USEIP Newsletter March 8, 2022

Prowers County has a long rich history in Colorado. Located in the south east corner with only one other county to the south (Baca). The county was founded by Native Americans, Cowboys, Farmers and a spirit of adventure. The history of Prowers has all the elements of the history of much of the west. The county’s name sake John Prowers owned much of the land and ran 100,000 head of cattle ranch. He was known for fair dealings and his beautiful Cheyenne bride Amanche. Her reputation for bravery was such that a 100 years later when a Japanese internment camp was established near Granada the interned people named the camp after her to channel her spirit of resilience. The internment camp is a historic site and came be visited. Prowers County will never forget what war hysteria can do.

Prowers is still a small county by population standards. For the last 100 years Prowers has hovered around 12,000 residents with approximately 4000 voters. Most of the commerce is agricultural as it has always been. The political makeup has been solid Republican since a single year that the county went for Jimmy Carter in 1976. The county has even produced one of Colorado’s governors from Holly, Roy Romer, 1987-1999.

The people in Prowers county also want to believe in the integrity of our election systems. Gaylen W resident of Prowers, says a tenant in one of her rental properties never received a ballot. When he went to vote in person he was told that he had already voted. This is a story that many of our canvassers are familiar with when talking to voters in other counties. What percentage of the vote would it take to shift the direction of our state? If there is 10% unreliability in the Colorado elections, it would effect over 35% of Colorados ballot issues and elections. For small towns and counties, this would have a big impact.Stay tuned for the results of the voter canvassing effort. See for your self what the error rate is in our “gold standard” election system.