Tag: Amendment 46

A Colorado ballot initiative, Amendment 46, seeks to destroy affirmative action programs throughout the state. Brought forward by California businessman Ward Connerly, the so-called Colorado Civil Rights Initiative does not specify exactly which programs will disappear should it pass. And until yesterday, opponents of the measure were also loath to identify the programs that might be targeted, citing concerns that Connerly and his team would single out those very programs for demolition.

A campaign seeking to quash Colorado's anti-affirmative action ballot measure faces an onerous battle in the weeks ahead as the Nov. 4 election nears. The group hopes to convince voters to reject the initiative that will dismantle affirmative action programs if passed. But a series of failed legal challenges have left organizers with little cash as they scramble to put together a cogent counter-campaign.

Did we mention that Colorado's 18 issue ballot this year is long? As in, the longest in the country? And the longest in Colorado since 1912? We did? Well, here's something new to chew on. The two states pulling in second and third places -- Oregon and California -- don't even come close to touching our massive, large-and-in-charge ballot. Those states count a meager 12 questions on each of their ballots. Hell, Colorado beat that back in 1992, when voters weighed in on a record 13 questions. That was the longest ballot in recent memory. But now, Colorado has unearthed this leviathan ballot. In fact, the ballot is so big that it's impossible for us to continue our ballot run-down in neatly themed packages.

Initiative 82, which sought to preserve the state's affirmative action programs, fell flat yesterday when the Colorado Secretary of State announced that the measure did not have enough valid signatures to make the November ballot.

Colorado voters haven't faced a ballot this long since 1912, the first year citizens were able to initiate laws in the state. After striking a pro-affirmative action measure for insufficient signatures Wednesday night, the Secretary of State's office drew a line under a total 18 statewide questions for the November ballot -- 14 initiated by citizens and four referred by the State Legislature.

Round one of Poll-a-Palooza from Quinnipiac University. From AP: A new poll shows Barack Obama leading John McCain among Colorado voters by 5 percentage points. The Quinnipiac...