2024 Colorado Amendment 79

2024 Colorado Amendment 79 was a constitutional amendment that appeared on the November 5, 2024 ballot. The amendment established a right to abortion in the Constitution of Colorado and repealed a constitutional ban on public funding for abortions. The amendment passed, surpassing the 55% supermajority vote required for the amendment to be approved.^[3]

Amendment 79

November 5, 2024
Constitutional Right to Abortion[1][2]
Results
Choice Votes  % Yes 1,921,593 61.97% No 1,179,261 38.03% Total votes 3,100,854 100.00%
County results Congressional district results Precinct results Yes   90–100%   80–90%   70–80%   60–70%   50–60% No   90–100%   80–90%   70–80%   60–70%   50–60% Other   Tie   No votes

Text

In the Colorado Constitution, Article II is amended by the addition of a new section 32 as follows:^[4]

The right to abortion is hereby recognized. Government shall not deny, impede, or discriminate against the exercise of that right, including prohibiting health insurance coverage for abortion.

Background

Colorado's abortion laws

See also: Abortion in Colorado § History

In the 19th century, bans by state legislatures on abortion were about protecting the life of the mother given the number of deaths caused by abortions; state governments saw themselves as looking out for the lives of their citizens.^[5] Colorado's first ban on abortion was passed in 1861.^[6] It read:

“[E]very person who shall administer substance or liquid, or who shall use or cause to be used any instrument, of whatsoever kind, with the intention to procure the miscarriage of any woman then being with child, and shall thereof be duly convicted, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years, and fined in a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars; and if any woman, by reason of such treatment, shall die, the person or persons administering, or causing to be administered, such poison, substance or liquid, or using or causing to be used, any instrument, as aforesaid, shall be deemed guilty of manslaughter, and if convicted, be punished accordingly.”

In 1967, Colorado decriminalized abortions in cases of rape, incest, or in which a pregnant woman would be permanently disabled as a result.^[7] Despite adopting what was considered a more progressive law, elective abortions were still illegal under state law.

1984 Colorado Amendment 3

In 1984, Colorado voters narrowly approved Amendment 3.^[8] The amendment effectively banned the usage of public funding for abortions except in certain circumstances. The amendment, which is still a part of the Constitution of Colorado, reads:

"No public funds shall be used by the State of Colorado, its agencies or political subdivisions, to pay, or otherwise reimburse, either directly or indirectly, any person, agency, or facility for the performance of any induced abortion, PROVIDED HOWEVER, that the General Assembly, by specific bill, may authorize, and appropriate, funds to be used for those medical services necessary to prevent the death of either a pregnant woman or her unborn child under circumstances where every reasonable effort is made to preserve the life of each."^[9]

Ballot measure submission

In 2023, Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom, the group sponsoring the initiative, filed the amendment with Jena Griswold, the Colorado Secretary of State. The measure was approved for circulation on November 14, 2023.^[1] On April 18, 2024, the group submitted some 225,000 signatures, well over the 124,238 needed to gain ballot access.^[10][1] Griswold certified the signatures on May 17, 2024.^[1]

Endorsements

Yes

U.S. Senators

• Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator from Colorado (2011-present) (Democrat)^[11]
• John Hickenlooper, U.S. Senator from Colorado (2021-present) (Democrat)^[11]

Statewide officials

• Phil Weiser, 39th Attorney General of Colorado (2019-present) (Democrat)^[11]
• Dave Young, 57th Treasurer of Colorado (2019-present) (Democrat)^[11]

U.S. Representatives

• Diana DeGette, U.S. representative from CO-1 (1997–present) (Democrat)^[11]
• Joe Neguse, U.S. representative from CO-2 (2019–present) (Democrat)^[11]
• Jason Crow, U.S. representative from CO-6 (2019–present) (Democrat)^[11]
• Brittany Pettersen, U.S. representative from CO-7 (2023–present) (Democrat)^[11]
• Yadira Caraveo, U.S. representative from CO-8 (2023–present) (Democrat)^[11]

State Senators

• 19 Democratic state senators^[11]

State Representatives

• 31 Democratic state representatives^[11]

