Colorado Election Results: A Breakdown of Passed and Failed Ballot Measures

Colorado voters split 14 statewide measures in record-tying midterm election

Colorado voters divided their attention across a massive slate of 14 statewide ballot measures during the midterm election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, resulting in a split outcome that reshapes the state’s tax structure, criminal penalties, and social policies. According to reporting from Aspen Times, the sheer volume of questions matches a 52-year record, tying the high-water marks set in 2006, 2008, and 2024. This particular election cycle was unique due to the heavy reliance on the petitioning process; all but one of the measures were placed on the ballot by groups that successfully collected signatures.

The results reveal a electorate that passed seven measures while rejecting seven others. While the counts remain unofficial as reported by the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, the breakdown shows a significant push for changes in tax rates, conservation funding, and social issues, even as voters rejected several conservative-led constitutional amendments. The outcome sets the stage for a complex legislative session, as many of the successful propositions will face immediate scrutiny from the incoming state leadership.

Constitutional amendments fail to meet the 55% threshold

A significant portion of the defeated measures were attempts to amend the Colorado Constitution, which requires a higher bar of 55% approval to pass. Six such amendments—81, 82, 83, 84, 85, and 86—failed to reach that mark. Many of these initiatives were spearheaded by the conservative advocacy nonprofit Advance Colorado.

The most significant defeat among the constitutional changes was Amendment 81, which sought to require law enforcement to notify federal immigration authorities when charging individuals with violent crimes or prior felonies if their status is unconfirmed. This measure would have overturned recent Democratic-led laws designed to limit coordination between local police and federal immigration officers. Ultimately, only about 45% of voters supported it, with “No” votes outnumbering “Yes” votes by approximately 267,200.

Other failed constitutional efforts included:

Amendment 82: A proposal to grant a constitutional right to natural gas for cooking and heating, which would have limited the ability of local governments to ban the fuel for climate goals. It failed with roughly 46% support.
Amendment 83: An attempt by the International Order of T. Roosevelt to establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish. It received 45% support.
Amendment 84: A measure proposed by former election officials to require the last four digits of a Social Security number or a state ID for mail-in voting. This failed widely, earning only 36% support.
Amendment 85: A requirement that all ballot questions be written at an eighth-grade reading level. While it garnered 51% support, it fell short of the 55% requirement.
Amendment 86: A measure to ban the redistricting of congressional maps outside of the standard 10-year cycle, which failed with nearly 47% support.

Beyond the constitutional hurdles, Proposition 136 also failed to pass. This statutory measure, led by Advance Colorado, sought to maintain the state’s flat 4.4% income tax and prevent future alterations. It lost by approximately 138,000 votes.

New tax structures and education funding take center stage

While many conservative initiatives stalled, voters approved several measures that will fundamentally alter Colorado’s fiscal landscape. Amendment 87, backed by the progressive coalition Protect Colorado’s Future, passed with 51.37% support. This measure replaces the state’s current flat income tax with a tiered system, lowering rates for those earning under $500,000 and raising them for higher earners. The shift is expected to generate roughly $2 billion in annual revenue for healthcare, education, and early childhood programs.

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Complementing this shift is Proposition NN, a measure referred to the ballot by the state legislature. This initiative aims to increase K-12 funding by lifting the revenue cap under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). By allowing the state to retain and spend up to $4.6 billion over the TABOR cap annually, the measure provides a decade of increased education spending before the restrictions lift. It passed with nearly 56% support.

Voters also moved to redirect existing funds toward environmental and wildfire concerns. Proposition 137 will shift excess funding from the state’s sporting goods and outdoor gear tax toward conservation and wildfire mitigation, a move expected to generate about $175 million annually by reducing TABOR refunds.

Measure	Type	Primary Goal	Status
Amendment 87	Constitutional	Tiered income tax system	Passed
Proposition NN	Legislative	Increase K-12 funding via TABOR	Passed
Proposition 137	Statutory	Redirect sporting goods tax to conservation	Passed
Amendment 81	Constitutional	Immigration notification for law enforcement	Failed

Social policies and criminal penalties face legislative scrutiny

The election also produced significant changes to criminal law and social regulations, particularly regarding youth and gender-related issues. Several of these measures, including Propositions 132, 133, 134, and 135, are expected to face immediate review by the new state leadership. Because Democrats hold supermajorities in both the state house and senate, the legislature maintains the power to alter or overturn these provisions.

On the criminal justice front, Proposition 132 passed with nearly 53% support, making the possession of fentanyl and certain synthetic opioids a felony and increasing penalties for distribution. Additionally, Proposition 133, led by Protect Kids Colorado, imposes a life sentence without parole for those convicted of human trafficking a minor, passing with 62% support.

Colorado voters face lengthy November ballot with 14 statewide measures

The social measures brought by Protect Kids Colorado also saw success. Proposition 134, which requires schools to designate athletic teams as male, female, or co-ed—effectively banning participation based on gender identity—passed with 52% support. Similarly, Proposition 135, which bans certain gender-affirming surgeries for minors regardless of parental consent, passed with approximately 52% support.

The impact of these wins remains to be seen. While the voters have spoken, the tension between these new mandates and the incoming administration’s policy goals will likely define the upcoming legislative session. The question remains whether the supermajority in the legislature will act as a facilitator for these voter-led changes or a check against them.