A recent media investigation found ballots have been cast in Colorado by dead people for months -- and sometimes years -- following their deaths.

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A CBS4 investigation compared databases of voting histories in Colorado against a federal death database to find the fraudulent voting.

“We do believe there were several instances of potential vote fraud that occurred,” Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams said in response to the CBS4 findings, according to the network.

“It shows there is the potential for fraud.”

The investigation has resulted in criminal investigations in El Paso and Jefferson counties, in addition to a broad investigation by the Colorado Secretary of State's office.

"It's not a perfect system. There are some gaps," Williams said.

One case revealed a woman from Colorado Springs who died on Oct. 14, 2009, had ballots cast under her name from 2010 to 2013.

El Paso County Clerk Chuck Broerman called the finds "very serious."

"That's illegal," he told CBS4.

“I was shocked and surprised at this,” Broerman said.

“This cannot happen. We cannot have this here or anyplace in our country. Our democracy depends on it. People have spilled their blood for the values and underpinnings and beliefs of this country.”

According to the RealClearPolitics average of polls in Colorado, Clinton has a 1.5-point lead over her Republican rival, 42.3 to 40.8 percent.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE has in the past warned the general election could be rigged.