Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold certified the Republican and Democratic ballots for the 2024 presidential primary election on Friday. Griswold’s comment indicated that the case had been accepted by the United States Supreme Court, assuring Donald Trump’s participation on the ballot.
Griswold explained her decision to re-insert Trump on Colorado ballots despite the State Supreme Court’s judgment:
“Colorado’s presidential primary ballot for 2024 has been certified.” The lawsuit has been approved by the United States Supreme Court, and Donald Trump will appear on the ballot as a result.”
Colorado voters who are registered with either the Republican or Democratic parties by February 12 will receive a ballot from only their affiliated party. Unaffiliated voters, on the other hand, will receive ballots from both parties, but they can only vote on one ballot at a time.
This comes on the heels of the Supreme Court’s decision to hear an appeal from Colorado’s highest court, which initially ruled Trump ineligible for the presidency, banning him from the state’s primary vote. The Supreme Court set a quick deadline for filings and scheduled arguments for February 8, with a judgment expected soon after, just in time for Super Tuesday on March 5.
The essence of the controversy revolves around the Constitution’s insurrection clause, a Civil War-era article that prohibits individuals who engage in insurrection after pledging to uphold the Constitution from holding public office.
The Colorado Supreme Court had already declared, 4-3, on December 19, that Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack barred him from the president. However, the court postponed its judgment to allow Trump and the Colorado Republican Party to appeal.
The main problem with that argument appears to be that no official law enforcement body has yet to declare that what happened on January 6, 2021, was an insurgency. This viewpoint is bolstered by the fact that, to date, not a single person charged and/or convicted of crimes related to the Capitol riot has ever been charged or convicted of aiding insurgency or insurrectionist activities of any kind, including former President Donald Trump.
Many of the former President’s supporters and legal team have asked, “How can someone be guilty of participating in or aiding an insurgency if no one has ever been charged with insurrectionist activity?”
Ms. Griswold’s most recent statement also includes a list of candidates who have submitted their intent and filing fee to appear on the Colorado Presidential Primary Ballot, including Democratic and Republican candidates, as well as a “Noncommitted Delegate” option for voters who do not have a preference for a presidential candidate.
The deadline for sending ballots to military and overseas voters is January 20, the first day ballots can be mailed to registered Colorado voters is February 12, and Election Day is March 5, among other important upcoming dates for the 2024 Presidential Primary Election in Colorado.