Boulder County Voters:
As your Boulder County Clerk & Recorder, my office regularly engages with Colorado’s legislative process to help shape election policy—both independently and through the bipartisan Colorado County Clerks Association.
In my time serving this community, I’ve rarely felt compelled to speak out on federal election issues. But the recent actions taken by both Congress and the Executive Branch present real cause for concern—especially as they threaten to undermine Colorado’s widely respected, accessible, and secure election model.
Specifically, I’m referring to the White House’s recent Executive Order on Voter Registration and the federal SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voting Eligibility, H.R. 22). These proposals could significantly disrupt how we conduct elections in Colorado, making it harder—not easier—for eligible voters to participate.
The Executive Order
Colorado has joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Administration’s executive order. You can review the legal filing or read more about it in this Colorado Newsline article.
The SAVE Act
This bill would codify many of the measures in the executive order. It’s a deeply flawed piece of legislation that:
- Imposes costly, unfunded mandates on local governments
- Erects unnecessary barriers for voters, particularly rural voters, young people / student / college voters, military personnel, and overseas citizens
- Disproportionately impacts married women who have changed their last names
Importantly, the SAVE Act is a solution in search of a problem—there is no evidence of widespread non-citizen voter registration in the U.S. Despite this, the bill would overhaul how Americans register to vote in ways that could disenfranchise eligible voters.
The Colorado County Clerks Association—made up of all 64 county clerks across the state, the majority of whom are Republicans—has formally opposed the SAVE Act. We sent a letter to our entire congressional delegation expressing our deep concerns.
Why This Matters
While many articles cover the SAVE Act, here are just a few key reasons why our office opposes it—and why I urge every voter to learn more and talk to friends and family here and in other states:
- Proof of citizenship would be required every time you register or update your registration.
That means if you move—even just across town—you would need to re-register in person and provide documentation like a birth certificate or passport. This especially burdens rural voters, college students, new residents, and military/overseas personnel. - The documentation requirement is especially tough for many women.
Many married women have legally changed their names, meaning their birth certificates may not match their current legal name. They would need to provide additional documents—often ones they don’t have on hand—to prove their identity and citizenship. And remember, ordering official copies of your marriage and/or birth certificate from home states can take weeks, if not months, and comes with cost. - It places new, unfunded costs on counties.
In Boulder County alone, we process more than 116,000 registration transactions each year—most of them online. Under the SAVE Act, if all those transactions had to happen in person, we would likely need to hire 7–8 new staff members just to manage the volume. - It’s based on a false premise.
Multiple audits and studies have found no evidence of widespread non-citizen registration or voting. You can read more in this ABC News article that breaks down how rare such cases actually are.
Bottom Line
The SAVE Act doesn’t improve election security—it creates new and unnecessary obstacles to voting. Instead of making it harder to vote, Congress and the Executive Branch should be working to strengthen access, security, and trust in our elections.
Thank you for taking the time to stay informed. Democracy depends on voter participation—and on all of us speaking up when that right is at risk. I’ll continue to share updates on this page about this topic and any other federal actions that could affect Colorado’s election model or our voting process.
Sincerely,
Molly Fitzpatrick, Boulder County Clerk & Recorder
