Tag: Amendment 51

Colorado's gargantuan ballot includes more than 14 constitutional amendments and referenda even after four measures were withdrawn on Oct. 2 by proponents after a surprise alliance of labor and business interests joined forces to oppose three anti-union amendments that remain. The Colorado Independent is putting the press to the test — we're compiling newspaper endorsements, analyzing them and then tracking the persuasive talents of editorial boards statewide.

When Coloradans decide on the myriad issues appearing on this fall’s ballot, families of residents with developmental disabilities are hoping the idea of helping those who can’t help themselves trumps voters’ aversion to approving a tax increase. Amendment 51 asks voters to increase state sales tax by two cents on every $10 purchase over two years in order to raise $186 million annually to fund services for Colorado’s developmentally disabled residents.

With a record 18 proposals on everything from oil and gas taxes to unions to the developmentally disabled to gambling, Colorado voters will be weighing in on the longest ballot in Colorado since 1912 — and the largest in the United States this year.

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.