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This November, Colorado voters will consider 14 statewide ballot measures ranging in topics from abortion and same-sex marriage to property taxes and bail.

The Vail Daily will print additional stories with deeper context on the arguments for and against several of these measures, but here’s a high-level introduction to what will be on the ballot. To help voters determine how they will vote, we have provided links to the and to additional news stories on the proposals.

Measures amending the Colorado Constitution

These measures, which would amend the state constitution, must receive at least 55% of the vote to pass. Amendments with letters in the title were referred to the ballot by the Colorado legislature and those with numbers were brought by citizen initiatives.

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Amendment G: Concerning property tax exemption rules for veterans with disabilities

This measure would to more disabled veterans than are currently eligible.

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Colorado’s homestead exemption, which is available to certain veterans, Gold Star spouses and seniors, provides a 50% exemption on the first $200,000 on a primary residence’s property tax bill. That means a home worth $500,000 would only be taxed for $400,000 of its value. 

Under current law, the homestead exemption is available to veterans with a disability who have a service-connected disability rated as 100%. The measure would extend the exemption to veterans who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs assesses as having individual unemployability status.

The state must reimburse local governments, which are funded by property taxes, for the losses from the property tax exemption through the state’s general fund. 

The legislature referred this amendment to the ballot in 2023 by passing the bipartisan House Concurrent Resolution 1002 with unanimous approval in both chambers. 

Amendment H: Concerning judicial discipline procedures and creating an independent judicial discipline adjudicative board 

This measure would create an independent board to conduct ethical misconduct hearings for cases involving judges and determine any disciplinary actions. The board citizens, lawyers and judges.

Currently, the Colorado Supreme Court is the final arbiter of any discipline in misconduct cases. This measure would give disciplinary power to the independent board. It would also make cases public when formal charges are filed, as opposed to the current system where they’re only public when a formal recommendation for public sanctions is made by the Colorado Supreme Court.

Misconduct could include improper demeanor, alcohol and drug use, dishonesty, retaliation, conflicts of interest, inappropriate communication and mistreatment or harassment of staff. 

The ballot measure comes after investigative journalist David Migoya of misconduct being covered up in the Colorado Judicial Department. 

Proponents say Colorado judges shouldn’t be the ones making disciplinary decisions over their colleagues. They also claim the new system will improve transparency and integrity of the judicial disciplinary process. Opponents argue the current system already works and that judges are the most qualified to review the cases. 

State lawmakers referred the amendment to the ballot with near-unanimous support.

Amendment I: Creating an exception to the right to bail in first-degree murder cases with significant evidence

If approved, Amendment I to deny bail to a person charged with first-degree murder when there is enough evidence before trial to presume the person will be convicted. 

When the General Assembly passed a law abolishing the death penalty in Colorado in 2020, it inadvertently eliminated this option for judges. This measure would restore that legal action. 

Proponents say people who meet the high standard of “proof is evident” would be a danger to others if released on bail. There is no organized opposition to the measure, but opponents say someone accused of a crime has not yet been proven guilty and should have the opportunity to post bail. 

State lawmakers referred the amendment to the ballot with near-unanimous support with the “no” votes coming almost exclusively from progressive Democrats.

Amendment J: Repealing the definition of marriage in the Constitution to remove the ban on same-sex marriage

This measure from the state Constitution that defines marriage as being between “one man and one woman.” 

Same-sex marriage is legal in Colorado under a 2013 state law and a 2015 Supreme Court ruling, but advocates for the measure say the Supreme Court could reconsider the concept in the future, possibly returning the decision to the states. 

State lawmakers to send the question to the ballot in the legislative session this year. The resolution passed 46-14 in the House and 29-5 in the Senate.

Because it would remove language from the state Constitution instead of adding it, it only needs a simple majority to pass. 

Amendment K: Creating earlier deadlines for certain elections

If approved, this measure would for citizens ballot initiatives and judge reelection declarations to be one week earlier. 

Proponents say it will help give election officials more time to prepare ballots. Though there is no formal opposition group, some argue the change would give citizens less time to collect signatures and file petitions.

The legislature referred the measure to the ballot with near-unanimous support from both parties. 

Amendment 79: Protecting the right to abortion in Colorado 

This measure would enshrine Coloradans’ unfettered access to abortion

Colorado already allows abortion at any time during a pregnancy, but the ballot measure would prohibit the state and local governments from denying, impeding or discriminating

against abortion access. It would also allow 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. 

The vast majority of abortions in the U.S. happen in the first trimester, from the U.S. Centers of Disease and Control Prevention.

Amendment 80: Protecting the right to school choice, including neighborhood, charter and private schools; homeschooling; open enrollment options; and future innovations in education

This measure would amend the state’s constitution to include “the right to school choice” for K-12 students and their parents.

The amendment, proposed by conservative advocacy organization Advance Colorado, defines school choice to include public neighborhood and charter schools, private schools, home schools, open enrollment options and future innovations in education.

Amendment supporters say that by guaranteeing school choice as a right in the constitution, future legislatures cannot take it away. Amendment 80 opponents argue that children and parents already have educational freedom under the state’s current system of school choice, which allows students to attend any public school for free regardless of where they live or choose a nonpublic education option such as homeschooling.

Under Colorado law, public schools receive local and state government funding while private and home schools do not. Amendment 80 opponents argue that the measure could result in the redirection of public funding from public schools to private and home schools.

Other measures

These measures need only a simple majority to pass. 

