Colorado Becomes First State to Stop Using QR Codes, Barcodes to Count Ballots

Colorado Becomes First State to Stop Using QR Codes, Barcodes to Count Ballots

The state said it would redevelop its vote tallying system so that voting machines no longer print receipts with QR codes, which Secretary of State Jena Griswold says could be hacked.

Ahead of the 2020 election and the upcoming primary contests, Colorado’s secretary of state announced Monday that the state would no longer count ballots using printed QR codes due to cybersecurity concerns.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in a statement that the move is the first of its kind and would increase the security of vote tabulation by prioritizing human verification of votes rather than leaving the task to voting machines. Currently, Colorado voters (and many voters across the country) may use a ballot marking machine that prints a paper ballot that displays their choices and a QR code containing their votes.

Griswold was concerned by the fact that voters could see their vote choices but could not verify that the QR code was correct. In her office’s announcement, she said that QR codes could be among the “next target of an attack and are potentially subject to manipulation,” particularly in the face of continued attempts by Russian hackers to interfere in U.S. elections.

“A voter can verify the ovals, the candidates they chose, but how it gets tabulated is actually through an encrypted QR code," Griswold told CNN. "Is it really a voter verified paper trail if a voter cannot verify the encrypted QR code?"

In her announcement, Griswold said that the state is currently working on an “enhanced system” for vote tabulation that will be tested and certified before it is deployed for elections. The state has signed a contract with its vendor, Dominion, to develop an upgrade that will print ballots with choices marked with darkened ovals, mimicking how paper ballots appear.

“Once fully implemented, all ballots voted in Colorado will be tabulated using the marked ovals on the ballot rather than information from a QR code,” the announcement reads.

Colorado will also no longer certify machines that count votes by QR or barcode starting in 2021, according to CNN. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), an outspoken advocate for increased federal election security measures, noted that the machines are a “ripe target for hackers” and applauded Colorado for taking action.

"Given the serious, credible threat that Russia and other governments will interfere in the 2020 election, it is vital that all states follow Colorado's example by prioritizing cybersecurity over the special interest voting machine lobby," Wyden told CNN.

While it’s yet to be seen if other states will follow Colorado’s lead, researchers said that they would not be surprised to see election officials pursue similar measures later down the line.

“Colorado has put more effort into election security and being at the forefront than any other state,” Larry Norden, director of the Brennan Center’s Election Reform Program, said. "The fact that Colorado pushed a vendor to adopt a ballot-marking process without a QR code, I wouldn't be surprised if other states start to follow.”

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.