How your vote could impact abortion in Colorado

Abortion is a hot topic in the November elections at multiple levels — but especially on the Colorado ballot, which includes Amendment 79 — a proposed amendment that would enshrine the state’s abortion protections in the Colorado Constitution.

The fate of abortion access is currently being decided by the states following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which for decades had established a basic right to abortion. Our ongoing Voter Vote Survey with other Colorado media outlets show that abortion is among the top five issues among the thousands of voters who responded, with self-identified liberals particularly concerned about potential restrictions.

Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, thirteen states – mainly in the American South – have done so or banned abortions or if pre-existing trigger bans had come into effect. Those are among 21 states that do so The New York Times counts such as banning the procedure or limiting it earlier in the pregnancy than Roe v. Wade would have allowed.

This story came from our Voter Vote Surveywhere readers shared with us what issues they thought were important in the 2024 election

Colorado, where abortion services are available any stage of pregnancyis among 29 states where abortion is broadly legal — either by law or because bans have been blocked by the courts — although some states have restrictions later in pregnancy, The Times says.

American attitudes support access to abortion, with 63% saying this year it should be legal in all or most cases, according to the Pew Research Center. It’s not a gender issue either: both men and women tend to support access to abortion at about the same level: 61% and 64% respectively.

Religion serves as the dividing line on this issue: 73% of white evangelical Protestants say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, while majorities of white non-evangelical Protestants, black Protestants and Catholics all say it should be illegal in all or most cases should be legal. in most cases, Pew reports. The highest level of support for legal abortion was 86% among the religiously unaffiliated.

Stephanie Lang, a liberal living in Denver, was among voters who listed abortion as their top issue in her response to the Voter Voices survey.

Lang is at an age where she’s considering pregnancy, and she says access to abortion care means she has a plan in place in case an unexpected medical emergency arises.

“When you make these kinds of decisions, there are a lot of uncertainties,” she said in an interview.

Lang also argues that protecting access to abortion in Colorado would benefit the broader region. “If Colorado has this, it will be a safe haven for the states around us,” she said.

If abortion is a top priority for you – regardless of your views on it – this is where your vote will have the most impact.

The presidential race

The U.S. president can influence abortion by proposing legislation, signing or vetoing bills, and passing administrative regulations. The chief executive also appoints judges and justices who will interpret the relevant laws. This year’s major party presidential candidates differ sharply on abortion.

Former President Donald Trump, again the Republican nominee, has taken varying positions on his abortion position. As president, he nominated three of the five Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and he has claimed responsibility for its reversal. He argues that abortion should be an issue left to the states.

“It is now the voice of the people; it is not tied to the federal government,” Trump said during his speech the September 10 presidential debate. “It has done me a great service.”

Trump recently said he would veto it a nationwide ban on abortion and has said he believes in exceptions, including for rape, incest and situations that threaten the lives of pregnant mothers. But he is also in favor of restrictions: in his home state of Florida he has has said publicly that he will vote no this fall on a ballot measure that would overturn that state’s six-week abortion ban.

His wife, former First Lady Melania Trump, recently expressed her support for abortion access. “There is, without a doubt, no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth: individual freedom,” she said in a video from October 3.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, has also vowed to block a federal abortion ban. And as part of her platformshe has committed to signing any congressional legislation that mimics nationwide protections for abortion access.

“You don’t have to give up your faith or deeply held beliefs to agree: the government shouldn’t be telling (a woman) what to do,” Harris said in a podcast interview from October 6.

Harris says the issue also includes access to in vitro fertilization treatments, contraception and other methods of reproductive health care.

The congressional races

Congress, along with the president, has more power in the post-Roe era to pass nationwide protections and restrictions on abortion, depending on whether the House and Senate can reach agreement—and the president passes the resulting legislation signs. Congress can also decide whether to maintain, modify, or repeal it the Hyde Amendmentwhich in most cases prohibits the use of federal funding to pay for abortions.

Candidates vying to represent Colorado in Congress in the November elections are divided along party lines on the abortion issue, with all Democrats in the state’s eight congressional districts showing support for restoring nationwide access by passing legislation. Republicans largely say they oppose such legislation, while several say they would support national measures to restrict abortion.

“I am shocked by what is happening to women across the country because of Trump’s abortion ban,” U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat in the 7th Congressional District, wrote in a response to the Denver Post questionnaire, adding : “I co-sponsored legislation to codify access to abortion care in Colorado and I am committed to getting that done in Congress.”

Several Republicans have said the states are the only place where such decisions can be made.

“The Supreme Court has returned abortion decisions to the states and that should remain the case,” John Fabbricatore, the Republican candidate for the 6th Congressional District, wrote in his response to The Post’s questionnaire.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, in turn, is pushing for a federal law that would restrict access to abortion. She represents the 3rd District, but is running for election in the 4th District.

“Life begins at conception, and I will always defend life,” Boebert wrote in her response to The Post’s questionnaire. “I fully support a pro-life federal law that protects the lives of the most vulnerable members of our society.”

Ballot measures

Here’s where Colorado voters will have the most direct say this year: Amendment 79 would elevate Colorado’s existing protections for abortion access to the state constitution. It would also allow state and local government funding for abortion services by repealing a 1984 amendment passed by voters that banned the use of public money for that purpose.

That would potentially allow the state to include abortion coverage as part of health insurance for both Medicaid and government employees, but that would require further action.

Coloradans for protecting reproductive freedomled by abortion rights groups, filed a petition for the measure to allow the state vote. Vote no on 79which also includes anti-abortion groups such as Colorado Right to Life, is spearheading the opposition campaign.

The proposal needs 55% support from voters to pass, as it would amend the constitution. The failure of the measure would mean that the 1984 language in the Constitution would be retained and the power to make future decisions on abortion would rest in the hands of the state legislature.

State legislative races

The state government is currently falling under democratic control in the House of Representatives, the Senate and the governor’s office. The House of Representatives operates with a 46-19 Democratic supermajority, while the Senate is controlled by a 23-12 majority. In the fall elections, Democrats will look to maintain or expand their majorities, while Republicans hope to to reduce.

If voters approve Amendment 79, lawmakers would have fewer options to change abortion protections in Colorado. If this fails, the legislature will retain its ability to regulate abortion at the state level.

Several Democrats running in the most contentious races in the House of Representatives, such as Rep. Stephanie Vigil in District 16 and Rep. Bob Marshall in District 43, are emphasizing their commitment to ensuring access to abortion. But Republican candidates in those districts tend to leave abortion out of their campaign materials and instead prioritize other issues such as crime, immigration and the economy.

In state Senate races, Democratic candidates, including Cole Buerger in District 5 and Vivian Smotherman in District 6, are also speaking out about protecting abortion access, while their political opponents are quieter on the issue — which for now is in Colorado seems to be settled. under democratic control.

Local breeds

Local elected officials have some power to decide whether to direct local government funding to abortion services or pass local regulations, but almost all action on this issue this year is taking place at the state level.

What’s next:

Homes on the ballot | Climate change on the ballot