Here we go Colorado!
It’s another big election year and there are some very bad ballot measures being voted on this year.
Of course, you can still vote in person, but most Colorado voters will mail their ballot back or drop it off.
You have until Tuesday, November 5th by 7 PM to drop them off at your local county drop box.
This year is expected to see record voter turnout, so make sure your vote counts!
Note that Amendments to the State Constitution require 55% of voters to approve the measure.
Let’s take a look at the fourteen statewide ballot measures for the 2024 Colorado Election.
Amendment G: Modify Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities
This measure is on the ballot because it was referred to Colorado voters by the State Legislature.
In 2023, HCR23-1002 was passed by both the House and the Senate with no legislators voting against it.
If passed, Amendment G could mean that an additional 3,700 Colorado veterans will qualify for the Property Tax Homestead Exemption.
Here’s how the Homestead Exemption according to the Legislative Council Staff:
The homestead exemption in the Colorado Constitution exempts 50 percent of the first $200,000 of residential property owned by a qualifying senior or veteran with a service-connected disability from property taxes. For example, a $150,000 residence is taxed as if it was worth $75,000, and a $500,000 residence is taxed as if it was worth $400,000.
Local governments across Colorado will be reimbursed by the State Government to the tune of about $2.8 million per year.
This reimbursement money will come out of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) surplus. This money would otherwise be refunded back to the taxpayers who paid it.
The Homestead exemption is one of the TABOR refund mechanisms currently allowed in Colorado State Law, this just expands it to include veterans that have a disability that gives them an “unemployability status” as determined by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
(If the Homestead Exemption amount is more than what’s available in the TABOR surplus, this money will come from the General Fund Budget)
So, is this a pro-liberty Amendment?
On one hand it reduces taxes for thousands of Coloradans.
But on the other hand, the tax reimbursement is at the expense of all other taxpaying Coloradans.
Additionally, the idea of a local government’s budget being reliant on the State Government could lead to issues.
This Amendment is expected to pass.
People want to support veterans and voters are anxious to lower property taxes.
It’s hard to argue against providing property tax relief to veterans who are not able to work due to a service related injury.
Even though there are concerns due to the use of TABOR refund money for a special interest, it is still probably a good idea to vote for this measure.
Free State Colorado hesitantly recommends a Yes vote.
Amendment H: Judicial Discipline Procedure & Confidentiality
This measure was also referred to the voters by the State Legislature with HCR23-1001. This resolution was passed in 2023 with near unanimous approval.
Amendment H will create a new Independent Judicial Discipline Commission and an associated Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board to hold judges accountable.
The Board will be composed of four judges (selected by the Supreme Court), two attorneys (appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate), and four citizens (appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate).
This board, with only 10 members might have too much power for such a small group of people.
Especially when considering that the Governor will be appointing the majority of the members.
This board will conduct hearings to investigate complaints of Justices or Judges, and exercise power of their careers.
If the board agrees with the complaint, they can enact disciplinary action, including retirement or removal of the Judge or Justice.
Amendment H creates a check against the Judicial branch of Colorado government that has had little accountability.
With hesitation, Free State Colorado recommends a yes vote.
Amendment I: Constitutional Bail Exception for First Degree Murder
The Colorado State Legislature passed HCR24-1002 earlier this year, placing this Amendment on the ballot.
The Senate passed the bill unanimously, but the House had 5 legislators vote against it: Rod Bockenfeld, Elisabeth Epps, Lorena Garcia, Tim Hernandez and Javier Mabrey.
The resolution was a response to People v. Smith (2023), in which the court determined that murder suspects are allowed bail, according to the State Constitution.
When the State Legislature repealed the death penalty in 2020, they inadvertently created a situation in which bail could not denied to murder suspects.
Amendment I would allow courts to deny bail for individuals charged with first-degree murder.
From a Liberty perspective, individuals accused for a crime should be allowed bail.
However, someone arrested for first-degree murder is a serious flight risk and a possible danger to the community.
Free State Colorado recommends voting yes.
Amendment J: Repealing the Definition of Marriage in the Constitution
Interestingly, this amendment only requires a simple majority.
The Colorado Legislature passed SCR24-003 earlier this year, placing Amendment J on the ballot.
This Amendment would repeal Section 31 of Article II in the State Constitution.
This line would be removed from the State Constitution: Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.
Of course, in 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage is legal.
From a Liberty perspective, the State should have no say on marriage between consenting adults.
This Amendment has no bearing on State Law unless the current or future Supreme Court overturns Obergefell.
