The U.S. general election is coming in one month and Colorado voters are expected to vote for more than just the presidency. After the state mails ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 9, Coloradans will vote on 11 statewide ballot questions. These questions include four proposed state constitutional amendments and seven propositions. Denverites can expect 12 city-specific questions. 

Amendment B is a proposed repeal of the Gallagher Amendment to the state constitution. The repeal of this amendment allows local districts to adjust commercial and residential taxes independently (as opposed to adhering to a ratio system that must be updated consistently).

Amendment C concerns charitable gambling. Its passage would allow charitable organizations to apply for a bingo raffle license after three years of operation in the state. This amendment would also eliminate the requirement for raffle workers to be a member of the organization and for workers to be compensated for hosting.

Amendment 76 would change the Colorado Constitution to specify that “only a citizen” of the United States is eligible to vote. The current language of Title 1 Article 2 Section 102 of the state constitution says that voter registration is allowed if “the person is a citizen of the United States.” This change is intended to prevent local governments from allowing non-citizens to vote. The Denver Post, however, points out that this would not apply to over 100 cities/towns in Colorado. Additionally, the amendment specifies that election participants must be 18 years of age. This would overturn current Colorado election laws which allow 17-year-olds to vote in a primary if they will be 18 by the time of the general election. 

Amendment 77 would allow voters in the three cities where gambling is allowed—Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek – to change bet limits and approve new casino games for their cities. Currently, the state constitution limits bets in these communities to $100. If members of these communities go on to raise bet limits and allow more games, community colleges are expected to have expanded use for the casino tax revenue they receive. 

Proposition EE would increase taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products, as well as create a new tax on nicotine vapes that are not currently taxed. The proposition would gradually increase the tobacco products’ tax rate as well as the new tax on vape products. It would change from the current 40% of the distributor’s price to 62% by 2027. According to the Ballot Information Booklet, the measure is expected to generate $175.6 million in tax revenue in the 2021-2022 budget year and up to $275.9 million in tax revenue in 2027.

Organizations such as the Save The Children Action Network support the measure since the newly obtained funds would be dedicated toward education (particularly a universal preschool program). Colorado Senate President Kevin J. Grantham opposes it. 

Proposition 113 would put Colorado in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. The compact will only go into effect if enough states join to equal 270 electoral votes. If passed, these states would then agree to send their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The Electoral College debate is a quarrelsome topic in the U.S. For a student’s perspective on the issue, check out “The Electoral College is a one-fourth compromise” in the DU Clarion opinions section.

Proposition 114 would require the state to develop a plan to reintroduce gray wolves into Colorado by the end of 2023. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the last Colorado gray wolves were killed in the 1940s. Reintroduction hopes to regulate deer and elk populations in the state. 

Proposition 115 would ban abortions after 22 weeks, except when one is needed to save the life of the pregnant woman. The proposal has received backlash from Jack Teter, political director for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. For a Clarion perspective, see Aurora VanDam’s opinion piece arguing against the ban. At DU, two social media campaigns have emerged for and against the ban. 

Proposition 116 would lower the state income tax rate from 4.63% to 4.55%. The proposition is estimated to reduce the 2020-2021 tax income by $203 million. 

Proposition 117 would change Colorado Revised Statutes, so statewide voter approval is needed for any newly created or qualified state-owned business enterprises.

Proposition 118 would institute paid family and medical leave for many Colorado employees. It authorizes paid leave for covered employees with a serious health condition or a family member with a serious health condition. It also gives paid leave to covered employees who are caring for a new child or need to relocate due to a family member’s military deployment. 

The proposition establishes 12 weeks of family and medical leave with an additional four weeks allotted to pregnancy or childbirth complications. The proposal prohibits retaliation against employees that take this leave and allows local governments to opt-out of the program. The program will be funded by a maximum of 1.2% tax on each employee’s wages. Employees can opt-out of the program, which forfeits their paid leave, but exempts them from the additional tax.

Denver Ballot:

Question 2A and Question 2B, if passed, would raise the sales tax by 0.25%. The revenue would be used to fund climate adaptation and mitigation programs, climate-based job programs and housing access programs.

Question 2C would allow the city council to hire “professional services” such as a legal counsel without the approval of their executive. 

Question 2D would create an advisory board for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, a department that voters passed into Denver law last year.

Question 2E would give the city council power to confirm mayor appointments.

Question 2F amends the part of the city charter that lists how council meetings should be held. The language is simplified, and the requirement for the council to “keep a public record of all its proceedings” is eliminated.  

Question 2G would allow the city council to amend the city’s budget during the fiscal year. Currently, all budgetary changes have to wait until the start of the next budget year. 

Question 2H would enable the city to create and/or operate internet infrastructure. 

Question 2I would change how the Office of the Clerk and Recorder is structured. This would “remove the requirement that the city clerk and recorder hire a director of elections and allow the city clerk and recorder to hire four at-will employees, instead of two, in addition to the deputy.” 

Question 2J will overturn Denver’s 30-year-long ban on Pitbulls and allow the dogs in city limits if appropriately licensed.

Question 4A and 4B would increase funding for Denver Public Schools through increased bond purchasing and a tax increase.