Proposition JJ: Concerning the use of sports betting tax revenue above voter-approved limits, asking that the revenue fund water projects 

which needs a majority of “yes” votes to pass, would allow the state to keep all the revenue from a 10% tax on sports betting transactions. Sports betting was made legal in 2019 through Proposition DD. That measure set a $29 million revenue cap, with any excess being returned to the betting operation, including casinos. 

Proposition JJ proponents say the cap was calculated with limited data and was an underestimation. Revenue from the tax is expected to be over the cap by $2.8 million this year and up to $7 million by the 2025-2026 fiscal year. 

Like the revenue from Proposition DD, the additional funding would go toward a variety of water projects in the state as determined by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, including physical infrastructure like water storage, agricultural projects, watershed health, recreation and land use planning. 

While the vast majority of the tax goes toward water projects, a portion also goes toward helping fund the state’s Division of Gaming and state programs for treating gambling addictions.

Supporters say the measure will help secure Colorado’s water future. There is no organized opposition to the measure but some argue the measure would expand a government program and the initial tax cap that was created should be maintained.

State lawmakers referred the proposition to the ballot with near-unanimous support.

Proposition KK: Creating a new tax on firearms, firearm parts and ammunition

would create a 6.5% excise tax on firearm, firearm parts and ammunition sales and uses the revenue for school safety, crime victims and mental health services for veterans and youth. It would generate an estimated $39 million annually. 

The tax would be paid by gun dealers and manufacturers and ammunition vendors. 

Proponents say the measure will help reduce gun violence. Opponents say the tax will make it harder for law-abiding citizens to get firearms. 

State lawmakers passed a bill referring the proposition to the ballot largely along party lines. 

Proposition 127: Making it illegal to hunt bobcats, lynx and mountain lions in Colorado 

This measure would ban the public hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx in Colorado. 

The measure would make hunting all three a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. It would make exceptions for car accidents or killing the cats when they are threatening people or livestock. 

On average, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports that annually over the past three years. During that same period, about 880 bobcats, classified as a “furbearer” species in Colorado, have been hunted annually.

Lynx are currently listed as endangered in Colorado and threatened in the Federal Endangered Species Act, so they are illegal to hunt in the state. The ballot initiative would preserve the hunting ban should the species ever be delisted on a state or federal level. 

Proponents of the ballot measure argue that the current methods of hunting for these cats are cruel, unethical, recreational and not necessary to successfully manage the species. 

Opponents argue that the initiative undermines the authority of Colorado Parks and Wildlife and its scientific management of the species, which includes hunting.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is restricted from taking a position for or against the ballot initiative.

Proposition 128: Concerning parole eligibility for violent crimes

, put forth by the conservative advocacy group Advance Colorado, would require people convicted of certain crimes to serve 85% of their sentence before they could be eligible for earned-time reductions or parole. State law currently requires prisoners to serve at least 75% with opportunities to have their sentence reduced for good behavior.

It would affect people convicted of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, Class 2 felony kidnapping, sexual assault, first-degree arson, first-degree burglary and aggravated robbery. It would also make people convicted of a third or subsequent crime of violence ineligible for earned-time reductions or parole. 

Proponents say the measure would keep people convicted of violent crimes in prison longer. Opponents say it would remove a strong incentive for convicted people to participate in rehabilitation opportunities while incarcerated.

Proposition 129: Creating a new regulated profession of veterinary professional associates

If approved by voters, this measure would create a new, state-regulated veterinary position in Colorado. Veterinary professional associates would be able to perform some tasks, under supervision by a licensed veterinarian, that vet techs cannot,

Proposition 129 proponents, which include the Dumb Friends League, say it will help address a shortage of veterinary care in the state. Opponents, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, say the new position would allow people with inadequate training to perform surgery on pets. 

Proposition 130: Concerning state funding for law enforcement for training, recruitment and retention as well as death benefits for officers killed in the line of duty

If approved, Proposition 130 would direct the state to dedicate $350 million to and require the state to provide a $1 million death benefit to families of state and local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. 

The state funding would pay for recruitment, training and retention of local law enforcement officers. State lawmakers would determine where the funding would come from in the budget.

Supporters say the measure would fund critical law enforcement services without raising taxes. Opponents say the concept is an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars and that there isn’t evidence that suggests increasing funding for law enforcement will make communities any safer. 

Like Proposition 128, Advance Colorado is the group that brought Proposition 130.

Proposition 131: Concerning a new election process with ranked choice voting and all-candidate primaries

This measure would significantly change how Colorado holds elections for state and federal office — not including presidential or local races — in two ways. 

It would abolish political party primaries, the process used to nominate candidates for a general election, in favor of an open primary ballot wherein all candidates, regardless of party, compete together. The top four vote-getters would then advance to a ranked-choice general election that allows voters to choose multiple candidates in order of preference. 

Votes would then be distributed using a including candidates being eliminated in rounds, with the candidate who secures over 50% of the vote being declared the winner.

The proposal is being pushed by Denver-based who has led several other state election reform initiatives in the past. Thiry and endorsers of 131, which include high-ranking Democrats like Gov. Jared Polis and Sen. John Hickenlooper, say the measure gives voters more choice and incentivizes greater participation throughout the entire election process. 

Opponents, which include progressive groups and major and minor state parties, argue it would complicate the voting process, potentially hurt voter turnout and diminish chances that parties are represented by a candidate during a general election. The state Democratic and Republican parties and the Green Party are opposed to the initiative.

Reporters Robert Tann, Ali Longwell and Andrea Teres-Martinez contributed to this story.