Labor unions

• Colorado Education Association^[11]
• CWA Local 7799^[11]
• SEIU Local 105^[11]
• UCW-CWA 7799^[11]

Organizations

• Advocates for Youth^[11]
• ACLU of Colorado^[11]
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists^[11]
• Anti-Defamation League Mountain States^[11]
• Catholics for Choice^[11]
• Center for Reproductive Rights^[11]
• Colorado Democratic Party^[11]
• Colorado Working Families Party^[11]
• Feminist Majority Foundation^[11]
• Freedom From Religion Foundation^[12]
• League of Women Voters of Colorado^[11]
• National Abortion Federation^[11]
• National Council of Jewish Women^[13]
• National Women's Law Center^[11]
• Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains^[11]
• Reproductive Health Access Project^[11]
• SIECUS^[11]
• Small Business Majority^[11]

No

State Representatives

• Brandi Bradley, state representative from the 39th district (2023–present) (Republican)^[14]

Organizations

• Colorado Catholic Conference^[15]
• Colorado Republican Party^[16]
• March for Life^[17]

Results

Amendment 79^[2]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,921,593	61.97
No	1,179,261	38.03
Total votes	3,100,854	100.00

By county

County	For		Against		Margin		Total votes cast
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Adams	137,794	62.01%	84,405	37.99%	53,389	24.03%	222,199
Alamosa	3,615	50.99%	3,475	49.01%	140	1.97%	7,090
Arapahoe	206,611	65.36%	109,490	34.64%	97,121	30.72%	316,101
Archuleta	4,625	51.59%	4,340	48.41%	285	3.18%	8,965
Baca	472	24.62%	1,445	75.38%	-973	-50.76%	1,917
Bent	883	41.77%	1,231	58.23%	-348	-16.46%	2,114
Boulder	153,538	80.43%	37,361	19.57%	116,177	60.86%	190,899
Broomfield	31,547	68.98%	14,185	31.02%	17,362	37.96%	45,732
Chaffee	8,864	62.83%	5,244	37.17%	3,620	25.66%	14,108
Cheyenne	217	21.11%	811	78.89%	-594	-57.78%	1,028
Clear Creek	3,963	67.04%	1,948	32.96%	2,015	34.09%	5,911
Conejos	1,526	38.26%	2,462	61.74%	-936	-23.47%	3,988
Costilla	1,097	56.11%	858	43.89%	239	12.23%	1,955
Crowley	613	36.95%	1,046	63.05%	-433	-26.10%	1,659
Custer	1,528	40.38%	2,256	59.62%	-728	-19.24%	3,784
Delta	8,124	42.76%	10,877	57.24%	-2,753	-14.49%	19,001
Denver	283,105	80.80%	67,286	19.20%	215,819	61.59%	350,391
Dolores	505	37.16%	854	62.84%	-349	-25.68%	1,359
Douglas	129,390	54.49%	108,063	45.51%	21,327	8.98%	237,453
Eagle	19,284	71.67%	7,623	28.33%	11,661	43.34%	26,907
El Paso	193,839	51.98%	179,080	48.02%	14,759	3.96%	372,919
Elbert	7,346	36.87%	12,580	63.13%	-5,234	-26.27%	19,926
Fremont	10,907	43.67%	14,067	56.33%	-3,160	-12.65%	24,974
Garfield	17,948	60.73%	11,605	39.27%	6,343	21.46%	29,553
Gilpin	2,656	65.79%	1,381	34.21%	1,275	31.58%	4,037
Grand	5,805	59.86%	3,893	40.14%	1,912	19.72%	9,698
Gunnison	7,668	71.91%	2,996	28.09%	4,672	43.81%	10,664
Hinsdale	322	54.67%	267	45.33%	55	9.34%	589
Huerfano	2,327	54.08%	1,976	45.92%	351	8.16%	4,303
Jackson	330	41.10%	473	58.90%	-143	-17.81%	803
Jefferson	232,101	65.38%	122,900	34.62%	109,201	30.76%	355,001
Kiowa	238	28.85%	587	71.15%	-349	-42.30%	825
Kit Carson	980	27.54%	2,579	72.46%	-1,599	-44.93%	3,559
La Plata	23,314	67.21%	11,373	32.79%	11,941	34.43%	34,687
Lake	2,555	67.40%	1,236	32.60%	1,319	34.79%	3,791
Larimer	140,284	64.09%	78,593	35.91%	61,691	28.19%	218,877
Las Animas	3,828	51.10%	3,663	48.90%	165	2.20%	7,491
Lincoln	847	33.68%	1,668	66.32%	-821	-32.64%	2,515
Logan	3,448	34.96%	6,416	65.04%	-2,968	-30.09%	9,864
Mesa	43,084	48.21%	46,279	51.79%	-3,195	-3.58%	89,363
Mineral	389	53.80%	334	46.20%	55	7.61%	723
Moffat	2,464	38.53%	3,931	61.47%	-1,467	-22.94%	6,395
Montezuma	7,119	48.83%	7,460	51.17%	-341	-2.34%	14,579
Montrose	10,815	43.18%	14,231	56.82%	-3,416	-13.64%	25,046
Morgan	5,018	38.48%	8,024	61.52%	-3,006	-23.05%	13,042
Otero	3,829	43.92%	4,890	56.08%	-1,061	-12.17%	8,719
Ouray	2,642	65.87%	1,369	34.13%	1,273	31.74%	4,011
Park	6,238	52.65%	5,610	47.35%	628	5.30%	11,848
Phillips	641	28.65%	1,596	71.35%	-955	-42.69%	2,237
Pitkin	8,797	82.01%	1,930	17.99%	6,867	64.02%	10,727
Prowers	1,758	35.32%	3,220	64.68%	-1,462	-29.37%	4,978
Pueblo	44,162	53.50%	38,381	46.50%	5,781	7.00%	82,543
Rio Blanco	1,136	31.87%	2,429	68.13%	-1,293	-36.27%	3,565
Rio Grande	2,652	43.83%	3,399	56.17%	-747	-12.35%	6,051
Routt	11,623	72.72%	4,360	27.28%	7,263	45.44%	15,983
Saguache	1,911	59.18%	1,318	40.82%	593	18.36%	3,229
San Juan	395	73.69%	141	26.31%	254	47.39%	536
San Miguel	3,771	81.08%	880	18.92%	2,891	62.16%	4,651
Sedgwick	465	36.05%	825	63.95%	-360	-27.91%	1,290
Summit	12,816	75.52%	4,154	24.48%	8,662	51.04%	16,970
Teller	6,696	41.81%	9,319	58.19%	-2,623	-16.38%	16,015
Washington	677	24.84%	2,048	75.16%	-1,371	-50.31%	2,725
Weld	87,153	49.96%	87,302	50.04%	-149	-0.09%	174,455
Yuma	1,298	28.62%	3,238	71.38%	-1,940	-42.77%	4,536
Total	1,921,593	61.97%	1,179,261	38.03%	742,332	23.94%	3,100,854

