country is not prepared for mail-in voting, but Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold made it clear she's against a delay.

“During the Civil War, world wars, and the Great Depression, Americans have been able to exercise their fundamental right to vote," Griswold said in a statement.

"President Trump does not have the authority to move the election date and I will make sure Colorado’s election takes place on November 3 as scheduled. The President is also wrong on vote by mail. Vote by mail is safe and secure, and ensures that voters can have their voices heard even during a pandemic.”

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In his tweet, Trump said mail-in voting will cause "the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history."

"It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???" his tweet read.

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Colorado's vote by mail system has been a "model for election security and access," the Colorado Secretary of State's office said.

"President Trump’s own former Secretary of Homeland Security commended Colorado’s election security," the office said in a news release. "Colorado consistently leads the nation in voter turnout with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all using mail ballots."

In Colorado's state primary, Republican voters opted to use mail ballots at a higher rate than Democratic voters, elections officials said.

Under the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the power to move or change a presidential election date.

County clerks will begin sending ballots to every registered voter Oct. 9, the Secretary of State's office said.

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