Colorado’s abortion rights ballot initiative is eligible for a vote

Colorado voters will decide in November whether abortion will become a state constitutional right after Colorado’s secretary of state announced Friday that proponents of a ballot initiative had collected enough signatures.

Supporters of the measure came forward 159,930 valid signatures last month — more than enough to place the question on the ballot, the state agency said.

The voting measureIf approved by 55% of voters, it would prohibit state and local governments from banning abortions or hindering access to them. It would also require abortion to be covered by health insurance plans for state and local government employees, as well as for those enrolled in state and local government insurance programs.

Currently, government-provided insurance such as Medicaid is not legally allowed to pay for abortions in most cases.

“Colorado voters have made it clear time and time again that they support abortion rights, and we are confident they will do so again this November,” said Karen Middleton, president of Cobalt, a pro-abortion access nonprofit. is, in a press release on Friday. She is also co-chair of Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom.

State law already protects the right to abortion, but putting these protections in the state constitution would make it more difficult to restrict access to abortion. State lawmakers can repeal a law, but amending the state constitution requires a statewide vote.