Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Demands Answers on Armed Guards Trump Admin Has Reportedly Deployed to Ballot Drop Off Facilities As Colorado Begins Mail-In-Voting

This press release from Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) was published on 2026-10-07 and titled "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Demands Answers on Armed Guards Trump Admin Has Reportedly Deployed to Ballot Drop Off ".

Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Demands Answers on Armed Guards Trump Admin Has Reportedly Deployed to Ballot Drop Off Facilities As Colorado Begins Mail-In-Voting

As Colorado begins mailing ballots for the November election, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) is demanding answers from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) regarding reported deployments of armed and unarmed guards at Colorado postal facilities.The deployments follow repeated Trump administration efforts to restrict mail voting, sow confusion, and undermine confidence in our elections—raising urgent concerns about whether voters will face intimidation simply for casting a ballot. In the 2024 general election, more than 92% of Colorado voters cast their ballots by mail—making reliable delivery and intimidation-free access essential for the state to conduct this and future elections. “Coloradans should be able to cast their ballots without fear or intimidation. Deploying armed guards at postal facilities just as voting begins demands an explanation and urgent action,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “We need clear answers about why these guards are here, what authority they have, and how voters and election mail will be protected. Coloradans deserve confidence that their ballots will be delivered and their voices heard. Voter intimidation is an attack on our democracy, and here in Colorado, we will fight to ensure every vote is counted.” Armed guards have reportedly been deployed at postal facilities even though USPIS says no credible security or operational threat prompted the increased presence. A memo distributed to the American Postal Workers Union says guards will monitor entrances and parking lots, verify IDs, and report purportedly suspicious activity at public Post Offices and restricted mail-processing plants. USPIS calls this a longstanding security plan, but has not explained why these deployments are happening now, identified the affected facilities, or detailed safeguards to prevent voter intimidation and interference with election mail. In the letter to Chief Postal Inspector Barksdale, Pettersen writes, “Postal workers have a crucial responsibility to deliver election mail safely and on time. We support appropriate measures designed to protect them and their ability to carry out this responsibility. At the same time, the presence of armed guards at facilities where voters may deposit ballots runs the real risk of making voters feel intimidated. Federal law prohibits voter intimidation, which is defined as the use of threats, coercion, or attempts to intimidate for the purpose of interfering with the right of another person to vote or to vote for the person of their choosing. Voters should feel assured that they can send their ballots without being questioned, monitored, or deterred by armed guards.” Congresswoman Pettersen demands that USPIS disclose: Who authorized the deployments, Which Colorado facilities are affected, and Whether guards can demand identification, restrict public access, inspect ballots, or influence whether election mail is accepted and delivered. She also asks whether the White House, the Department of Justice, or the Department of Homeland Security had any role in the decision. Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen has consistently defended Coloradans’ access to secure, accessible elections. She introduced an amendment to protect eligible voters from disenfranchisement under the SAVE Act and opposed a Republican budget resolution that included $10 billion for election grants tied to SAVE America Act voter-ID requirements. Building on her work in the state legislature to strengthen Colorado’s mail-ballot system, she has also pressed USPS to ensure timely ballot delivery , particularly for rural communities, and pushed back against federal efforts to restrict mail voting. The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below. Dear Chief Postal Inspector Barksdale, We write in response to recent reporting that the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) has deployed armed and unarmed guards to postal facilities in Colorado and across the country just as millions of Americans are preparing to cast their ballots by mail ahead of the 2026 General Midterm Elections. In a memo distributed to the American Postal Workers Union, the USPIS has indicated that the guards will monitor entrances and parking areas, verify IDs, and observe and report purportedly suspicious activity in and around key postal facilities, including both Post Offices – which are open to the public – and US Postal Service processing plants – which are not open to the public. These deployments come despite the agency’s repeated assurances that no credible security or operational threat has necessitated the heightened presence, with USPIS characterizing this initiative as part of a longstanding, multiyear security plan. Yet the agency has provided little public information for the timing of this deployment, failed to identify which facilities will be affected, and offered no detail regarding the safeguards that will be implemented to ensure that the presence of law enforcement personnel