Right now, Colorado is facing a critical stress test of its elections and the rule of law.  

Governor Jared Polis recently signaled he is considering clemency for former Mesa County, Colorado Clerk Tina Peters. Common Cause is urging him to reject it. 

Peters was convicted for one of the most serious election security breaches in our nation’s history. Letting her off the hook now would send a dangerous message: that people can interfere with our elections without facing consequences. 

Here are four things to know about Tina Peters and why this decision matters for Colorado voters.

1. Tina Peters abused her position to interfere with elections.

Tina Peters was entrusted with protecting Colorado’s elections as Mesa County Clerk. Instead, she abused her position to help compromise the very systems she took an oath to safeguard. 

In 2021, Peters allowed unauthorized access to Mesa County’s election systems, disabled security cameras in the process, and refused to comply with subpoenas and directives from the Colorado Secretary of State. The incident violated election security protocols and public trust in Colorado’s election infrastructure. 

Election officials are supposed to protect the will of the people, not undermine it because a former president couldn’t handle his loss.

2. A jury found her guilty of multiple, serious crimes.

Peters was charged and convicted on multiple felony counts for leading the election security breach. The case was prosecuted by a Republican district attorney and a jury of her peers found her guilty. 

The message from that trial was clear: no one is above the law — especially the people responsible for protecting our elections.

3. Governor Polis is considering granting her clemency after pressure from President Donald Trump. 

Governor Polis recently posted online he is considering granting clemency to Peters. 

This comes as President Donald Trump and his allies continue pushing false claims about states’ election security and pressuring officials to support election deniers. 

In 2025, President Trump issued pardons to about 1,500 people involved in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which aimed to overturn the 2020 election results. 

Common Cause warns that forgiving Peters would send the same message — that attacking our elections can come with rewards instead of consequences.

4. Granting clemency would weaken trust in Colorado’s elections.

Letting Peters off the hook would tell people that interfering with elections isn’t taken seriously.  

Colorado’s elections work because people trust that the rules apply to everyone, including those in power. Tina Peters broke that trust, and a jury held her accountable. Granting her clemency would only pave the way for more illegal interference in Colorado’s elections down the line.  

Governor Polis has a clear choice: stand with Colorado voters and the rule of law, or reward someone who helped undermine the very elections she swore to protect. 

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