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Colorado Votes on Abortion Rights and School Choice

AMENDMENT 79 | Giuliana Day, Life Decisions, and América Ramírez, Colorado Action Fund. (Photos/El Comercio de Colorado)

THESE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS REQUIRE 55% OF VOTES

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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Colorado voters are considering two constitutional amendments on the November 5th ballot, both requiring a 55% majority to pass. The first, Amendment 79, focuses on protecting abortion rights and allowing public funds to cover the procedure. The second, Amendment 80, seeks to enshrine school choice in the constitution, allowing parents to select among various educational options for their children.

Amendment 79: Abortion Rights and Public Funding

Amendment 79 establishes a constitutional right to abortion in Colorado and allows Medicaid and public employee health plans to cover this procedure. Currently, a 1984 law prohibits the use of public funds for abortions in Colorado, and this amendment would repeal that restriction.

A “yes” vote would create a constitutional safeguard preventing the state from limiting abortion access in the future and authorize the use of public funds to ensure everyone, regardless of insurance, can access this service.

In Favor

Supporters, such as the Colorado Action Fund and other reproductive justice groups, argue that everyone should have equal access to abortion, regardless of insurance type. América Ramírez, representing the fund, contends that incorporating this right into the constitution will protect abortion access for the future, regardless of political shifts, and removes barriers for those reliant on state insurance.

Colorado vota sobre el derecho al aborto y la libertad escolar

Opposed

Opponents, like Giuliana Day of Life Decisions, warn that this amendment would allow unrestricted abortions up to nine months and eliminate parental notification for minors, posing risks. They also express concerns about the lack of regulation in abortion clinics and argue that taxpayers should not finance this service. For them, the amendment is extreme and poses a danger to women’s safety.

Amendment 80: Right to School Choice

AMENDMENT 80 |Liz Waddick, Vice President of the Colorado Education Association, and María Weeze, voter.

Amendment 80 proposes a constitutional right for K-12 students to access various educational options, including public, charter, and homeschooling. While Colorado already permits school choice, this amendment aims to reinforce that right in the constitution. A “yes” vote would guarantee continued access to diverse educational options, while a “no” vote would keep the current system without constitutional backing for these rights.

In Favor

Supporters, including María del Carmen Weese, emphasize that parents should have the right to choose the best education for their children since every child has unique needs. They argue that tax money should support each family’s educational decision, not be limited solely to public schools.

Opposed

Liz Waddick, Vice President of the Colorado Education Association, warns that this amendment could pave the way for a voucher system, diverting public funds toward private schools and impacting public education funding. Waddick believes state money should exclusively support public schools, not benefit private institutions.