A Douglas County jury handed down a guilty verdict for Elizabeth Ann Davis, 61, of Castle Rock, in her voter fraud trial. She was convicted of submitting two ballots in the names of family members during the 2022 general election. The verdict marks one of only two confirmed cases of voter fraud in Colorado in recent years and underscores the state’s election safeguards, officials said.
Davis was convicted on two counts of forgery along with one count of personating an elector, according to the district attorney’s office. Prosecutors said she cast three ballots — one in her own name and two others under the names of her ex-husband, who was deceased, and her son — all supporting Republican candidates. She faces a potential sentence of up to three years in prison but could also receive probation when she is sentenced on January 9.
Election officials said the case began when the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder’s Office identified a ballot submitted under the name of a deceased voter. Clerk Sheri Davis, who emphasized that the system’s internal checks caught the irregularity, said the discovery triggered an immediate review.
“In Colorado, we have many checks and balances,” she said in an interview with CBS Colorado. “When the ballots come back in, we check against the voter records to see whether or not they are an eligible elector. In this case there, the voter was not an eligible elector, and so it was rejected.”
According to the clerk’s office, voter records in Colorado are updated daily using data such as address changes and death certificates. Ballots flagged as invalid are not counted and are referred to the district attorney’s office for investigation. That referral process led to the prosecution and eventual conviction of Elizabeth Davis.
Assistant District Attorney David Bosner told Colorado Public Radio that the outcome reinforces the importance of accountability in maintaining public trust in elections. “The verdict shows that the community will hold someone accountable if he or she compromises the integrity of that process,” he said.
Sheri Davis echoed that sentiment, noting that only two voter fraud cases have led to convictions in Douglas County since 2020. “It’s not that common at all,” she said. “The good news is the processes work.” She also highlighted the role of bipartisan election judges and verification systems designed to prevent ballots from being counted if submitted improperly.
Prosecutors said Elizabeth Davis has a lengthy criminal history, with prior convictions in Colorado and Florida for theft, prostitution, forgery and drug-related offenses.
Sheri Davis told CBS Colorado that voters can rest assured that the local election system is secure as the county heads toward another local election in November. She wanted to remind voters of the importance of voting and participating in the election process.
Sources: Colorado Public Radio, CBS Colorado
