Colorado Amendment 79, Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative (2024) (original) (raw)

Colorado Amendment 79
Flag of Colorado.png
Election dateNovember 5, 2024
TopicAbortion
StatusApproveda Approved
TypeConstitutional amendment OriginCitizens

Colorado Amendment 79, the Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative, was on the ballot in Colorado as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported creating a right to abortion in the state constitution and allowing the use of public funds for abortion.

A "no" vote opposed creating a right to abortion in the state constitution and opposes repealing a constitutional provision that bans the use of public funds for abortion.

Election results

See also: Results for abortion-related ballot measures, 2024

Amendment 79 needed to receive a 55% vote to be approved.

Colorado Amendment 79
Result Votes Percentage
Approved Yes 1,910,336 61.96%
No 1,173,052 38.04%

Precincts reporting: 74%
Election results are unofficial until certified. These results were last updated on November 14, 2024 at 10:50:06 PM Eastern Time.

Source

Overview

What did Amendment 79 do?

See also: Text of measure

This initiative provided a right to abortion in the state constitution. The initiative prohibited the state or local governments from denying or impeding the right to an abortion. The amendment allowed abortion to be a covered service under health insurance plans. The initiative repealed Section 50 of Article V of the Colorado Constitution, adopted in 1984, which prohibited the use of public funds for abortion.[1][2]

What was the status of abortion in Colorado going into the election?

See also: Abortion ballot measures in Colorado

Colorado is one of 10 states that does not restrict abortion after a specific point in a pregnancy.

In 1984, Coloradans voted 50.4% to 49.6% to ban public funding of abortion except for cases where the mother's life is in danger. The provision prevented state health insurance from covering abortions for government employees and others on state health insurance plans such as Medicaid. The measure was challenged in 1988 and was upheld by voters. In 1998, Coloradans voted 55% to 45% to require parents to be notified if their minor children seek an abortion and voted 51% to 49% to reject a ban on partial-birth abortion. In 2000, Colorado voters rejected a measure that would have required women to be given certain information from a physician at least 24 hours in advance of an abortion. Coloradans defeated three measures (in 2008, 2010, and [2014](/Colorado%5FDefinition%5Fof%5F%22Personhood%22%5FInitiative,%5FAmendment%5F67%5F%282014%29 "Colorado Definition of "Personhood" Initiative, Amendment 67 (2014)")) that would have defined person to include fetuses or unborn human beings. In 2020, voters rejected an initiative that would have banned abortions after 22 weeks.[3]

What states have decided on abortion ballot measures recently?

See also: History of abortion ballot measures

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs. v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that there is no federal constitutional right to abortion and overturned Roe. v. Wade, placing many abortion policy decisions with the states. Since 2022, seven ballot measures addressing abortion have been on the ballot, with 2022 having the highest number of abortion ballot measures on record in a single year. Four measures—in Vermont, Michigan, and California in 2022, and Ohio in 2023— were sponsored by campaigns that described themselves as pro-choice and created state constitutional rights to abortion. All four measures were approved. Three measures—in Kansas, Kentucky, and Montana— were sponsored by campaigns describing themselves as pro-life and were designed to explicitly provide that there is no right to abortion in the state constitution. All three were defeated.

What states were set to vote on abortion ballot measures in 2024?

See also: 2023 and 2024 abortion-related ballot measures

The following table provides a list of abortion-related measures that were on the ballot in 2024:

