Tina Peters' lawyer says her midterm plan would seize counted ballots for a hand recount; Colorado Democrats object
Tina Peters' lawyer says her plan for the midterms is to take control of ballots after machines count them and recount them by hand. Polis says any talk of seizing ballot boxes, if it happened, is dangerous, and other Colorado Democrats criticize Peters.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Peters was convicted in 2024 over unauthorized access to Mesa County's election equipment and was released on parole in June 2026 after Polis commuted her sentence. Her website presents a plan asking DHS and CISA to declare a public election-infrastructure risk and to support hand-marked paper ballots and manual checks before certification. A Brennan Center analysis cited by Newsweek concludes that neither the president nor the federal government has blanket authority to seize ballots or election equipment.
People in this case
John HickenlooperCommented
Jared PolisCommented
Jena GriswoldCommented
Timeline
5 timeline entries on this page. Dates: August 26, 2026 to October 25, 2026
August 2026
Peters publishes her election plan
Source release
Tina Peters' website publishes The Tina Peters Plan, which asks DHS and CISA to declare a public election-infrastructure risk within 48 hours and to support hand-marked paper ballots and manual checks before certification of the November 3 election.
[01]Tina Peters
Tina Peters' website presents her plan for the November 3, 2026 federal election, based on a document titled 2026 Election Infrastructure: Immediate Federal Risk-Mitigation Roadmap. It calls for a public federal risk declaration by DHS and CISA, a Commerce Department review of election equipment, hand-marked paper ballots and manual verification before certification.
The Tina Peters Plan (tinapeters.us) · Tina PetersArticle text
October 2026
Ed Martin says Peters met Trump in the Oval Office
Incident
Former Justice Department official Ed Martin tells Real America's Voice that Peters was in the Oval Office that day talking with President Trump about federal involvement in the midterms. The White House says it does not comment on private meetings that may or may not have happened.
[02]Tina Peters met with Trump to discuss election plans, former Trump administration attorney says (Colorado Newsline)
Colorado Newsline reports Ed Martin's account that Tina Peters met President Trump at the White House on October 5 to discuss election integrity, the White House's refusal to comment on the meeting, and a statement by Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.
Ticktin's description of the plan is reported
Claim
Mediaite reports that Peters' lawyer, Peter Ticktin, told podcaster Joe Oltmann that her idea is to take control of ballots as soon as machines count them and recount them by hand. Ticktin later tells Mediaite he does not see how such a plan could be orchestrated.
[03]Mediaite
Mediaite reports what Peter Ticktin, a lawyer for Tina Peters, told podcaster Joe Oltmann about her plan for the November 3 elections, quotes his later comments to Mediaite, and quotes White House statements about the reported Peters meeting and about the Constitution.
Mediaite report on Peter Ticktin's podcast account of Tina Peters' election plan · MediaiteArticle textNewsweek compares the lawyer's account with the published plan
Newsweek reports there is no evidence Peters asked Trump directly to seize ballots and that her written plan calls for independent hand counts only where feasible.
[04]Newsweek
Newsweek compares Peter Ticktin's podcast description of Tina Peters' proposal with the plan published on her website, and reports that the White House would neither confirm nor deny the reported meeting.
Tina Peters, Seizing Ballots and 'Civil War' Claims Assessed (Newsweek) · NewsweekArticle textPeters appears on 60 Minutes
CBS's 60 Minutes airs an interview with Peters, recorded in August, in which KUNC reports she refused to take accountability for the crimes that put her in prison.
[05]Tina Peters appears on '60 Minutes', part of media blitz in the weeks prior to midterm elections (KUNC)
KUNC, in a story by the Colorado Capitol News Alliance, reports on Tina Peters' 60 Minutes interview, her travel and public appearances since her release, and her parole terms.
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Tina Peters' idea for the November 3 midterms is to take control of ballots as soon as voting machines count them and recount them by hand before certification, and something like that is probably going to happen.
What is disputed
Newsweek found no evidence that Peters asked President Trump directly to seize ballots and notes that her published plan calls for independent hand counts only where feasible. Ticktin later told Mediaite he did not see how such a plan could be orchestrated in time.
Sources (3)
- Mediaite report on Peter Ticktin's podcast account of Tina Peters' election plan · MediaiteArticle text
- Tina Peters, Seizing Ballots and 'Civil War' Claims Assessed (Newsweek) · NewsweekArticle text
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
5 responses. Newest first.
