Tina Peters, the former Colorado election official convicted of allowing voting machine tampering, was released from state prison Monday after serving less than a quarter of her nine-year sentence. President Trump successfully pressured Colorado’s Democratic Governor Jared Polis to commute her sentence in May.
Peters was Mesa County’s clerk during the 2020 election when she allowed an unauthorized computer expert affiliated with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell to access local electronic voting systems and copy their hard drives. She was the first local election official charged with breaching security after the 2020 election.
“It sends a dangerous message about accountability for those who would attack elections. Peters’ release also will embolden the election denial movement.”
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold
The clemency followed Trump’s broader campaign to pardon 2020 election denial participants. In November, Trump issued a blanket pardon for those involved in election denial efforts, then granted Peters a specific federal pardon in December, though she faced only state charges.
Polis defended the commutation by calling the nine-year sentence “extremely unusual and lengthy” for a first-time, non-violent offender. The decision sparked fierce opposition from Democrats, local officials, and government watchdog groups.
Matt Crane, head of the Colorado County Clerks Association, called the decision infuriating and disappointing. The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between Trump’s efforts to rehabilitate election deniers and state officials’ attempts to maintain election security standards.
Peters’ case represents a broader pattern of Trump using presidential power to shield allies who participated in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Her early release sends a signal to other election officials about potential consequences for breaching voting system security.
What you can do now
-
Contact your state legislators to push for stronger election security penalties that cannot be easily commuted. Find your representatives at openstates.org/find_your_legislator and demand mandatory minimum sentences for election tampering.
-
Urge your Secretary of State to implement additional safeguards for voting system access. Most states allow only authorized personnel near voting equipment - ask yours to publish annual security audits.
-
Support your county clerk’s office by volunteering as a poll worker or election observer. Contact your county election office to learn about training programs that help ensure proper election security protocols.
-
Monitor your state’s clemency process by tracking pardons and commutations through your governor’s office. Many states publish clemency decisions quarterly - sign up for updates to watch for election-related cases.
Primary Sources
Al Jazeera: Former Election Clerk Tina Peters Released After Trump Pressure Campaign
The Guardian: Colorado Elections Clerk Tina Peters Released From Prison After Sentence Commuted