The ballot for 2020 is still available to vote on, through mail or a station. With time still to vote (until 7 p.m.), here’s a quick explanation of the measures on the ballot, and what to vote.
Proposition EE is a tax increase on tobacco and e-cigarettes that would add up to $87 million in the state budget year 2020-21. The funding would go to various health and education programs. It would also set a minimum price for all products – a cigarette pack tax would be $2.64 per pack. This is the same as the previous tax increase, which was to encourage people to stop smoking.
Proposition 113 wants Colorado to join the National Popular Interstate Compact, which would give the state’s nine electoral college votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote. How things work now is the electoral college votes are determined by the popular vote in Colorado, as we are a swing state already. The goal behind this legislation is to decrease cynicism about voting and hopefully increase voter turnout.
Proposition 114 is the introduction of the grey wolf back into Colorado. The Colorado Wildlife Commission voted against this in 2016. Overall, this bill could harm ranchers and our delicate ecosystem in Colorado. There is not much of a reason to introduce wolves and there have already been sightings of wolves in Northwest Colorado as of August.
Proposition 115 is an abortion ban after 22 weeks. Women who break this would be charged a fine and doctors who performed the procedure would lose their practice for three years or more. This does include the exception of the mother’s life being in danger. It does not, however, include the possiblilty of a miscarriage or birth complications and defects, which are often not known about until week 21 of the pregnancy. Many pro-life advocates may see this bill as a good thing, but the vagueness and lack of exceptions make this bill morally deficient.
Proposition 116 is a tax cut for individuals, estates, trusts and foreign and domestic C corporations earning over $500,000. Roughly two percent of the state would get half the money saved from the tax cut and 70 percent of Coloradians would get only $50 back. The tax is currently 4.63 percent and would be cut to 4.55 percent. It would also reduce the General Fund revenue by $203 million in the budget year 2020-21.
Amendment B would repeal the Gallagher Amendment, named after Dennis Gallagher and established in 1982, which led to $35 billion in residential property tax being cut. This is the second year that this issue has been voted on, and lawmakers say if it does not pass, it will create dire situations for property-tax reliant public services (i.e. schools, fire departments and rural health care). This legislation is tough, because there are a lot of pros and cons. Repealing the amendment could jump property tax up by 18%, worsening the recession that Colorado is starting to see signs of. On the other hand, services that citizens rely on could be depleted.
Amendment C is in relation to changing how non-profits run games, specifically ones like raffles and bingo. Currently, an organization has to be a non-profit for five years prior to applying for a license for these games, this amendment would change it to three. It would also allow these events to be staffed by workers outside of the organization and compensate them up to minimum wage. Currently, staff is composed of unpaid volunteers. Non-profit organizations, such as GoodWill, jump through an incredible amount of hoops to even be considered non-profit, so this legislation would create subtle changes that could help these organizations go a long way and help more people.
Amendment 76 would limit all voting in the state of Colorado to residents who are 18 or older. This would eliminate the current practice of 17-year-olds who are allowed to vote in primaries leading up to an election where they will be 18. This is going to discourage young people from voting and could inaccurately represent numbers and predictions for upcoming elections.
Ballot Issue 7A is proposed by the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s proposal to increase property taxes by half a million dollars for the Western Slope of Colorado. This proposal is ridiculous. As a voter who is close to a Natural Resources and Conservation Services (a government branch of the Department of Agriculture), I have been thoroughly lectured on the determinants. The legislation is vaguely worded and there are confirmed funds that have barely been depleted for this service. Raising taxes for a bill that does not state all intents and purposes is a move that could harm a lot of citizens.
The importance of voting is lost on some individuals – they think they can make no difference. This is untrue, one vote can change the course of an entire election. Many people are abstaining from voting because of the presidential candidates, but they do not understand that you can vote on other issues and completely ignore that portion of the ballot.
When voting, remember to use only a blue or black pen, do not fill out a ballot on any wet surfaces, and if you are mailing in your vote, sign the envelope. There are polling stations all over town and a ballot drop off behind Moss Performing Arts Center on the Colorado Mesa University Campus.
