Amendment G is asking voters whether to expand eligibility for a property tax exemption for veterans with disabilities. Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support the amendment, which would allow veterans who have individual unemployability status (but do not have a service-connected disability rated as 100% permanent) to qualify for the property tax exemption. This means more veterans would benefit from reduced property taxes.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the amendment, meaning you want to keep the current eligibility requirements, which only include veterans with a service-connected disability rated at 100% permanent.

This vote is about recognizing and providing financial relief to a broader group of veterans.

Amendment H is asking voters whether to make changes to the rules governing judicial discipline. Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support the amendment, which would create an independent board to handle cases of judicial discipline. This board would set standards for reviewing discipline cases and clarify when those proceedings become public. This aims to make the process more transparent and ensure accountability within the judiciary.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the amendment, meaning you want to keep the current system for handling judicial discipline without these changes.

This vote is about improving how judges are held accountable for their actions and ensuring fairness in the discipline process.

Amendment I is asking voters whether to change the right to bail in cases of first-degree murder. Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support the amendment, which would allow an exception to the right to bail for individuals accused of first-degree murder if there is strong evidence against them ("proof is evident or presumption is great"). This means that in such serious cases, a judge could deny bail based on the evidence presented.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the amendment, meaning you want to maintain the current rules that allow the right to bail for all individuals, regardless of the charges against them.

This vote is about how to handle bail for serious criminal offenses and ensuring public safety in such cases.

Amendment J is asking voters whether to remove the ban on same-sex marriage from the Colorado constitution.

• If you vote "yes": You support removing the ban, which means same-sex marriage would be legal in Colorado. This would allow same-sex couples the same rights and recognition as opposite-sex couples in marriage.

• If you vote "no": You oppose removing the ban, which would keep the restriction on same-sex marriage in the constitution, meaning same-sex marriage would remain illegal in Colorado.

This vote is about ensuring equal rights for all couples, regardless of their gender.

Amendment 79 is asking voters whether to change the Colorado constitution to recognize the right to abortion. Here's what that means for voting:

• If you vote "yes": You support the amendment, which would legally protect the right to have an abortion in Colorado. This would prevent the state and local governments from making laws that limit access to abortion, and it would also require that abortion services are covered by health insurance plans for state and local government employees.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the amendment, which means you want to keep the current laws that do not explicitly protect the right to abortion in the constitution. A "no" vote would allow the state and local governments to impose restrictions on abortion access.

This vote is about ensuring reproductive rights and access to abortion services in Colorado.

Amendment 80 is asking voters whether to establish a constitutional right to school choice for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support the amendment, which would formally recognize the right for families to choose their children’s schools. This includes options like neighborhood schools, charter schools, private schools, homeschooling, and the ability to enroll in different public schools outside of their local district. It also allows for future educational innovations.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the amendment, meaning you do not want to establish this right in the constitution. A "no" vote would keep the current system.

This vote is about how families can decide where their children go to school and the options available to them in Colorado. Please visit other resources for more information on which parties and organizations are for and against.

Source: https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/08/vg-2024-amendment-80-school-choice-explained/

Proposition JJ is asking voters whether the state can keep and use all the tax revenue from sports betting that exceeds certain voter-approved limits, without raising any new taxes. Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support allowing the state to use this extra revenue for funding water conservation and protection projects. This means that instead of giving that money back to casinos, it would be used to help preserve and protect Colorado's water resources.

• If you vote "no": You oppose this proposition, which means you want the state to refund the extra sports betting tax revenue to the casinos instead of using it for water projects.

This vote is about how to manage the revenue from sports betting and whether it should be directed towards important environmental initiatives.

Proposition KK is asking voters whether to increase state taxes by $39 million each year to fund various mental health services. Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support the tax increase, which would impose a 6.5% tax on sales of guns, gun parts, and ammunition. The revenue from this tax would be used to fund mental health services, particularly for military veterans and at-risk youth, as well as to improve school safety, prevent gun violence, and support victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the tax increase, meaning you do not want to authorize this additional tax or the funding for these services. This would keep the current tax structure in place without raising taxes for these initiatives.

This vote is about how to address mental health and safety issues in the community through targeted funding.

Proposition 127 is asking voters whether to change state laws regarding the hunting of mountain lions, lynx, and bobcats. Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support the change, which would prohibit trophy hunting of these animals. Trophy hunting is defined as intentionally killing, wounding, pursuing, or trapping these animals. The law would allow exceptions for protecting human life, property, and livestock. If someone violates this law, it would be considered a Class 1 misdemeanor, leading to increased fines and restrictions on hunting licenses.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the change, meaning you want to keep the current laws that may allow trophy hunting of mountain lions, lynx, and bobcats without these specific prohibitions and penalties.

This vote is about wildlife protection and how to manage the hunting of these specific animals in Colorado. (Carol Baskin votes yes) “Opponents argue decisions regarding wildlife management should not be left to the ballot and should instead be made by the biologists working at Colorado Parks and Wildlife. They say CPW has been successfully managing the populations of the state’s big cats for decades.” Source: https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/03/vg-2024-proposition-127-big-cat-hunting-ban-explained/

Proposition 128 is asking voters whether to change laws about when certain offenders can be eligible for parole. Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support the change, which would require offenders convicted of serious crimes (like second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and others) committed on or after January 1, 2025, to serve at least 85% of their sentence before they can be considered for parole. Additionally, if an offender has previously been convicted of any two violent crimes, they would need to serve their entire sentence before becoming eligible for parole, regardless of the specific crimes listed in this measure.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the change, meaning you want to keep the current laws regarding parole eligibility without these specific requirements for the crimes mentioned.

This vote is about how to handle parole for serious offenders and ensuring public safety.

Proposition 129 is asking voters whether to create a new profession called "veterinary professional associate." Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support the creation of this new profession. It would require individuals to have a master’s degree and register with the state board of veterinary medicine. Registered veterinary professional associates would be allowed to practice veterinary medicine under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Additionally, it would make it a misdemeanor to practice as a veterinary professional associate without being properly registered.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the creation of this profession, meaning you do not want to establish these new qualifications, registration requirements, or penalties for unregistered practice and leave as is.

This vote is about regulating veterinary practices and creating a new level of support within the veterinary field.

Proposition 130 is asking voters whether to change laws regarding funding for training and support for peace officers (like police officers). Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support the change, which would direct the state legislature to allocate $350 million to a special fund for peace officer training and support. This funding would help municipal and county law enforcement agencies hire and retain officers, and it could be used for their pay, bonuses, ongoing education and training, as well as benefits for officers killed in the line of duty. The funds would be required to supplement existing budget allocations, meaning they would add to the current funding rather than replace it.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the change, meaning you do not want to allocate this $350 million or create this fund for peace officer training and support.

This vote is about how to provide better resources and support for law enforcement agencies in Colorado.

Proposition 131 is asking voters whether to create new election processes for certain federal and state offices. Here’s what that means:

• If you vote "yes": You support the change, which would establish an all-candidate primary election for positions like U.S. Senate, governor, and other key offices. In this system, all voters could choose any candidate, regardless of party affiliation. The top four candidates who get the most votes would advance to the general election. In the general election, voters would be able to rank their preferred candidates, and the candidate with the highest total of ranked votes would win.

• If you vote "no": You oppose the change, meaning you want to keep the current election processes, which usually involve closed primaries where voters can only vote for candidates in their own party.

This vote is about how elections are conducted in Colorado and aims to increase voter choice and engagement.