Ballot initiatives in Colorado empower voters to directly shape policies, offering a crucial opportunity to vote on specific issues beyond just political candidates. This year, it’s vital for Colorado voters to unite against extremist agendas, such as those embodied by Project 2025, and reinforce our state’s commitment to civil rights. By carefully considering state and local ballot initiatives, Colorado can solidify its position as a national leader in safeguarding and expanding fundamental rights.
Oppose These Colorado Ballot Measures Rooted in Extremism
The ACLU of Colorado urges voters to reject three ballot measures that, while deceptively worded, are linked to the extremist network behind Project 2025 and pose a threat to civil rights.
Proposition 128: False “Tough on Crime” Approach Will Increase Incarceration and Costs
Proposition 128 is presented as a measure to enhance public safety by increasing prison sentences for certain violent offenses before parole eligibility. However, this proposition will not effectively reduce crime. Instead, it will lead to a significant rise in state prison spending, create more dangerous conditions for correctional officers, and undermine incentives for good behavior within prisons.
This proposition is strategically designed to keep individuals who are statistically less likely to re-offend incarcerated for longer periods. This will inflate the prison population and drive up costs for Colorado taxpayers. The proponents of Proposition 128 are using fear tactics on voters instead of proposing evidence-based solutions that address the underlying causes of crime and enhance public safety.
Beyond the immediate and long-term financial burden, Proposition 128 will negatively impact safety within prisons. By delaying earned time credit, which motivates incarcerated individuals to participate in rehabilitation programs like education and mental health services, the proposition removes a key tool for fostering safer prison environments and successful re-entry into society.
Proposition 130: Misleading Claims of Funding First Responders at the Expense of Essential Services
Proposition 130 deceptively claims to bolster funding for first responders. However, it specifically restricts this funding to local law enforcement, excluding firefighters, EMTs, and mental health professionals. It’s important to note that Colorado already allocates more funding to law enforcement per capita than 75% of other states in the U.S., according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Despite this existing high level of law enforcement funding, Proposition 130 diverts even more resources to local police at the expense of other crucial services that are proven to enhance public safety. These services include education, mental health support, co-responder programs that pair law enforcement with mental health professionals, and community development initiatives. Furthermore, the government funding mandated by Proposition 130 lacks any oversight mechanisms and cannot be used for alternative response strategies or diversion programs that could be more effective and community-centered.
Amendment 80: “School Choice” Disguise for a Voucher System that Harms Public Education
While “school choice” is already established and legally protected in Colorado since 1994 – allowing parents to choose public, charter, private, or home schooling – Amendment 80 is a deceptive measure disguised as protecting school choice. In reality, Amendment 80 is a Trojan horse designed to create a pathway for a statewide voucher program.
Voucher programs divert public taxpayer dollars to fund private schools. This redirection of funds takes critical resources away from already underfunded public schools, which serve 95% of Colorado students. These funds are then funneled to private schools that often have discriminatory admissions practices and are not held to the same state education standards or requirements to serve all students. It is crucial to protect the education of the vast majority of children in public schools and not jeopardize their future to benefit a small percentage of wealthier families already in private education.
Beyond the financial implications, Amendment 80 poses further threats. If passed, proponents will exploit the newly created constitutional “right” of parents to direct their child’s education to justify censorship in schools, ban books, remove curriculum related to race, ethnicity, or sex education, and challenge schools for adhering to state non-discrimination laws. Amendment 80 opens the door for extremist interference in countless aspects of school activities. It’s crucial to keep public funds dedicated to public schools and prevent extremists who support censorship from infiltrating Colorado classrooms by voting NO on Amendment 80.
Support These Colorado Ballot Measures to Protect Privacy and Autonomy
The ACLU of Colorado strongly supports two statewide ballot measures that will strengthen privacy and autonomy rights in Colorado law. Passing these measures is essential to safeguard Coloradans’ freedoms from potential future adverse decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court that could undermine civil rights and civil liberties.
Amendment J: Codify Marriage Equality in the Colorado Constitution
The Colorado Constitution currently contains an outdated amendment that bans same-sex marriage. Amendment J is a crucial step to formally and permanently repeal this discriminatory ban. By affirming Colorado’s support for same-sex marriage in the state Constitution, Amendment J will ensure the protection of marriage rights against any future federal rollbacks. Vote YES on Amendment J to protect the freedom to marry for all in Colorado.
Amendment 79: Enshrine Abortion, IVF, and Birth Control Access in the Constitution
Everyone deserves the freedom to make personal decisions about pregnancy and abortion without political interference. Amendment 79 will codify the right to abortion, IVF, and birth control access directly into the Colorado Constitution. A YES vote on Amendment 79 will enshrine the right for every individual within our state, regardless of their insurance provider, to access essential reproductive healthcare privately and without fear of prosecution.
