By Hannah Metzger | Westword
The list of ballot measures awaiting Colorado voters in November is growing. State lawmakers voted to send five measures to the ballot before the Colorado Legislature adjourned on May 8, adding to two citizen-initiated measures that had already officially qualified for the ballot: an effort to include economic impact statements before the questions on ballot measures, and another to cap property tax revenue increases at 4 percent each year.
The five legislative ballot proposals would let the state keep all sports betting tax revenue to fund water projects; create an excise tax for gun and ammo purchases to fund victim services; remove the ban on same-sex marriage from Colorado’s constitution; adjust certain election filing deadlines; and let judges deny bail to people charged with first-degree murder.
A citizen-initiated proposal to enshrine the right to abortion and allow state funds to be used to pay for abortions is also anticipated to get on the ballot. The initiative submitted enough signatures to qualify, and is now awaiting confirmation from the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, which has until May 17 to verify the signatures.