Colorado voters have a crucial opportunity this election to directly shape the future of their state through ballot initiatives. These measures allow citizens to vote on specific policies, ensuring direct democracy beyond electing politicians. It’s vital for Coloradans to unite against extremist agendas and ensure Colorado becomes a beacon for civil rights. By carefully considering state and local ballot initiatives, we can solidify Colorado’s position as a national leader in safeguarding and expanding fundamental rights.
Understanding the Ballot Measures: Initiatives to Oppose
The ACLU of Colorado is actively opposing three ballot measures in the upcoming election. These initiatives are linked to extremist networks, including those behind the dangerous Project 2025, and employ misleading language to advance agendas that undermine civil rights.
Proposition 128: Misleading “Tough on Crime” Approach
Proposition 128 is deceptively presented as a measure to enhance public safety by being “tough on crime.” It proposes increasing the time incarcerated individuals must serve before becoming eligible for parole for certain violent offenses. However, this proposition will not effectively reduce crime rates. Instead, it will lead to increased state spending on prisons, create more dangerous environments for correctional officers, and dismantle incentives for good behavior within prisons.
This proposition is strategically designed to keep individuals who are statistically less likely to re-offend incarcerated for extended periods. This will unnecessarily inflate the prison population and drive up costs for Colorado taxpayers. The proponents of Proposition 128 are using fear tactics on voters rather than proposing meaningful solutions that address the underlying causes of criminal activity and threats to public safety.
Furthermore, by delaying earned time credit, Proposition 128 will negatively impact safety within prisons. Earned time credit encourages incarcerated individuals to participate in vital rehabilitation programs such as education, mental health services, and other programs aimed at reducing recidivism. Undermining these incentives will make prisons less safe for both inmates and staff.
Proposition 130: Defunding Essential Services Under the Guise of “First Responders”
Proposition 130 falsely claims to bolster funding for first responders but deceptively restricts these funds exclusively to local law enforcement. Crucially, it excludes firefighters, EMTs, and mental health professionals – all essential components of emergency response and public safety.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that Colorado already allocates more funding to law enforcement per capita than 75% of other states in the nation. Despite this significant investment, Proposition 130 seeks to divert even more public funds to local law enforcement. This redirection of resources comes at the expense of other critical services that are proven to be more effective in enhancing and supporting public safety, including education resources, mental health services, co-responder programs, and community development initiatives.
The government funding mandated by Proposition 130 lacks any provisions for oversight and explicitly prohibits its use for alternative response models or diversion programs. This narrow focus on law enforcement at the expense of comprehensive public safety strategies is a misguided approach that will not effectively address the root causes of community issues.
Amendment 80: The “School Choice” Trojan Horse
While “school choice” is already established and legally protected in Colorado since 1994, Amendment 80 presents itself as a measure to further protect this choice. Colorado parents already possess the right to send their children to the public, charter, private, or home school of their choosing. However, Amendment 80 is a deceptive measure disguised as supporting school choice when its true aim is far more damaging.
Amendment 80 is a “trojan horse” designed to create a pathway towards a statewide voucher program. Voucher programs divert public taxpayer dollars to bankroll private schools. This redirection of funds drains critical resources from already underfunded public schools, funneling them towards private institutions that often discriminate against students and families and are not held to the same state education standards or requirements to serve all students. It’s essential to remember that public schools serve 95% of Colorado’s children and families. We must not jeopardize the education of the vast majority of our students to benefit a small, wealthier segment of the population already attending private schools.
Beyond the financial implications, Amendment 80 poses a significant threat to the quality and inclusivity of public education. If passed, proponents will exploit the newly created “constitutional right” of parents to direct their child’s education to justify censorship, remove crucial topics like race, ethnicity, and sex education from school curriculums, initiate lawsuits against schools for adhering to state non-discrimination laws, and interfere with school activities in numerous other ways.
Protect Colorado’s public schools and keep extremist ideologies that promote censorship out of classrooms by voting NO on Amendment 80.
Ballot Measures to Support: Codifying Privacy and Autonomy
The ACLU of Colorado strongly supports two statewide ballot measures that will enshrine privacy and autonomy into Colorado law. Passing these measures will fortify Coloradans’ freedoms against potential future detrimental decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court that could negatively impact civil rights and civil liberties.
Amendment J: Protecting Marriage Equality
The Colorado Constitution currently contains an outdated amendment that bans same-sex marriage in the state. Amendment J is a crucial step forward, affirming Colorado’s support for marriage equality by officially and permanently repealing this discriminatory ban from the state Constitution.
Repealing this ban will ensure that Colorado can safeguard marriage rights against any potential future federal rollbacks. Voting YES on Amendment J is a vote to protect the freedom to marry for all couples in Colorado.
Amendment 79: Enshrining Reproductive Rights
Every individual deserves the autonomy to make personal decisions about pregnancy and abortion, free from political interference. Amendment 79 is designed to codify access to abortion, IVF, and birth control directly into the Colorado Constitution.
A YES vote on Amendment 79 will enshrine the rights of every individual within Colorado’s borders, regardless of their insurance provider, to access essential reproductive healthcare privately and without fear of prosecution. This amendment is vital to ensuring that Coloradans retain control over their own bodies and healthcare decisions.
By voting strategically on these Colorado ballot initiatives, voters can actively protect civil rights, strengthen direct democracy, and ensure Colorado remains a state that champions freedom and equality for all.
