A postal worker and her friend have been arrested in connection with the forging of stolen mail ballots, allegedly as part of an attempt to test the security of Colorado's voting system. According to court documents, Vicki Lyn Stuart, 64, and Sally Jane Maxedon, 59, face serious charges, including identity theft and forgery. Neither of them has been formally charged yet, leaving some questions about the extent of their actions unanswered.
The investigation came to light after residents reported discrepancies with their mail ballots. Many were shocked to discover their ballots were flagged as not counted, even though they had never received them. This prompted officials, led by 21st District Attorney Dan Rubinstein, to begin investigating on October 21. The probe initially focused on around twelve ballots reported stolen from Mesa County.
Colorado is known for its mail-in voting system, which is touted for its security and convenience. Ballots are mailed to registered voters who return them either through the mail or ballot drop boxes. Election officials compare signatures on ballot envelopes to voter signatures kept on file to validate each submission. This system's integrity is now under scrutiny following these events.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced last month the discovery of stolen ballots, some of which were fraudulently cast and accepted by election officials. Once the ballots are separated from their signature envelopes, it becomes virtually impossible to tie them back to individual voters, which could lead to vulnerabilities being exploited.
More troubling revelations emerged when investigations suggested the possibility of additional victims, with authorities estimating upwards of 20 individuals whose votes could have been affected by the theft and forgery. The police were able to make the connection through document tracking, which indicated the ballots belonged to location routes where Stuart was known to deliver mail.
During questioning, investigators noted GPS data placing Stuart at the residences of several victims on the day ballots were expected to be delivered. Further investigation revealed Maxedon's fingerprints on at least one ballot, which she did not have the legal right to access as she was never part of the postal service or Mesa County elections department. This finding added to the mounting evidence against them.
Interview transcripts from law enforcement reveal Smith initially claimed to have received ballots from someone connected to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, insisting they wanted to test the system for vulnerability. This claim raised eyebrows, leading investigators to probe her more deeply.
Bobbie Gross, the clerk and recorder for Mesa County, expressed appreciation for the election officials’ diligence, stating they had successfully identified and curtailed attempts of fraudulent mail-in ballot submissions using their signature verification process. She praised their proactive measures and commitment to maintaining election security, assuring the public of their intent to keep the electoral process transparent and accountable.
The arrests come at a time when election integrity is particularly sensitive, as public trust has been eroded by conspiracy theories and false claims related to the 2020 presidential election outcomes. Mesa County has been at the center of election-related controversies, with recent events surrounding the former county clerk, Tina Peters, who was sentenced to prison for her role in election data breaches.
Stuart and Maxedon have been booked at the Mesa County Detention Facility, yet as of now, no bond details have been released. Observers and citizens alike are awaiting the forthcoming legal proceedings, which will likely probe the implications of their alleged actions and seek clarity on how these offenses could affect voter trust moving forward.
The broader impact of this incident remains to be seen, but with election day drawing closer, it's evident the necessity for secure and reliable voting systems becomes ever more pressing. The integrity of the voting process underpins democracy itself, and Coloradans are grappling with the fallout from this scandal as they prepare to head to the polls.
