Denver DA Announces Decision in Voting Machine Password Case

DENVER — Denver District Attorney Beth McCann today announced that criminal charges will not be filed in connection with the publication of voting machine passwords on the Colorado Department of State website this year.

The decision was the result of a seven-week long investigation by the Denver DA’s office into possible violations of two Colorado statutes: C.R.S. 1-13-708(2), which concerns the publication of passwords related to a voting system; and C.R.S. 18-8-405(1), which concerns second degree official misconduct.

“After an extensive investigation by prosecutors and investigators in my office, we have concluded that there were no criminal violations of the law regarding the publication of the voting machine passwords,” said DA McCann. “Based on everything we have learned, the passwords were published in error and not ‘knowingly’, as required to prove a violation of C.R.S. 1-13-708(2), or ‘knowingly, arbitrarily or capriciously’, as required to prove a violation of CRS 18-8-405(1).  There is no indication that the passwords were published in an effort to influence the outcome of an election.”

To see the full investigative report, click the link at the end of this press release.

About the Denver DA’s Office:

Our mission is to professionally and competently prosecute crimes and investigate criminal activity on behalf of the people of Colorado, and to seek equal justice for all in the criminal justice system. Our mission also includes preventing and deterring crimes; supporting victims; being involved in the community; being transparent and accountable; and improving the criminal justice system to provide fair alternatives to incarceration in appropriate cases.

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