And even then, Colorado State Law would protect same-sex marriage.
This measure eliminates the definition of marriage from the State Constitution, which the State should have no control over anyway.
From a pure Pro-Liberty stand, voters should vote yes.
Amendment K: Modify Constitutional Election Deadlines
Yet another Amendment placed on the ballot by the Colorado Legislature, SCR24-002 was passed this year.
This would adjust the deadlines for some filings for elections.
According to Legislative Council Staff:
Deadlines for filing initiative petitions, referendum petitions, and declaration of intent for judges and justices will all be moved up one week. Under current law, nonpartisan research staff publish the text and titles of ballot measures at least 15 days before an election. This resolution extends that period to 45 days.
County Clerks and the Secretary of State are looking for more time before an election to fulfill their duties.
Amendment K would take a week away from citizens who are collecting signatures to get an initiative on the ballot.
If the Secretary of State or County Clerks are struggling to complete their duties before the election, then they need more staff or streamlined processes.
Citizen initiatives should not suffer.
Free State Colorado recommends a No Vote on Amendment K.
Amendment 79: Constitutional Right to Abortion
This one is a deep dive into the real nature of politics.
This is a citizen-led initiative, meaning activists had to get at least 124,632 signatures from Colorado voters to put this on the ballot.
This Secretary of State shows that Dusti Gurule, of Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) and Dani Newsum of COBALT are the two designated representatives of this measure.
Of note, COLOR has received $10,000 in taxpayer money from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment according to TOPS.
Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom is in support of the Amendment.
They’ve raised over $5.5 million.
The committee has Rachel Gordon and Ashley Stevens as the agents. These two names are very familiar in Colorado’s Democratic campaigns.
The biggest donors to the campaign are as follows:
The Open Society Policy Center is a George Soros organization.
Institute for Responsive Government (IRG) is a left wing dark money group according to Influence Watch. IRG has been supportive of Colorado’s automatic voter registration schemes.
The Schusterman family has donated nearly $3 million in support of ballot measures in Colorado elections according to TRACER. Schusterman is part of the Rothschild family according to Wikipedia, which explains her wealth.
Lynn Schusterman is also a top donor of Florida’s pro-abortion ballot measure this year (with $5 million dollars), and the biggest political donor in Oklahoma according to Tulsa World.
Alliance for Youth Organizing, a Washington DC based organization was previously written about in the Free State Colorado article on New Era Colorado. The New Era Foundation has received at least $500,000 from Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom during this campaign.
An internet search shows that Alliance for Youth Organizing shares office space with Center for Employment Justice, and Circuit Media.
Circuit Media also has an office in Colorado, and has apparently received $424,685 from the State of Colorado this year alone!
The Executive Director’s Office of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is responsible for over $377,000 of this spending.
Kim Bimestefer has been the Executive Director, and a member of the Governor’s Cabinet for since January 2018. Before that she was a President at Cigna for 15 years.
Shifting gears, Vote No on 79 is a Committee opposing Amendment 79, and they’ve raised just over $31,000.
Looking at the measure itself, it seems unnecessary because Colorado has the loosest abortion laws in the country.
In Colorado, a pregnant woman can have an abortion at any stage of her pregnancy, including immediately before the baby is due.
So why have abortion advocates spent so much money to get this on the ballot?
Check out the very last line of the actual text of the amendment:
It says: Section 3. In the constitution of the state of Colorado, repeal section 50 of article V.
Here’s what Article V, Section 50 of the Colorado Constitution states:
That’s right. It’s all about repealing the prohibition on taxpayer funded abortions in Colorado.
From a Liberty perspective, this must be opposed.
Taxation itself is immoral, and the use of tax money for state-funded abortions is also immoral.
Free State Colorado recommends a No Vote.
Amendment 80: Constitutional Right to School Choice
This is also a citizen initiative. But this one is led by Advance Colorado’s Michael Fields and Kristi Burton Brown.
This amendment would enshrine the right to school choice in the State Constitution.
The actual language is as follows:
School Choice is a Liberty issue.
The monopoly that the State has held over education has led to horrible outcomes for many children.
Protecting the rights of parents to direct the education of their children has been needed for a long time.
Guaranteeing that neighborhood, charter, private and home schools will be options for families allows for better competition and opportunities.
This amendment is definitely a step in the right direction for liberty.
However, there is concern over the measure from Pro-Liberty advocates.
Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) sent an email on September 3rd cautioning against the amendment:
Upon review of the potential ballot Initiative #138 that is slated to be on your 2024 Colorado Ballot, CUT recommends a NO vote.
The Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT) supports educational alternatives such as parental choice to create competition and improve student results at a lower cost. While Initiative #138 may be well-intentioned, it is poorly written and ambiguous. First and foremost, Coloradans should not add amendments to our Constitution that are ambiguous. When it comes to our children, we must be specific.
Secondly, the initiative states “all children have the right to equal opportunity to access a quality education; that parents have the right to direct the education of their children…” This language seems to create potential legal conflicts between the child (does a second grader have the right to determine his or her “equal opportunity to access a quality education”) and the right of parents to “direct” the education of their children. We also ask, “Who determines the definition of a quality education?”
Lastly section (2) gives rights to children thereby eliminating parental choice in the matter.
CUT votes NO on Initiative #138.
CUT is a wonderful organization that does incredible work in defense of Colorado taxpayers.
I understand their hesitation, and I am also concerned about the State using this amendment to further regulate and control non-governmental education organizations.
Ari Armstrong, in his Complete Colorado Page 2 article also expresses concern over the measure:
Because Initiative 138 is ambiguously written, it could undermine school choice in Colorado in important ways, depending on how lawmakers write enacting legislation, how school districts interpret it, and how courts decide the inevitable legal battles.
Of course, the State will use whatever than can to further their goal of shutting down alternative options to their schooling system.
The State doesn’t need Amendment 80 to interfere with non-government schools.
Even with the risk, Free State Colorado recommends a Yes Vote.
Proposition JJ: Retain Additional Sports Betting Revenue
This is a measure referred by the State Legislature, but since it is not an amendment, it only requires a majority vote to pass.
HB24-1436 was passed earlier this year to refer this measure to the voters.
Voters agreed to legalize sports betting in Colorado in 2019 with Proposition DD, which allowed the state to collect up to $29 million dollars in sports betting taxes per year.
Now, legislators want to override what voters approved in 2019.
Basically, the greedy politicians in the State Legislature are attempting to take more tax money, in excess of the $29 million they are limited to currently.
From the Liberty perspective, this is a clear No Vote!
Proposition KK: Firearms & Ammunition Excise Tax
The State Legislature put this on the ballot with HB24-1349, one of the many anti-gun bills passed this year.
This proposition would create a 6.5% tax on the purchase of a “firearm, firearm precursor part, or ammunition in Colorado.”
This is an absolute infringement on the God-Given right of individuals to self-defense.
The sponsors of the bill are listed here:
This anti-gun politicians have lost all legitimacy with their attack on the rights of Coloradans.
This new tax would rob Colorado gun owners of over $80 million over the next three years, according to the bill’s fiscal note.
Life in Colorado has grown dangerous for those individuals in high-crime areas. And unfortunately, with the State Government’s policies, violent criminals are not expected to disappear anytime soon.
Free State Colorado strongly recommends a No Vote on this egregious attempt to restrict our rights.
Proposition 127: Prohibit Bobcat, Lynx, and Mountain Lion Hunting
This was a citizen-led initiative put on the ballot by a group called Cats Aren’t Trophies.
This committee has raised over $1.9 million in their effort to outlaw the hunting of mountain lions, lynx ad bobcats in Colorado.
You can see their top contributors below:
This initiative is another attempt at “ballot box biology,” in which political activists think they can manage the population of wild animals.
Also, hunting animals is a part of the Colorado lifestyle for so many people. These anti-hunting activists will not stop until all hunting is banned.
Mountain lions are dangerous predators that can threaten the lives of humans and livestock.
If we are to preserve our way of life, hunting should be preserved.
Free State Colorado recommends a No Vote.
Proposition 128: Parole Eligibility for Crimes of Violence
This is a citizen initiative placed on the ballot by Advance Colorado.
Crime has been a major issue for Colorado in recent years.
Of course, since 2020, there have been calls to “defund the police.”
Many people believe the State Legislature has failed to protect people from criminals with a soft-on-crime approach.
And unfortunately, the Legislature has made it more difficult for good people to use a firearm to defend themselves and their families.
The combination of legislation that makes it easier for criminals to get away with their crimes and legislation that makes good people defenseless is a recipe for disaster.
Colorado has also seen it’s fair share of District Attorneys that fail to seriously punish violent criminals.
This proposition means that convicted murderers, rapists, kidnappers, arsonists, burglars and other violent criminals will spend more time in jail. Repeat criminals will also be penalized.
