Colorado Democratic Party Launches Voter Protection Advisory Council
DENVER — Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib today appointed attorneys David Seligman and Colorado Democratic Party General Counsel Martha Tierney as co-chairs of the party’s Voter Protection Advisory Council.
The Council will provide legal and strategic guidance to the party’s voter protection team as well as support outreach as it works with election officials, attorneys and volunteers across Colorado.
The team helps distribute trustworthy election information to voters so they can register to vote, cast their ballots and to ensure those ballots are counted. The voter protection program also hosts a voter assistance hotline to respond to reports of voter intimidation or suppression and to assist voters with their questions about how to vote.
“Colorado is a national leader in secure, accessible elections, and we intend to keep it that way no matter what Donald Trump or Colorado Republicans think,” Murib said. “David and Martha are experienced attorneys who know how to protect voters and stand up for our democracy. Their appointments also reflect the strength and unity of our party as we work together to win in November.”
The Colorado Democratic Party is building a statewide voter protection operation that includes hundreds of poll watchers, legal teams in key counties, mobile response teams and an Election Day legal center. The operation is led by CDP Voter Protection Director Emily Dowd, an experienced attorney and policy adviser with a background in election law and state policy.
“Voter protection takes preparation, coordination and people who are ready to respond to incidents large or small,” Dowd said. “Martha and David bring decades of valuable legal experience to this work. Their partnership will help us protect every eligible Coloradan’s right to vote and ensure that we are reaching key communities with reliable voter information.”
Tierney’s decades of election law experience include representing political organizations, elected officials and voting rights advocacy groups in high-stakes, high-profile election-related litigation. Martha has been instrumental in the development of the Colorado Democratic Party’s voter protection program for over twenty years.
“Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and protecting it requires serious work long before Election Day,” Tierney said. “I’m honored to help lead this council and support the attorneys, volunteers and election officials working to ensure Coloradans can vote safely and confidently.”
Seligman is a workers’ rights and civil rights lawyer and executive director of Towards Justice. He sought the Democratic nomination for Colorado attorney general earlier this year.
“Whatever differences we may have during a primary, Democrats stand united to protect every eligible citizen’s sacred right to vote,” Seligman said. “We love this country too much to let extraordinary wealth and power drown out the voices of everyday people. The ballot box is how we reclaim our democracy and build an economy that works for all of us, and I’m proud to join this effort.”
Voters who need help or have questions can call the voter assistance hotline at 1-833-336-8683 or visit ColoradoDems.org/vote.
###
