A campaign in Colorado is aiming to enshrine abortion rights into the state’s constitution and has gathered enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot in November. The group, Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom, collected more than 225,000 signatures, surpassing the 124,238 required. The deadline to turn in the signatures is April 18, and the group expects challenges on the validity of the signatures from opposition groups. The push to secure abortion rights at the state level has intensified following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson that ended federal abortion protections by overturning Roe v. Wade. Similar efforts are underway in other states, with Colorado currently allowing abortion but facing restrictions such as prohibiting health insurance from covering abortion care for certain individuals.
In response to recent legal developments, including the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to allow a ban on most abortions, campaign director Jess Grennan highlighted the importance of securing abortion rights through constitutional amendments. The proposed amendment in Colorado would prevent the government from infringing on abortion rights and override a 1984 measure restricting health insurance coverage for abortion care. Propelled by concerns about government overreach and the vulnerability of state laws, Grennan emphasized the need for constitutional protections to ensure access to abortion remains secure regardless of shifts in political power. The amendment would require a supermajority of 55% support from voters to pass, as confirmed by the Colorado secretary of state’s office.
Despite the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the subsequent focus on state-level protections, abortion rights measures have been successful in every state where they have been placed on the ballot, even in conservative states like Kansas and Ohio. In addition to the proposed abortion rights amendment in Colorado, there is a separate movement for a ballot measure that seeks to define a child as any living human being from the moment human life begins at conception, effectively banning nearly all abortions by prohibiting harm to the unborn child at any stage of development until adulthood. These competing initiatives reflect the ongoing battle over abortion rights and the divergent opinions on how best to address the issue within the state’s legal framework.
The campaign for the abortion rights amendment in Colorado signals a broader effort to protect reproductive freedom and ensure that the right to access abortion remains constitutionally guaranteed. By mobilizing volunteers and exceeding signature requirements, Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom has demonstrated a strong commitment to securing abortion rights against potential threats and challenges. The initiative comes at a critical time when the legal landscape surrounding abortion rights is shifting, prompting states to take proactive measures to safeguard reproductive autonomy. With the upcoming ballot in November, Colorado voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the proposed constitutional amendment and decide the future of abortion rights within the state.
