Researching the Colorado Ballot Initiatives

The 2008 elections take place in just over six weeks, and individual candidates--particularly the presidential contenders--are at the forefront of everyone's minds. But voters should also be prepared for the issues-based initiatives that will appear on ballots this November. Colorado voters in particular will be presented with a lengthy list of ballot initiatives: 14 amendments and 4 referenda to be exact. How does one find clear, balanced information about each of these many ballot measures, you might ask? The best place to start is with your state government's website.

Coloradans don't have to wait for a copy of the informative Blue Book to arrive in the mailbox--this publication is already available online. The Blue Book, aka State Ballot Information Booklet, contains a summary and analysis of each ballot measure, a brief discussion of the arguments for and against the measure, an estimate of the measure's fiscal impact on the State, and the full text of each amendment or referendum.

For additional information about the initiatives, such as petition approval procedures and links to the Colorado Constitution and statutes that would be affected by the ballot measures, see the Colorado Secretary of State Elections Center. The Colorado State Publications Library also provides some good links to information about issues in Colorado.

If you need additional information about issues on the 2008 Colorado ballot, we provide helpful subject guides to Colorado State Resources and Elections and Voting.