2024 Colorado General Election
BALLOT MEASURES
Amendments I, J, 79, and 80
2024 Colorado Ballot Amendments
Listed in Ballot Order: Amendments I, J, 79, and 80
Please Note: Church Voter Guides provides information, not opinions. Just as our Candidate Voter Guides do not endorse or oppose candidates or political parties, this Ballot Measure Voter Guide does not evaluate the different Amendments and Propositions nor suggest how one should vote. Instead, we have aggregated content from different sources regarding select ballot measures (ones that we believe are most relevant to Christian voters) to help you better understand the issues and decide how to vote according to your values.
Ballot measures can be confusing, and so we hope that our unique offering will help bring clarity. We also suggest reading as many other voter guides as possible, so that you can “be informed and vote your values” in this important election. And please tell others about www.ChurchVoterGuides.org so they can do the same. Thank you!
AMENDMENT I
Constitutional Bail Exception for First Degree Murder
Placed on Ballot by Legislature Requires 55% of the Statewide Vote to Pass
Ballot Question
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning creating an exception to the right to bail for cases of murder in the first degree when proof is evident or presumption is great?
Ballotpedia Listing
Registered Issue Committees with Colorado Secretary of State
Favor
None listed
Oppose
None listed
Yes vs. No Vote
Voting “Yes/For”
Section 19 of Article II of the Colorado Constitution will be revised by adding the words underlined/in red:
Section 19. Right to bail – exceptions.
(d) For the offense of murder in the first degree, as defined by law, committed on or after the effective date of this subsection (1)(d), when proof is evident or presumption is great.
(2) Except in the case of a capital offense or murder in the first degree, if a person is denied bail under this section, the trial of the person shall be commenced not more than ninety days after the date on which bail is denied. If the trial is not commenced within ninety days and the delay is not attributable to the defense, the court shall immediately schedule a bail hearing and shall set the amount of the bail for the person.
Voting “No/Against”
Section 19 of Article II of the Colorado Constitution will remain as currently written
See Comparison Chart for full text of Section 19 of Article II and comparison.
Comparison Chart
Document: House Resolution/Full Amendment
House Concurrent Resolution 24-1002
Click to View Document: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 24-1002
AMENDMENT J
Redefining the Definition of Marriage in the Constitution
Placed on Ballot by Legislature Requires a Majority of the Statewide Vote to Pass*
*As this Constitutional amendment would only repeal existing language, the 55% supermajority requirement does not apply to this measure.
Ballot Question
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution removing the ban on same-sex marriage?
Ballotpedia Listing
Registered Issue Committees with Colorado Secretary of State
Favor
Freedom to Marry Colorado
Registered Agent: Ashley Stevens
191 University Blvd., Ste 118, Denver, CO 80206
303-733-2956
www.FreedomToMarryCO.com
Oppose
None listed
Yes vs. No Vote
Voting “Yes/For”
Section 31 of Article II of the Colorado Constitution will be repealed:
Section 31. Marriages: Valid or Recognized:
Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.
Voting “No/Against”
Section 31 of Article II of the Colorado Constitution will remain as currently written:
Section 31: Marriages: Valid or recognized:
Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state
Comparison Chart
Document: House Resolution/Full Amendment
House Concurrent Resolution 24-1003
Click to View Document: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 24-1003
AMENDMENT 79
Constitutional Right to and Public Funding of Abortion
Placed on Ballot by Citizen Initiative Requires 55% of the Statewide Vote to Pass
Ballot Question
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?
Ballotpedia Listing
Registered Issue Committees with Colorado Secretary of State
Favor
Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom
Registered Agent: Ashley Stevens
191 University Blvd, Ste 118, Denver, CO 80206
303-733-2956
www.ColoradansForReproductiveFreedom.com
Oppose
Coloradans for the Protection of Women and Children
Registered Agent: Marcie Little
326 North Institute St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
719-301-7737
www.ColoradansForWomenAndChildren.org
Colorado Life Initiative
Registered Agent: Tralita Faye Barnhart
20295 Rd. 28 1/2 , PO Box 3, Brush, CO 80723
970-768-6823
www.GotAHeart.org
Colorado Pregnancy Care Alliance / Know the Truth on 79
Registered Agent: Rich Bennett
23 Inverness Way East, Suite 101, Englewood, CO 80112
719-591-2609
www.CO-PCA.org
Right To Know CO
Registered Agent: Marge Klein
1535 Logan Street, Denver, CO 80203
720-644-7035
www.RightToKnow.com
Vote No on 79
Registered Agent: Scott Shamblin
4085 Independence Ct., PO Box 1145, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
303-753-9394
www.VoteNo79.com
Yes vs. No Vote
Voting “Yes/For”
Section 19 of Article II of the Colorado Constitution will be revised by adding the words underlined/in red:
Section 19. Right to bail – exceptions.
(d) For the offense of murder in the first degree, as defined by law, committed on or after the effective date of this subsection (1)(d), when proof is evident or presumption is great.
(2) Except in the case of a capital offense or murder in the first degree, if a person is denied bail under this section, the trial of the person shall be commenced not more than ninety days after the date on which bail is denied. If the trial is not commenced within ninety days and the delay is not attributable to the defense, the court shall immediately schedule a bail hearing and shall set the amount of the bail for the person.
Voting “No/Against”
Section 19 of Article II of the Colorado Constitution will remain as currently written
Comparison Chart
Document: Approved Petition/Full Amendment
Title Board Approval of Ballot Petition 89 (which became Amendment 79)
Click to View Document: Petition 89 Final
AMENDMENT 80
Constitutional Right to School Choice
Placed on Ballot by Citizen Initiative Requires 55% of the Statewide Vote to Pass
Ballot Question
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution establishing the right to school choice for children in kindergarten through 12th grade, and, in connection therewith, declaring that school choice includes neighborhood, charter, and private schools; home schooling; open enrollment options; and future innovations in education?