John HickenlooperU.S. senator from ColoradoBefore this statement
In its October 26 report, KUNC says Peters appeared on 60 Minutes on Sunday night and that in the interview she refused to take accountability for the crimes that put her in prison.
"Tina Peters continues to sow distrust in our free and fair elections. She's guilty as sin and a disgrace to Colorado."
CondemnedCase context: Tina Peters' lawyer says her midterm plan would seize counted ballots for a hand recount; Colorado Democrats object
Full statement and sources
Hickenlooper says Peters continues to sow distrust in free and fair elections and calls her guilty and a disgrace to Colorado.
After the statement
KUNC reports that election officials in Colorado and around the country have said they are worried her spread of misinformation could put election workers at risk and sow confusion.
John Hickenlooper's October 26 post on Tina Peters · John HickenlooperPost textWhy this label?
The case concerns the federal action Peters has sought for the midterms, including the ballot plan her lawyer describes. Hickenlooper says she continues to sow distrust in the elections, a condemnation of her campaign.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Tina PetersFormer Mesa County clerk and recorderDirectly involved Before this statement
Peters' website presents a plan calling on DHS and CISA to declare a public election-infrastructure risk and to apply compensating controls before the November 3 federal election.
"Protect the critical infrastructure of our nation's elections before its too late"
Defended or excusedCase context: Tina Peters' lawyer says her midterm plan would seize counted ballots for a hand recount; Colorado Democrats object
Full statement and sources
Peters calls on federal officials, whose accounts she tags, to protect the critical infrastructure of the nation's elections before it is too late.
After the statement
The post tags the accounts of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, among others.
Tina Peters' October 26 post calling on federal officials to protect election infrastructure · Tina PetersPost textThe Tina Peters Plan (tinapeters.us) · Tina PetersArticle textWhy this label?
The case concerns the federal action Peters has sought for the midterms, including the ballot plan her lawyer describes. In this post she repeats her call for federal officials to act on election infrastructure, a defense of that push.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Jared PolisGovernor of ColoradoBefore this statement
CPR News reports that Polis was asked about reports that Peters had spoken with President Trump about a plan to seize ballots after they are counted by voting tabulators.
"If there was any discussion of seizing ballot boxes or, even worse, a civil war in the context of our free elections, that's dangerous and unbefitting the office of the President of the United States."
CondemnedResponding to: Tina Peters' idea for the November 3 midterms is to take control of ballots as soon as voting machines count them and recount them by hand before certification, and something like that is probably going to happen.
Full statement and sources
Polis says that if there was any discussion of seizing ballot boxes, or of a civil war, in the context of free elections, it is dangerous and unbefitting the office of the president.
After the statement
CPR News reports that the statement did not mention Peters or Polis's decision to shorten her sentence, and that Polis went on to describe Colorado's elections as secure.
Why this label?
The case concerns the plan Ticktin attributes to Peters, to take control of counted ballots for a hand recount, and the federal action she has sought for the midterms. Polis says any discussion of seizing ballot boxes, if it took place, is dangerous, an objection to that proposal.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
The White HouseWhite House spokeswoman, in a statement to MediaiteBefore this statement
Mediaite reports that Ticktin told Joe Oltmann that if the midterms led to a Congress seeking to remove Trump, Trump is not going to relinquish control again, and that the spokeswoman was asked whether Trump would uphold the Constitution should he be impeached.
"No one loves America or reveres our Constitution more than President Donald J. Trump. Of course this Administration will uphold the Constitution. The fact that this even needs to be said is absurd."
Challenged the characterizationCase context: Tina Peters' lawyer says her midterm plan would seize counted ballots for a hand recount; Colorado Democrats object
Full statement and sources
Asked about Ticktin's prediction that Trump would not relinquish control if the midterms led to his impeachment, a White House spokeswoman says the administration will uphold the Constitution and calls the question absurd.
After the statement
Mediaite also reports that the White House earlier declined to confirm that Peters met Trump, saying it does not comment on private meetings that may or may not have happened.
Mediaite report on Peter Ticktin's podcast account of Tina Peters' election plan · MediaiteArticle textWhy this label?