By congressional district

"Yes" won all eight congressional districts, including four that elected Republicans.^[18]

District	Yes	No	Representative
1st	81%	19%	Diana DeGette
2nd	74%	26%	Joe Neguse
3rd	54%	46%	Lauren Boebert (118th Congress)
			Jeff Hurd (119th Congress)
4th	50.02%	49.98%	Greg Lopez (118th Congress)
			Lauren Boebert (119th Congress)
5th	52%	48%	Doug Lamborn (118th Congress)
			Jeff Crank (119th Congress)
6th	65%	35%	Jason Crow
7th	64%	36%	Brittany Pettersen
8th	58%	42%	Yadira Caraveo (118th Congress)
			Gabe Evans (119th Congress)

See also

• Abortion in Colorado
• 2022 Kansas abortion referendum
• 2022 California Proposition 1
• 2022 Michigan Proposal 3
• 2022 Vermont Proposal 5
• November 2023 Ohio Issue 1
• 2024 Arizona Proposition 139
• 2024 Florida Amendment 4
• 2024 Maryland Question 1
• 2024 Missouri Amendment 3
• 2024 Montana Initiative 128
• 2024 Nebraska Initiative 439
• 2024 Nevada Question 6
• 2024 New York Proposal 1
• 2024 South Dakota Amendment G
• 2024 United States ballot measures

Notes