State officials have approved three statewide ballot initiatives this week, setting the stage for Colorado voters to weigh in on a series of high-profile and controversial issues this November.
One of the measures, Initiative 108, would make child sex trafficking punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole, significantly increasing penalties for those convicted of the crime.
Two additional measures—Initiatives 109 and 110—focus on gender-related policies involving minors. Initiative 109 would prohibit transgender youth from participating in gender-specific sports that do not align with their biological sex, with the measure applying to collegiate athletics across Colorado. Initiative 110 would ban surgeries performed on minors for the purpose of altering biological sex characteristics.
Both Initiatives 109 and 110 are backed by Protect Kids Colorado, a state-registered committee formed to raise and spend money in support of ballot measures. Organizers reported collecting more than 125,000 signatures for each initiative, surpassing the threshold required to qualify for the ballot.
In addition to these measures, voters will also consider proposals addressing increased cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, as well as stricter penalties for fentanyl possession and distribution.
All approved measures will appear on the statewide ballot in November, where voters will ultimately decide their fate.
