COLORADO VOTERS APPROVED AN AMENDMENT ENSHRINING THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION IN THEIR STATE CONSTITUTION.
THE MEASURE, WHICH PASSED WITH THE REQUIRED 55 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, BUILDS ON A 2022 LAW SIGNED BY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR JARED POLIS. ABORTION WAS ALREADY LEGAL IN THE STATE BUT THIS AMENDMENT WILL PREVENT THE LEGISLATURE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM MAKING ANY FUTURE RESTRICTIONS.
ONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IS THE REMOVAL OF COLORADO’S BAN ON PUBLIC FUNDING FOR ABORTIONS. THIS WILL ALLOW THE STATE TO COVER PROCEDURES UNDER MEDICAID AND STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH PLANS.
SUPPORTERS SAY STATE EMPLOYEES SHOULDN’T HAVE TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET FOR A LEGAL HEALTHCARE SERVICE. OPPONENTS BELIEVE IT’S UNFAIR TO REQUIRE TAXPAYERS WHO OPPOSE ABORTION TO FUND IT.
COLORADO’S VOTE REFLECTS A NATIONAL TREND, AS THE STATE WAS ONE OF 10 WITH ABORTION-RELATED MEASURES ON THE BALLOT THIS ELECTION.