State Date Measure Description Outcome
Arizona Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Abortion Initiative • Establishes the fundamental right to abortion that the state of Arizona may not interfere with before the point of fetal viability Approveda
Colorado Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Abortion Initiative • Provide a constitutional right to abortion in the state constitution and allow the use of public funds for abortion Approveda
Florida Nov. 5, 2024 Florida Amendment 4 • Provide a constitutional right to abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider Defeatedd
Maryland Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment • Amend the Maryland Constitution to establish a right to reproductive freedom, defined to include "decisions to prevent, continue, or end one's own pregnancy" Approveda
Missouri Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment • Amend the Missouri Constitution to provide the right for reproductive freedom, and provide that the state legislature may enact laws that regulate abortion after fetal viability Approveda
Montana Nov. 5, 2024 CI-128, Right to Abortion Initiative • Amend the Montana Constitution to provide a state constitutional "right to make and carry out decisions about one’s own pregnancy, including the right to abortion" Approveda
Nebraska Nov. 5, 2024 Prohibit Abortions After the First Trimester Amendment • Amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide that "unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters" Approveda
Nebraska Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Abortion Initiative • Amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide that "all persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability" Defeatedd
New York Nov. 5, 2024 Equal Protection of Law Amendment • Add language to the New York Bill of Rights to provide that people cannot be denied rights based on their "ethnicity, national origin, age, and disability" or "sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy." Approveda
Nevada Nov. 5, 2024 Right to Abortion Initiative • Establish the constitutional right to an abortion, providing for the state to regulate abortion after fetal viability, except where medically indicated to protect the life, physical health, or mental health of the pregnant woman. Approveda
South Dakota Nov. 5, 2024 Constitutional Amendment G • Provide a trimester framework for regulating abortion in the South Dakota Constitution Defeatedd

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for the initiative was as follows:

“ Shall there be a change to the Colorado constitution recognizing the right to abortion, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting the state and local governments from denying, impeding, or discriminating against the exercise of that right, allowing abortion to be a covered service under health insurance plans for Colorado state and local government employees and for enrollees in state and local governmental insurance programs?[4] ”

Constitutional changes

See also: Article II, Colorado Constitution

The measure added Section 32 to Article II of the Colorado Constitution and repealed Section 50 of Article V of the Colorado Constitution. The following struck-through text was deleted and underlined text was added.[2]

Section 32. Abortion. The right to abortion is hereby recognized. Government shall not deny, impede, or discriminate against the exercise of that right, including prohibiting health insurance coverage for abortion. ... Section 50. Public Funding of Abortion Forbidden. No public funds shall be used by the State of Colorado, its agencies or political subdivisions to pay or otherwise reimburse, either directly or indirectly, any person, agency or facility for the performance of any induced abortion, PROVIDED HOWEVER, that the General Assembly, by specific bill, may authorize and appropriate funds to be used for those medical services necessary to prevent the death of either a pregnant woman or her unborn child under circumstances where every reasonable effort is made to preserve the life of each. [4]

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2024

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state board wrote the ballot language for this measure.

The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 32, and the FRE is -18. The word count for the ballot title is 63.

Support

CPRF.jpg

Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom led the campaign in support of the initiative. The committee provided a full list of supporters, which is available here.

Supporters

Arguments

Opposition

Pro-Life Colorado Fund, Coloradans for the Protection of Women and Children, and Vote No on 79 registered to oppose the initiative.

Opponents

Arguments

Media editorials

See also: 2024 ballot measure media endorsements

Support

Opposition

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Colorado ballot measures

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through October 28, 2024. The deadline for the next scheduled reports is December 10, 2024.

Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom registered to support the measure.[5]

Pro-Life Colorado Fund (also known as Right to Know CO), Coloradans for the Protection of Women and Children, and Vote No on 79 registered to oppose the initiative.

Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions Cash Expenditures Total Expenditures
Support 7,662,257.48∣7,662,257.48 7,662,257.48∣1,555,998.63 9,218,256.11∣9,218,256.11 9,218,256.11∣7,158,743.77 $8,714,742.40
Oppose 502,326.69∣502,326.69 502,326.69∣16,179.61 518,506.30∣518,506.30 518,506.30∣290,432.11 $306,611.72

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in support of the measure.[6]

Committees in support of Amendment 79
Committee Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions Cash Expenditures Total Expenditures
Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom 7,662,257.48∣7,662,257.48 7,662,257.48∣1,555,998.63 9,218,256.11∣9,218,256.11 9,218,256.11∣7,158,743.77 $8,714,742.40
Total 7,662,257.48∣7,662,257.48 7,662,257.48∣1,555,998.63 9,218,256.11∣9,218,256.11 9,218,256.11∣7,158,743.77 $8,714,742.40

Donors

The following were the top donors to the support committee.[6]