The case concerns Ticktin's account of Peters' plan and his prediction of how Trump would respond to an adverse midterm result. The White House rejects the suggestion that the administration would not uphold the Constitution, a challenge to that characterization.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Jena GriswoldColorado Secretary of StateBefore this statement
Colorado Newsline reports that Ed Martin said Peters met President Trump at the White House to talk about federal involvement in the November midterm elections, and that Griswold said Peters and Trump are election deniers who have repeatedly lied to the American people.
"Coloradans can rest assured knowing that we've so far defeated Trump's unlawful attempts to influence election administration, and we will fight any attempt to interfere with Colorado elections"
CondemnedCase context: Tina Peters' lawyer says her midterm plan would seize counted ballots for a hand recount; Colorado Democrats object
Full statement and sources
Griswold says Colorado has so far defeated what she calls Trump's unlawful attempts to influence election administration and will fight any attempt to interfere with the state's elections.
After the statement
Colorado Newsline notes that Polis cut Peters' prison sentence earlier this year and that the Colorado Department of Corrections released her in June.
Why this label?
The case concerns the federal action Peters has sought for the midterms, including the ballot plan her lawyer describes. Responding to the reported Peters meeting with Trump, Griswold says the state will fight any attempt to interfere with its elections, an objection to that push.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(8)
Reporting
Mediaite report on Peter Ticktin's podcast account of Tina Peters' election plan
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
Mediaite reports what Peter Ticktin, a lawyer for Tina Peters, told podcaster Joe Oltmann about her plan for the November 3 elections, quotes his later comments to Mediaite, and quotes White House statements about the reported Peters meeting and about the Constitution.
- Author
- Kathianne Boniello
- Published
- Accessed
Analysis
Tina Peters, Seizing Ballots and 'Civil War' Claims Assessed (Newsweek)
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
Newsweek compares Peter Ticktin's podcast description of Tina Peters' proposal with the plan published on her website, and reports that the White House would neither confirm nor deny the reported meeting.
- Author
- James Bickerton
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Tina Peters appears on '60 Minutes', part of media blitz in the weeks prior to midterm elections (KUNC)
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
KUNC, in a story by the Colorado Capitol News Alliance, reports on Tina Peters' 60 Minutes interview, her travel and public appearances since her release, and her parole terms.
- Author
- Bente Birkeland, Nicole Vap, Tom Hesse
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Tina Peters' October 26 post calling on federal officials to protect election infrastructure
About this source
Tina Peters posted this on X on the night of October 25, 2026 (Mountain Time), tagging accounts of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
- Author
- Tina Peters
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
The Tina Peters Plan (tinapeters.us)
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
Tina Peters' website presents her plan for the November 3, 2026 federal election, based on a document titled 2026 Election Infrastructure: Immediate Federal Risk-Mitigation Roadmap. It calls for a public federal risk declaration by DHS and CISA, a Commerce Department review of election equipment, hand-marked paper ballots and manual verification before certification.
- Author
- Tina Peters
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
John Hickenlooper's October 26 post on Tina Peters
About this source
Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado posted this statement about Tina Peters on his Senate account on X on October 26, 2026.
- Author
- John Hickenlooper
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Tina Peters met with Trump to discuss election plans, former Trump administration attorney says (Colorado Newsline)
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
Colorado Newsline reports Ed Martin's account that Tina Peters met President Trump at the White House on October 5 to discuss election integrity, the White House's refusal to comment on the meeting, and a statement by Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.
- Author
- Lindsey Toomer
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Without mentioning Tina Peters, Polis calls election interference pitch 'dangerous' (CPR News)
Relevant passage: Article text
About this source
CPR News reports Gov. Jared Polis's October 8 statement after reports that Tina Peters spoke with President Trump about a plan to seize ballots after they are counted, along with comments by Peter Ticktin and Colorado County Clerks Association head Matt Crane.
- Author
- Tom Hesse
- Published
- Accessed
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Tina Peters' lawyer says her midterm plan would seize counted ballots for a hand recount; Colorado Democrats object
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/tina-peters-lawyer-says-her-midterm-plan-would-seize-counted-ballots-for-a-hand-recount-colorado-democrats-object
The Dispute Index. "Tina Peters' lawyer says her midterm plan would seize counted ballots for a hand recount; Colorado Democrats object". First published: 2026-11-01. Last updated: 2026-11-01. https://disputeindex.com/cases/tina-peters-lawyer-says-her-midterm-plan-would-seize-counted-ballots-for-a-hand-recount-colorado-democrats-object