In addition to electing officials and confirming judicial appointments, Colorado voters are given the opportunity to decide the fates of proposed amendments to the Constitution of the State of Colorado.

A state constitution outlines a state’s governance. This includes powers, structure, limitations of the state government and individual and civil rights. The Colorado Constitution was adopted in 1876, currently containing 29 articles. It has been amended 171 times. 

In this election, Amendment G, Amendment H, Amendment I, Amendment J, Amendment K, Amendment 79 and Amendment 80 are being voted on for various modifications.

Every amendment, except for Amendment J, will require 55% approval from voters because they add language to the Colorado Constitution, while Amendment J removes language.

Amendment G

Currently, the property tax exemption referenced in Amendment G is limited to veterans with a service-related disability rated at 100%. If the modifications are approved, Amendment G will open the property tax exemption to veterans with an individual unemployability status as determined by the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs.

Voter approval of Amendment G would reduce the property tax paid by some veterans by expanding the homestead exemption to include veterans with an individual unemployability status.

Voter rejection of Amendment G would keep existing requirements for the homestead exemption, continuing to have availability limited to veterans whose disability is rated at 100% permanent and total.

Amendment H

Amendment H would create a board called the Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board and create rules for the judicial discipline process. This board would have 12 members with four district court judges, four attorneys and four citizens. They would conduct disciplinary hearings and hear appeals of informal remedial sanctions given by the Commission on Judicial Discipline. The amendment would also clarify when discipline proceedings become public.

Voter approval of Amendment H would create an independent adjudicative board made up of citizens, lawyers and judges who would conduct judicial misconduct hearings and impose disciplinary actions. It would allow more information to be shared to the public earlier.

Voter rejection would continue to have a select panel of judges conduct misconduct hearings, and cases would remain confidential unless public sanctions were recommended at the end of the process.

Amendment I

Currently, suspects of first-degree murder cannot be denied bail. If voted into effect, Amendment I will deem first-degree murder suspects ineligible for bail as long as prosecutors can show they have a strong case. Otherwise, first degree murder suspects will continue to not be able to be denied bail.

Voter approval of Amendment I would allow judges to deny bail to those who are charged with first-degree murder and whose cases have been determined to have evident proof or great presumption that the person committed the crime.

Voter rejection of Amendment I means all persons charged with first degree murder cannot be denied bail.

Amendment J

In 2015, same-sex marriage was legalized across the United States. However, Colorado’s constitution still contains language that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. The constitution states, “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.” Voting yes on Amendment J is voting to remove this language, while a nay vote is for keeping it. This amendment will only require majority approval because it is removing language from the state constitution.

Voter approval of Amendment J would repeal language in the Colorado Constitution that suggests marriage is only between a man and woman.

Voter rejection of Amendment J would keep language in the Colorado Constitution that suggests marriage is only between a man and woman.

Amendment K

Amendment K would alter deadlines for filing initiatives, referendum petition signatures, the text and title of every measure published and require judicial officials to file their declarations of intent to run one week earlier in order to allow the Secretary of State’s Office to certify the content and order of the ballot.

Voter approval of Amendment K would result in earlier deadlines for certain election filings and the publication of ballot measures in newspapers.

Voter rejection of Amendment K would maintain the current constitutional deadlines for election filings and publication of ballot measures.

Amendment 79

Amendment 79, the Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative, would ensure that the state government and local governments cannot take away the right to abortion and would allow the procedure to be covered under health insurance plans. If voted in, the amendment will repeal Section 50 of Article V of the Colorado Constitution, adopted in 1984, that prohibits public funds being used for abortions. If not voted in, public funds will continue to be banned from being used for abortion procedures.

Voter approval of Amendment 79 would add the right to abortion into the Colorado Constitution and repeal the current ban on state and local funding for abortion services.

Voter rejection of Amendment 79 would continue the ban on state and local funding for abortion services and maintain the authority of state legislature for the legality of abortion in the state.

Amendment 80

Amendment 80 would add a new section to Article IX of the Colorado Constitution. It would state, “All children have the right to equal opportunity and access to a quality education,” and, “Parents have the right to direct the education of their children.” This would reaffirm school choice rights in the Colorado Constitution.

This would include neighborhood, charter and private schools, home schools, open enrollment options and future innovations in education. 

Voter approval would make school choice a constitutionally protected right for K-12 children and their parents. 

Voter rejection would maintain the current system of school choice in state law.

Reach Janaya Stafford at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @CSUCollegian.