Colorful hands raised around a message saying 'the people's no' with decorative elements in red, blue, yellow, pink, and orange.

THIS IS

Four measures. Four NO votes.

One choice about what kind of Colorado we want to be.

Four measures on Colorado’s ballot address forced cooperation between Colorado law enforcement and ICE, transgender participation in school sports, specified medical procedures for minors, and fentanyl-related criminal penalties.

Each would change Colorado law. Each raises questions about who is affected, how negatively, what new restrictions or requirements would be created, and how public systems and resources would be used.

THE PEOPLE OF COLORADO ARE OUR CENTER.

The people directly affected by public policy should always be at the center when these policies are proposed. These four measures will negatively impact transgender young people and their families, immigrant families, and people who experiment with drugs or who struggle with additction.

Their lives are not side effects of public policy.

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THE FOUR MEASURES

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Close-up of a protest sign with the word 'NO' in brown and 'PROP 132' in white.

Fentanyl Penalty Crimes

  • People who struggle with addiction and youthful experimenters.

  • Proposition 132 would significantly increase criminal penalties for fentanyl-related offenses. It would make possession of any drug containing any amount of fentanyl a felony. Distribution of any drug containing any amount of fentanyl would become a Level 1 drug felony (highest level) and incur a mandatory 8- to-32 year prison sentence. Even for a first-time offense. Even if no money changed hands. Even if the person was not aware fentanyl was present.

  • People sentenced to years or decades in prison, their families, and communities already deeply affected by incarceration. And every Coloradan pays the price when hundreds of millions are diverted from K–12 education, healthcare, and substance use treatment toward private prisons. (For more info, visit CCJRC at GetTheFactsCO.org)

Text reading "NO PROP 134" on a white background.

Male and Female Participation in School Sports

  • Transgender student-athletes, and all young female athletes who do not conform to traditional standards of femininity

  •  Proposition 134 would require K–12 and collegiate sports to be designated male, female, or coeducational and limit participation based on the measure’s definition of biological sex.

  • Transgender students whose participation would be restricted, along with schools and districts responsible for implementing the new requirements.

Text saying 'NO PROP 135' with 'NO' in pink and 'PROP135' in white

Prohibit Certain Surgeries on Minors

  • Transgender youth and their families.

  • Proposition 135 would prohibit specified surgeries on minors when performed for purposes related to the minor’s sex or gender.

  • Transgender minors seeking care covered by the prohibition, their families, and the medical providers responsible for determining what care is legally permitted.

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Law Enforcement Reporting Requirements to Federal Authorities

  • Immigrant communities and Coloradans charged with certain crimes.

  • Colorado law enforcement would be required to notify the Department of Homeland Security when people are charged with certain crimes or have prior felony convictions and law enforcement determines they are not lawfully present, or cannot determine their lawful status within 72 hours.

  • Immigrant people in Colorado who are already subject to civil immigration enforcement and their families. Because the requirement is triggered by a criminal charge - not a conviction - notification will occur before a court has decided if a person is guilty.

PUBLIC POLICY SHOULD BE ABOUT WHAT WE BUILD.

We can use public policy to punish, prohibit, and restrict, or we can use it to invest in what our communities need to thrive. Schools. Healthcare. Treatment and recovery. Legal services. Language access. Family support. Every policy choice directs public power and public resources somewhere.

These four measures choose punishment and restriction. But that isn’t the only choice Colorado can make. We can build healthier, safer communities by investing in people, families, and the resources that actually support them.

Four measures. Four no votes.

One choice about what kind of Colorado we want to build.

  • Significantly increases criminal penalties for fentanyl-related offenses

    How it would restrict, prohibit, or punish people: Sends people who need treatment and support to prison and subjects them to harsh mandatory prison sentences.

    Instead, we could invest in: Mental health and substance use treatment, overdose prevention, harm reduction, recovery housing, and prevention.

  • Restricts students’ participation in school sports

    How it would restrict, prohibit, or punish people: Excludes transgender students from teams and subjects all girls to invasive, humiliating challenges about their sex.

    Instead, we could invest in: Educators, counselors, mental health services, student supports, safety, and extracurricular opportunities.

  • Prohibits certain medical care for transgender youth

    How it would restrict, prohibit, or punish people: Takes deeply personal healthcare decisions away from parents and doctors.

    Instead, we could invest in: Access to care, mental health services, provider standards, insurance coverage, and family support.

  • Requires law enforcement to report people to federal immigration authorities

    How it would restrict, prohibit, or punish people: Puts more people at risk of detention, deportation, and family separation – and makes immigrant communities more afraid to call police when they need help.

    Instead, we could invest in: Legal services, language access, healthcare, education, workforce services, and family support.

OUR COMMUNITIES KNOW WHAT THEY NEED.

Doctors know their patients. Families know their children. Educators know their students. Families affected by substance use know what helps their loved ones. Immigrant families know the challenges their communities face.

Good policy starts by listening to the people who live with the consequences. These four measures are not good policy. The People’s No is four NO votes and one choice about what kind of Colorado we want to be.

VOTING INFORMATION

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OCT. 5

Ballots mailed to all active registered voters

Ballots mailed to all active registered voters

OCT. 12

Ballot drop boxes open

OCT. 19

Voter Service Centers for in-person voting open

OCT. 22

Ballot drop boxes open

Last day to mail your ballot back, or to request a replacement ballot be mailed to you

NOVEMBER 3 - ELECTION DAY

Ballots must be received by 7 PM

CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION

FIND A DROPBOX

MAKE A PLAN

Voter Service Centers for in-person voting open

Last day to mail your ballot back, or to request a replacement ballot to be mailed to you