Ballotpedia Listing
Designated Representatives
Suzanne Taheri
West Group
6501 E. Belleview Ave, Suite 375
Denver, CO 80111
Michael Fields
West Group
6501 E. Belleview Ave, Suite 375
Denver, CO 80111
Registered Issue Committees with Colorado Secretary of State
Favor
School Choice for Every Child
Registered Agent: Katie Kennedy
2318 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80205
719-369-2266
Oppose
None listed
Yes vs. No Vote
Voting “Yes/For”
Section 18 of Article IX of the Colorado Constitution will be added:
Section 18. Education – School Choice
(1) Purpose and findings. The people of the state of Colorado hereby find and declare that 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; and that school choice includes neighborhood, charter, private, and home schools, open enrollment options, and future innovations in education.
(2) Each K-12 child has the right to school choice
Voting “No/Against”
Section 18 of Article IX of the Colorado Constitution will not be added
Comparison Chart
Document: Approved Petition/Full Amendment
Title Board Approval of Ballot Petition 138 (which became Amendment 80)
Click to View Document: Petition 138 Final
Document: Current Statute
Source: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_22-36-101
2023 Colorado Revised Statutes
Section 22-36-101 (Current through Fall 2024)
Choice of Programs and Schools within School Districts
(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, every school district, as defined in section 22-30-103 (13), shall allow:
(a) Its resident pupils who apply pursuant to the procedures established pursuant to subsection (2) of this section to enroll in particular programs or schools within such school district; and
(b) Commencing with the 1994-95 school year and thereafter, nonresident pupils from other school districts within the state who apply pursuant to the procedures established pursuant to subsection (2) of this section to enroll in particular programs or schools within such school district without requiring the nonresident pupils to pay tuition.
(2) Intentionally left blank —Ed.
(a) Every school district shall adopt such policies and procedures as are reasonable and necessary to implement the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, including, but not limited to, timelines for application to and acceptance in any program or school that may provide for enrollment of the student on or before the pupil enrollment count day, and, while adopting policies and procedures, the school district shall consider adopting a policy establishing that an applicant with a proficiency rating of unsatisfactory in one or more academic areas who attends a public school that is required to implement a turnaround plan pursuant to section 22-11-406 or that is subject to restructuring pursuant to section 22-11-210 shall have priority over any other applicant for enrollment purposes. If a school district permits a student whose parent or guardian is a resident of the state but not a resident of the district to attend school in the district, the school district shall not require the parent, guardian, or student to pay tuition to attend school in the district, regardless of when during the school year, or under what circumstances, the student enrolls in or attends school in the district.
(b) In implementing the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, no school district shall be required to:
(I) Make alterations in the structure of a requested school or to make alterations to the arrangement or function of rooms within a requested school;
(II) Establish and offer any particular program in a school if such program is not currently offered in such school;
(III) Alter or waive any established eligibility criteria for participation in a particular program, including age requirements, course prerequisites, and required levels of performance; or
(IV) Enroll any student pursuant to this section in any program or school after the pupil enrollment count day.
(c) As used in this subsection (2), unless the context otherwise requires, “pupil enrollment count day” has the same meaning as set forth in section 22-54-103 (10.5).
(3) Any school district may deny any of its resident pupils or any nonresident pupils from other school districts within the state permission to enroll in particular programs or schools within such school district only for any of the following reasons:
(a) There is a lack of space or teaching staff within a particular program or school requested, in which case, priority shall be given to resident students applying for admission to such program or school.
(b) The school requested does not offer appropriate programs or is not structured or equipped with the necessary facilities to meet special needs of the pupil or does not offer a particular program requested.
(c) The pupil does not meet the established eligibility criteria for participation in a particular program, including age requirements, course prerequisites, and required levels of performance.
(d) A desegregation plan is in effect for the school district, and such denial is necessary in order to enable compliance with such desegregation plan.
(e) The student has been expelled, or is in the process of being expelled, for the reasons specified in section 22-33-106 (1)(c.5) or (1)(d) or the student may be denied permission to enroll pursuant to section 22-33-106 (3)(a), (3)(b), (3)(c), (3)(e), or (3)(f).
(4) Repealed.
(5) Intentionally left blank —Ed.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (5), any pupil who enrolls in a school district other than the pupil’s school district of residence pursuant to this article may remain enrolled in that school district’s school or program through the end of the school year.
(b) This subsection (5) shall not apply if:
(I) The nonresident pupil is expelled pursuant to statute from the school or program described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (5);
(II) The nonresident pupil’s attendance or participation in the school or program described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (5) requires the school district to perform any of the functions described in subparagraphs (I) to (III) of paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section; or
(III) The nonresident pupil is excluded from the school or program described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (5) for any of the reasons described in paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (3) of this section.
JOIN THE COALITION
JOIN OUR E-LIST
Christian voting
Voting is a simple, yet significant way to do something about public policy in our country. As people of faith, we will be held accountable for our actions, as well as our lack of action. (Luke 12:48)
Biblical worldview
By diligently learning, applying, and trusting God’s truths in every area of our lives, we can begin to develop a deep comprehensive faith that will stand against the unrelenting tide of our culture’s non-biblical ideas.
Vote your values
The issues of the day change. Political parties and platforms change. God’s Word never changes. The vote of every Christian should be based on the principles of Scripture and not persuasive personalities.
Electing righteous leaders
Bad governance and our loss of freedom is the direct result of the church’s failure to disciple. When the citizenry do not seek to be obedient to God’s Law, they vote in wicked and corrupt candidates, who then trample underfoot the God-given liberties of the people.