Colorado launches probe into alleged attempt to intercept mail ballots

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Colorado's chief election official said authorities are investigating an incident in which at least 12 mail ballots were reportedly intercepted before reaching their intended voters.

According to the Colorado Secretary of State's office, intercepted ballots for the upcoming November 5 election were filled out and sent to the county clerk in Mesa County, located in the western part of the state.

The statement did not clarify whether these ballots were marked for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Democratic nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris, or any other candidate.

The suspected ballot fraud scheme became apparent when some voters received notifications indicating their ballots had been processed or needed correction due to signature discrepancies.

Several of these voters then contacted the county clerk's office to report the issue, prompting an investigation by the county district attorney's office.

Despite consistently promoting claims that mail ballots are prone to fraud, Trump has encouraged supporters to vote early if they choose while still expressing skepticism about the security of mail-in voting.

A former Mesa County clerk early this month was sentenced to nine years in prison for illegally tampering with voting machines after the 2020 election.

Harris is expected to easily win Colorado in the November 5 election, according to the three main U.S. nonpartisan election ratings services.