Donor Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions
Cobalt Advocates 705,235.00∣705,235.00 705,235.00∣1,422,553.40 $2,127,788.40
Open Society Policy Center 1,000,000.00∣1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00∣0.00 $1,000,000.00
Michael Bloomberg 750,000.00∣750,000.00 750,000.00∣0.00 $750,000.00
Cobalt Foundation 585,000.00∣585,000.00 585,000.00∣0.00 $585,000.00
Institute for Responsive Government Action, Inc. 510,000.00∣510,000.00 510,000.00∣0.00 $510,000.00

Opposition

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in opposition to the measure.[6]

Committees in opposition to Amendment 79
Committee Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions Cash Expenditures Total Expenditures
Pro-Life Colorado Fund 372,607.00∣372,607.00 372,607.00∣0.00 372,607.00∣372,607.00 372,607.00∣175,038.23 $175,038.23
Coloradans for the Protection of Women and Children 72,800.02∣72,800.02 72,800.02∣10,000.00 82,800.02∣82,800.02 82,800.02∣64,534.31 $74,534.31
Vote No on 79 56,919.67∣56,919.67 56,919.67∣6,179.61 63,099.28∣63,099.28 63,099.28∣50,859.57 $57,039.18
Total 502,326.69∣502,326.69 502,326.69∣16,179.61 518,506.30∣518,506.30 518,506.30∣290,432.11 $306,611.72

Donors

The following were the top donors to the opposition committees.[6]

Donor Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions
Archdiocese of Denver 225,000.00∣225,000.00 225,000.00∣0.00 $225,000.00
Andrew Wommack Ministries 30,000.00∣30,000.00 30,000.00∣0.00 $30,000.00
Colorado for Life 12,000.00∣12,000.00 12,000.00∣0.00 $12,000.00
Catherine Wheeler 5,000.00∣5,000.00 5,000.00∣0.00 $5,000.00
Colorado Right to Life Committee 0.00∣0.00 0.00∣3,993.61 $3,993.61

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Background

Abortion ballot measures in Colorado

Coloradans have voted on nine measures relating to abortion between 1984 and 2020.

In 1984, Coloradans voted 50.4% to 49.6% to ban public funding of abortion except for cases where the mother's life is in danger. The measure was challenged in 1988 and was upheld by voters. In 1998, Coloradans voted 55% to 45% to require parents to be notified if their minor children seek an abortion and voted 51% to 49% to reject a ban on partial-birth abortion. In 2000, Colorado voters rejected a measure that would have required women to be given certain information from a physician at least 24 hours in advance of an abortion. Coloradans rejected three measures (in 2008, 2010, and 2014) that would have defined person to include fetuses or unborn human beings. In 2020, voters rejected an initiative that would have banned abortions after 22 weeks.

Year Measure Measure summary Yes votes % No votes % Outcome
2020 Proposition 115, 22-Week Abortion Ban Prohibit abortions in Colorado after a fetus reaches 22-weeks gestational age 41.01% 58.99% Defeatedd
2014 [Amendment 67, Definition of _Person_](/Colorado%5FDefinition%5Fof%5F%22Personhood%22%5FInitiative,%5FAmendment%5F67%5F%282014%29 "Colorado Definition of "Personhood" Initiative, Amendment 67 (2014)") Include unborn human beings under the definition of person and child in the Colorado criminal code and the Colorado Wrongful Death Act 35.13% 64.87% Defeatedd
2010 Initiative 62, Definition of Person Define "person" to include unborn human beings from the beginning of biological development 29.57% 70.53% Defeatedd
2008 Initiative 48, Defiition of Person Define person to include any human being from the moment of fertilization 26.79% 73.21% Defeatedd
2000 Initiative 25, Requirements for Consenting to Abortion Define necessary conditions for a patient to give voluntary, informed consent prior to an abortion; require patients to be given specific information from a physician at least 24 hours in advance of an abortion except in cases of emergency 39.44% 60.56% Defeatedd
1998 Initiative 12, Parental Notification for Abortions Performed on Minors Require that parents of unemancipated minors be informed if the minor seeks an abortion; create mandatory 48 hour waiting period after the parental notification before the abortion could be performed 54.87% 45.13% Approveda
1998 Initiative 11, Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Ban partial-birth abortions and establish criminal penalties for performing them[7] 48.52% 51.48% Defeatedd
1988 Initiative 7, Repeal Ban on Public Funding for Abortion Repeal the 1984 measure that prohibited use of public funds for abortion 39.76% 60.24% Defeatedd
1984 Amendment 3, Ban on Public Funding of Abortion Prohibits use of public funds for abortion; allows legislature to appropriate funds for abortion to prevent the death of the mother 50.39% 49.61% Approveda