From a Liberty perspective, it makes sense to be skeptical of increasing criminal sentencing.
However, if an individual is found guilty of a violent or property crime, they deserve jail time.
Last year, when the first headlines were being written about this proposition, Free State Colorado published an article about a better solution to the crime problem: How to Lower Crime in Denver? Legislation from 2018 Shows The Way.
A better solution would be to empower citizens by strengthening the legal protections for armed self-defense.
Nonetheless, Proposition 128 is one way to help slow the rising crime situation in the Denver Metro area.
Free State Colorado recommends a Yes Vote.
Proposition 129: Establishing Veterinary Professional Associates
This citizen initiative was placed on the ballot by Apryl Steele, President and CEO of the Dumb Friends League, and Ali Mickelson, Sr. Director of Advocacy and Education at the Dumb Friends League.
The purpose of this proposition is to create a new “regulated profession” that the State recognizes to provide licensed veterinary medicine.
The claim is that due to a shortage of veterinary professionals, a new licensed position should be created.
Licensing laws are a detriment to the market and should be abolished.
The solution to a shortage of veterinary professionals is to deregulate the industry and let the market provide solutions to employment issues.
Proposition 129 expands the government’s licensing powers, and although it may be seen as necessary, it doesn’t solve the problem in a Pro-Liberty way.
Free State Colorado is neutral on this proposition.
Proposition 130: Funding for Law Enforcement
This is another citizen initiative put on the ballot by Advance Colorado.
Of course, this is a similar to Proposition 128 in that it is designed to address the crime issue in Colorado.
This would direct the General Assembly to make a one-time $350 million appropriation to a newly created Peace Officer Training and Support Fund.
Also, an ongoing $1 million death benefit would be created for families of fallen law enforcement officers.
This proposition will be an interesting evaluation of the voting public’s support of law enforcement.
Law enforcement is best handled at the local level and this new fund would disperse funds to the local governments.
However, from a Liberty perspective, this $350 million of Colorado tax money would be better spent on giving it back to those who paid it.
Protecting property and lives may be one of the only proper roles of government, and this initiative would strengthen the ability of the State to do so.
Proposition 130 can be seen as a handout to a special interest group, similar to what was discussed in Amendment G.
This is an attempt to give local law enforcement a cash injection to help them fight the crime that Colorado has seen in recent years.
Because there is no increase in taxes associated the with this measure, Free State Colorado does not oppose it.
Free State Colorado is neutral on this measure.
Proposition 131: Establishing All-Candidate Primary & Ranked Choice Voting General Election
This is a complicated measure put on the ballot by Kent Thiry’s group Colorado Voters First.
Thiry is responsible for Colorado’s Open Primary system.
Colorado Voters First originally was going to support a variety of ballot measures, including #134 Prohibit Vacancy Committees in the General Assembly, #135 Eliminate Party Nominations & Petition Only Access to the Primary Ballot, and #136 Timely Reporting of Election Results.
Thiry has big plans to fundamentally change Colorado’s elections.
Free State Colorado covered this measure in a recent video: Interview: Candice Stutzriem on the Dangers of Proposition 131, Colorado Voters Be Warned!
There are two parts to Proposition 131, which is the All-Candidate Open Primary and Ranked Choice Voting in the general election.
Free State Colorado opposes the Open Primary portion of this measure, and therefore recommends a No Vote.
Why?
Because it restricts ballot access for the general election.
With the new primary in this initiative, the top four candidates would move on to the general election.
Most likely, these four candidates would only be Republicans and Democrats.
Libertarians, independent candidates, and other third party candidates would most likely lose their ability to get on the general election ballot.
Many people complain about the two party system, but this could further entrench the two parties and prevent anyone else from getting on a November ballot.
You can see the major donors to this Proposition below:
Unite America is a Denver-based organization that Kent Thiry has supported previously, and was founded by author Charles Wheelan.
Ben Walton is a Walmart heir.
Kathryn Murdoch is the daughter-in-law of Rupert Murdoch, and board member of Unite America.
Wilmot Reed Hastings is a co-founder of Netflix, and a mega-donor for Kamala Harris.
As you can see, the people supporting this proposition have serious money and have the goal of fundamentally changing elections across the country.
People often complain about money in politics, and this measure will only empower wealthy activists and make it harder for average citizens to get elected to office.
Free State Colorado recommends a No Vote.
Conclusion
I hope you find this guide useful and informative.
It’s important to look behind the scenes to see where the money for ballot measures are coming from.
If you have any thoughts, please leave a Reply below!
