Statement posted October 14, 2025
Dear Boulder County Voters:
On Thursday, October 9, it was announced that Dominion Voting Systems had been acquired by Scott Leiendecker, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Vote. Boulder County Elections has used Dominion voting equipment since 2017.
I want to reassure Boulder County voters that I remain fully confident in the security and integrity of the voting equipment used in Colorado. As always, we will closely monitor developments, and if we ever have reason to question the system’s security, we will take immediate and appropriate action.
The safeguards that have long protected Colorado elections remain firmly in place – and they are more important than ever:
- Paper ballots: Colorado voters cast paper ballots, which are retained for 25 months as official election records. If questions ever arise, we can verify results against those original ballots.
- Pre-election testing: Before every election, bipartisan teams of election judges test the voting system to confirm that it is correctly configured and accurately tabulates votes.
- Controlled software upgrades: Any software updates to voting systems occur in a tightly controlled, multi-agency process involving the vendor, county clerks, and the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. Any attempt to compromise that process would require multiple bad actors working together and breaking numerous laws.
- Restricted access: Voting equipment is not connected to the internet. Strict access protocols are enforced — including limited security badge access, background checks, and 24/7 video surveillance. Even I cannot access the voting equipment without an escort.
When Liberty Vote’s initial announcement referenced President Trump’s executive order, third-party audits, and paper ballots, I, like many, was concerned about the rhetoric – as these talking points have often been used to promote false claims about elections. In Colorado, however, those practices are standard: we already vote on paper, we audit our elections, and we test our equipment before every election.
Following the announcement, Mr. Leiendecker met twice with Colorado county clerks – once with a small group of Front Range clerks and staff on Friday morning, and again the following Monday with clerks from across the state. For context, I never met the previous CEO of Dominion Voting Systems, but Mr. Leiendecker was quick to engage with us directly.
In both meetings, several clerks, including myself, asked tough, direct questions about his intentions, his public statements, and his reasons for acquiring Dominion. While I have always been confident that our systems cannot be “hacked” or manipulated, I wanted to understand how he viewed his role and responsibilities as the new CEO. Would he perpetuate false claims? Would he modify business practices at the expense of local election offices?
Mr. Leiendecker answered our questions openly and satisfactorily. Based on those conversations, I believe he is committed to supporting secure, transparent elections. His decades of experience in election technology and his willingness to meet with clerks twice within two business days demonstrate that commitment. He emphasized his belief that this moment offers an opportunity to engage with those who have doubts and help rebuild public trust in elections. While I do not support the language used in the press release, I appreciate his intention to reach those who have doubts and have asked that he be thoughtful about how his words are received. My impression is that going forward his company will be a partner in helping communicate how our voting system works with the utmost transparency and that he understands the importance of standing with election officials during this critical time. I would encourage everyone to also watch Marshall Zelinger’s story on the purchase / call the Colorado County Clerks Association had with Mr. Leiendecker as well as this Colorado Public Radio story on the issue.
Finally, I want to address the growing spread of misinformation. Alarmist claims that this acquisition somehow means our elections will be “rigged” are irresponsible and unfounded. Colorado’s election system remains one of the most secure, transparent, and verifiable in the nation.
We will continue to do what we have always done: run accurate, transparent, voter-centered elections that earn your trust.
Sincerely,
Molly Fitzpatrick, Boulder County Clerk & Recorder