U.S. Supreme Court rulings on abortion

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022)

See also: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

In 2018, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a clinic and abortion facility in Mississippi, challenged the constitutionality of the "Gestational Age Act" in federal court. The newly-enacted law prohibited abortions after the fifteenth week of pregnancy except in cases of medical emergencies or fetal abnormalities. The U.S. district court granted summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, holding that the law was unconstitutional, and put a permanent stop to the law's enforcement. On appeal, the 5th Circuit affirmed the district court's ruling. Click here to learn more about the case's background. On May 17, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear the case.[8]

On June 24, 2022, in a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court of the United States found there was no constitutional right to abortion and overruled Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). In a 6-3 ruling, the court upheld Mississippi's abortion law at issue in the case. Roe v. Wade found that state laws criminalizing abortion prior to fetal viability violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. In Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the essential holding of Roe v. Wade but rejected the trimester framework established in the case. The high court affirmed that states could not ban abortions before fetal viability.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

In 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its ruling in Roe v. Wade, finding that state laws criminalizing abortion prior to fetal viability violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The high court held that states can regulate and/or prohibit abortions (except those to preserve the life or health of the mother) once a fetus reaches the point of viability. Roe v. Wade defined fetal viability as "the interim point at which the fetus becomes 'viable,' that is, potentially able to live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid." The high court further noted that "viability is usually placed at about seven months (28 weeks) but may occur earlier, even at 24 weeks."[9]

The ruling established a strict trimester framework to guide state abortion policies. States, according to this framework, were prohibited from banning or regulating abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. During the second trimester, states were permitted to regulate abortion to protect the mother's health. During the third trimester, states were allowed to ban abortion, except in cases where an abortion is needed to preserve the life or health of the mother.[9]

Abortion regulations by state

See also: Abortion regulations by state

As of November 4, 2024, 41 states restricted abortions after a certain point in pregnancy.[10] The remaining nine states and Washington, D.C., did not. Of the 41 states with established thresholds for restrictions on abortion:

The map and table below give more details on state laws restricting abortion based on the stage of pregnancy. Hover over the footnotes in the table for information on legislation pending legal challenges or otherwise not yet in effect.

Some of the terms that are used to describe states' thresholds for abortion restriction include the following:

  1. Conception: This threshold prohibits all abortions after conception, although some states provide exceptions if the woman's life or health is threatened.[11]
  2. Fetal heartbeat: This threshold restricts abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which may begin six weeks after the last menstrual period.[12][13]
  3. Fetal viability: In Roe v. Wade, SCOTUS defined fetal viability. The Supreme Court further noted that "viability is usually placed at about seven months (28 weeks) but may occur earlier, even at 24 weeks."[14]
  4. Last menstrual period: This threshold marks the beginning of a pregnancy from the first day of a woman's last menstrual period.[12]
  5. Post-fertilization: Thresholds using post-fertilization mark the beginning of pregnancy at the time of conception, which can occur up to 24 hours following intercourse. A threshold of 20 weeks post-fertilization is equivalent to 22 weeks since last menstrual period.[15]
  6. Post-implantation: Thresholds using post-implantation mark the beginning of pregnancy at the date on which a fertilized egg adheres to the lining of the uterus, roughly five days after fertilization. A threshold of 24 weeks post-implantation is equivalent to 27 weeks since last menstrual period.[15]
State abortion restrictions based on stage of pregnancy
State Does the state restrict abortion after a specific point in pregnancy? Threshold for restriction
Alabama Yes Conception
Alaska No None
Arizona Yes 15 weeks since last menstrual period[16]
Arkansas Yes Conception
California Yes Fetal viability
Colorado No None
Connecticut Yes Fetal viability
Delaware Yes Fetal viability
Florida Yes Six weeks post-fertilization
Georgia Yes Six weeks post-fertilization
Hawaii Yes Fetal viability
Idaho[17] Yes Conception
Illinois Yes Fetal viability
Indiana Yes Conception
Iowa Yes Six weeks post-fertilization
Kansas Yes 20 weeks since last menstrual period
Kentucky Yes Conception
Louisiana Yes Conception
Maine Yes Fetal viability
Maryland No None
Massachusetts Yes 24 weeks post-fertilization
Michigan No None
Minnesota No None
Mississippi Yes Conception
Missouri Yes Conception
Montana Yes Fetal viability
Nebraska Yes 12 weeks post-fertilization
Nevada Yes 24 weeks post-fertilization
New Hampshire Yes 24 weeks since last menstrual period
New Jersey No None
New Mexico No None
New York Yes Fetal viability
North Carolina Yes 12 weeks post-fertilization
North Dakota Yes Conception
Ohio Yes 20 weeks post-fertilization[18]
Oklahoma Yes Conception
Oregon No None
Pennsylvania Yes 24 weeks since last menstrual period
Rhode Island Yes Fetal viability
South Carolina Yes Six weeks post-fertilization
South Dakota Yes Conception
Tennessee Yes Conception
Texas Yes Conception
Utah Yes 18 weeks since last menstrual period
Vermont No None
Virginia Yes Third trimester since last menstrual period
Washington Yes Fetal viability
Washington, D.C. No None
West Virginia Yes Conception
Wisconsin Yes 20 weeks post-fertilization
Wyoming Yes Fetal viability
Sources:Guttmacher Institute, "State Policies on Later Abortions," accessed August 16, 2024; CNA, "TRACKER: Check the status of abortion trigger laws across the U.S.," accessed August 16, 2024; The Fuller Project, "How major abortion laws compare, state by state," accessed August 16, 2024

History of abortion ballot measures

See also: History of abortion ballot measures

In 2022, there were six ballot measures addressing abortion — the most on record for a single year. Measures were approved in California, Michigan, and Vermont. Measures were defeated in Kansas, Kentucky, and Montana.

From 1970 to November 2022, there were 53 abortion-related ballot measures, and 43 (81%) of these had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-life. Voters approved 11 (26%) and rejected 32 (74%) of these 43 ballot measures. The other 10 abortion-related ballot measures had the support of organizations that described themselves as pro-choice or pro-reproductive rights. Voters approved seven (70%) and rejected three (30%).

Before Roe v. Wade in 1973, three abortion-related measures were on the ballot in Michigan, North Dakota, and Washington, and each was designed to allow abortion in its respective state.

The following graph shows the number of abortion-related ballot measures per year since 1970:

Constitutional rights

The topic constitutional rights addresses ballot measures that establish a state constitutional right to abortion. Campaigns that support these measures often describe themselves as pro-choice or pro-reproductive rights.

State Year Measure Yes No Outcome
Arizona 2024 Proposition 139, Right to Abortion Initiative N/A N/A Approveda
Colorado 2024 Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative N/A N/A Approveda
Florida 2024 Amendment 4, Right to Abortion Initiative N/A N/A Defeatedd
Maryland 2024 Maryland Question 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment N/A N/A Approveda
Missouri 2024 Missouri Amendment 3, Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative N/A N/A Approveda
Montana 2024 CI-128, Right to Abortion Initiative N/A N/A Approveda
Nebraska 2024 Nebraska Initiative 439, Right to Abortion Amendment N/A N/A Defeatedd
Nevada 2024 Nevada Question 6, Right to Abortion Initiative N/A N/A Approveda
New York 2024 New York Proposal 1, Equal Protection of Law Amendment N/A N/A Approveda
South Dakota 2024 Constitutional Amendment G, Right to Abortion Initiative N/A N/A Defeatedd
Ohio 2023 Issue 1: Right to Make Reproductive Decisions Including Abortion Initiative 56.78% 43.22% Approveda
California 2022 Proposition 1: Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment 66.88% 33.12% Approveda
Michigan 2022 Proposal 3: Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative 56.66% 43.34% Approveda
Vermont 2022 Proposal 5: Right to Personal Reproductive Autonomy Amendment 76.77% 23.23% Approveda

Constitutional interpretation

The topic constitutional interpretation addresses ballot measures designed to provide that state constitutions cannot be interpreted to establish a state constitutional right to abortion. These types of amendments are designed to address previous and future state court rulings on abortion that have prevented or could prevent legislatures from passing certain abortion laws. Campaigns that support these measures often describe themselves as pro-life.

