Weekly Email 6/15/26

Stocker Stadium, GJ, CO

Dear Restore the Balance Community,

Read the full candidate responses published last week here.

Topic of the Week: Stop the Steal — of Your Power

Someone is trying to steal your vote. Someone is trying to take away your power.

They are not robbing a ballot box or manipulating a vote count. They are not foreign governments infiltrating voting machines via WiFi. They are robbing you of power by sowing doubt and mistrust in our elections and our democratic process.

How does mistrust in elections serve those who want to stay in power? It serves them to frame the opposition as not only illegitimate but potentially corrupt. It can result in a loss of civil liberties in the name of "protecting" elections. And it can open the door to rules handed down from the top, without regard to regional differences, community needs, or individual rights.

That's why trust in our elections is critical to democracy, and to maintaining your voice and your power.

One thing is clear: many Americans have lost all trust in the system, without verified evidence, simply because of the lies they have been told over and over again. They have already ceded their power. And it's in someone's interest, but not theirs, nor yours, for that distrust to continue.

Those who love having a voice and a choice should choose to vote. Why? Here in Mesa County, our Clerk Bobbie Gross puts it simply: it's your voice. It's your opportunity, as she says, "to vote for people who represent your values, and what you want to see out of government."

Mesa County: What's Actually Happening with Your Ballot

Over the next few months, RTB will be working to address common misgivings, misinformation, and disinformation about our voting process. We're starting close to home, right here in Mesa County.

Did you know that more than 90% of Mesa County ballots are returned via drop box, not mailed? We didn't either.

Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross has been producing a series of short videos — Convos with the Clerk — answering frequently asked questions about how our elections work. We encourage you to watch them, share them, and send them to anyone who has questions about the process.

Watch Episode 1: ADA Accessibility 

Watch Episode 2: Convos with the Clerk

Episode 3 — on inactive voters — coming soon!

And in Clerk Gross's own words:

"Mesa County elections are not based on trust alone. They are supported by paper ballots, public testing, bipartisan oversight, reconciliation procedures, audits, transparency tools, and multiple layers of physical and cyber security that allow the results to be verified at every stage of the process."

Learn more about Mesa County's election security procedures here.

Want to Do More? Become a Poll Worker.

One of the best ways to see democracy in action, and to help protect it, is to volunteer as a poll worker. If you're ready to put your civic commitment into action:

Sign up to be a poll worker here.

Upcoming Events

June 17 — RTB Social Hour | 4:30–6:30 PM | The Ale House, Grand Junction Informal discussion on David French's keynote. 

June 23 & June 26 — Mesa County Election Tours See the election process firsthand before the June 30 primary. Sign up here.

June 30 — Colorado Primary Election, Check your registration and ballot here.

⚠️ Unaffiliated voters: you will receive two ballots in the mail. Return only ONE — returning both will disqualify your vote.

November 3 — Colorado General Election

On the Radar: Local Government Meetings

• Board of County Commissioners: Tuesdays @ 9am

• Grand Junction City Council: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 5:30pm

• Town of Palisade Board of Trustees Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 6pm

• Fruita City Council: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 7pm

• D51 School Board: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 5pm (public comments accepted on 3rd Tuesdays only)

• Mesa County Library Board: Last Thursdays @ 5:30pm

• Public Health Board: Monthly Tuesdays @ 3pm

Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming!

Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter?

Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update.

You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice.

Submit your recommendations here

Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together.

Don't forget to vote in 2026: June primaries, November general.