State Year Measure Yes No Outcome
Kansas 2022 No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment 41.03% 58.97% Defeatedd
Kentucky 2022 No State Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment 47.65% 52.35% Defeatedd
Louisiana 2020 Amendment 1: No Right to Abortion in Constitution Amendment 62.06% 37.94% Approveda
Alabama 2018 Amendment 2: State Abortion Policy Amendment 59.01% 40.99% Approveda
West Virginia 2018 Amendment 1: No Right to Abortion in Constitution Measure 51.73% 48.27% Approveda
Tennessee 2014 Amendment 1: No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment 52.60% 47.40% Approveda
Florida 2012 Amendment 6: State Constitution Interpretation and Prohibit Public Funds for Abortions Amendment 44.90% 55.10% Defeatedd
Massachusetts 1986 Question 1: No State Constitutional Right to Abortion and Legislative Power to Regulate Abortion Amendment 41.83% 58.17% Defeatedd

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Colorado

The state process

In Colorado, the number of signatures required to qualify an initiated constitutional amendment for the ballot is equal to 5 percent of the total number of votes cast for the office of Colorado secretary of state in the preceding general election. For initiated constitutional amendments, signature gathering must be distributed to include signatures equal to 2 percent of the registered voters who live in each of the state's 35 senate districts.

State law provides that petitioners have six months to collect signatures after the ballot language and title are finalized. State statutes require a completed signature petition to be filed three months and three weeks before the election at which the measure would appear on the ballot. The Constitution, however, states that the petition must be filed three months before the election at which the measure would appear. The secretary of state generally lists a date that is three months before the election as the filing deadline.

Constitutional amendments in Colorado require a 55% supermajority vote to be ratified and added to the state constitution. This requirement was added by Amendment 71 of 2016.

The requirements to get an initiated constitutional amendment certified for the 2024 ballot:

The secretary of state is responsible for signature verification. Verification is conducted through a review of petitions regarding correct form and then a 5 percent random sampling verification. If the sampling projects between 90 percent and 110 percent of required valid signatures, a full check of all signatures is required. If the sampling projects more than 110 percent of the required signatures, the initiative is certified. If less than 90 percent, the initiative fails.

Details about this initiative

Signature gathering cost

See also: Ballot measures cost per required signatures analysis

Sponsors of the measure hired Fieldworks LLC to collect signatures for the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot. A total of 2,991,718.21wasspenttocollectthe124,238validsignaturesrequiredtoputthismeasurebeforevoters,resultinginatotalcostperrequiredsignature(CPRS)of2,991,718.21 was spent to collect the 124,238 valid signatures required to put this measure before voters, resulting in a total cost per required signature (CPRS) of 2,991,718.21wasspenttocollectthe124,238validsignaturesrequiredtoputthismeasurebeforevoters,resultinginatotalcostperrequiredsignature(CPRS)of24.08.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Colorado

Click "Show" to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Colorado.

How to cast a vote in Colorado
Poll times In Colorado, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time for those who choose to vote in person rather than by mail. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[22][23] Registration Check your voter registration status here. In Colorado, an individual can pre-register to vote if they are at least 15 years old. Voters must be at least 18 years old to vote in any election. A voter must be a citizen of the United States and have established residence in Colorado to vote.[24] Colorado voters can register to vote through Election Day. However, in order to automatically receive a absentee/mail-in ballot, a voter must register online, through the mail, at a voter registration agency, or driver's license examination facility at least eight days prior to Election Day. A voter that registers through a voter registration drive must submit their application no later than 22 days before the election to automatically receive an absentee/mail-in ballot. A voter can register online or submit a form in person or by fax, email, or mail.[24][25] Automatic registration Colorado automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and certain other state agencies. Online registration See also: Online voter registration Colorado has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registration Colorado allows same-day voter registration for individuals who vote in person. Residency requirements Colorado law requires 22 days of residency in the state before a person may vote. Verification of citizenship See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States Colorado does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury. Verifying your registration The site Go Vote Colorado, run by the Colorado Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online. Voter ID requirements Colorado requires voters to present non-photo identification when voting in person. If voting by mail for the first, a voter may also need to return a photocopy of his or her identification with his or her mail-in ballot. Click here for more information.The following list of accepted forms of identification was current as of July 2024. Click here for the most current information, sourced directly from the Office of the Colorado Secretary of State. “ The following documents are acceptable forms of identification:A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note: documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.) A valid U.S. passport. A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado. A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S. A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector. A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector. A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood. A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector. Certified documentation of naturalization. A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in *Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S.. A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector. A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership. Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification. The following documents are also considered acceptable forms of identification for voting: Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S. Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S. Written correspondence from the county sheriff or his or her designee to the county clerk indicating that a voter is confined in a county jail or detention facility.[26][4] ”

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Colorado Secretary of State, "Initiative Filings," accessed April 21, 2023
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Initiative 89 full text," accessed April 19, 2024
  3. ↑ The Hill, "Abortion initiative clears signature threshold to get on Colorado ballot," accessed April 19, 2024
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ Colorado TRACER, "COLORADANS FOR PROTECTING REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM," accessed April 22, 2024
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named finance
  7. ↑ Partial-birth abortion would have been defined as those abortions performed by someone who, "deliberately and intentionally causes to be delivered into the vagina a living human fetus or any substantive portion thereof for the purpose of performing any procedure the person knows will kill the fetus and kills the fetus before completing delivery."
  8. ↑ SCOTUSblog, "Court to weigh in on Mississippi abortion ban intended to challenge Roe v. Wade," May 17, 2021
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cornell University Law School, "Roe v. Wade," accessed April 27, 2017
  10. ↑ Note: Exceptions to these thresholds are generally provided when pregnancy threatens the mother's life or health.
  11. ↑ The Fuller Project, "How major abortion laws compare, state by state," accessed December 4, 2022
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Kaiser Family Foundation, "States with Gestational Limits for Abortion," August 1, 2020
  13. ↑ Guttmacher Institute, "State Bans on Abortion Throughout Pregnancy," September 1, 2021
  14. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Roe v. Wade, January 22, 1973
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Guttmacher Institute, "The Implications of Defining When a Woman Is Pregnant," May 9, 2005
  16. ↑ Click here for more on the April 9, 2024, Arizona Supreme Court ruling on the enforcement of the 1864 statute
  17. ↑ In a 6-3 decision in Moyle v. United States (consolidated with Idaho v. United States), the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2024, reinstated a U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho ruling that temporarily blocked the state of Idaho from enforcing the part of a 2022 law that barred abortion in case of certain medical emergencies.
  18. ↑ Ohio voters approved Issue 1 in 2023, allowing the state to restrict abortion only after fetal viability. However, the state's previous restrictions on abortion—such as SB 127, which banned abortion at 20 weeks post-fertilization—remained on the books. As of August 2024, courts had not weighed in on the interaction between Issue 1 and the older laws.
  19. ↑ NBC News, "Colorado abortion rights groups formally launch 2024 ballot measure effort," accessed January 22, 2024
  20. ↑ Yahoo, "Colorado abortion access amendment has enough signatures to make 2024 election ballot, organizers say," accessed April 19, 2024
  21. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Proposed Initiative #89 Qualifies for General Election Ballot," accessed May 18, 2024
  22. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Mail-in Ballots FAQs," accessed July 16, 2024
  23. ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "1-7-101," accessed July 16, 2024
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Voter Registration FAQs," accessed July 16, 2024
  25. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Go Vote Colorado," accessed July 15, 2024
  26. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Acceptable Forms of Identification," accessed July 17, 2024
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