2023 Colorado Proposition II

Last updated
Proposition II
Flag of Colorado.svg
November 7, 2023

Retain Nicotine Tax Revenue in Excess of Blue Book Estimate
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes1,130,14767.53%
Light brown x.svgNo543,40532.47%
Total votes1,673,452100.00%

2023 Colorado Proposition II results map by county.svg

2023 Colorado Proposition II was a successful a ballot measure referred to voters by the Colorado General Assembly regarding the retention of tax revenue collected from the sale of nicotine, tobacco, and vape products in Colorado. The measure requires that 23.65 million dollars the state was obligated to refund to wholesalers and distributors of these products be diverted to fund preschools within the state. [1] On November 7, 2023, Colorado voters approved the proposition with roughly two-thirds of the electorate voting in favor.

Contents

Background

In 2020, Colorado passed Proposition EE which raised taxes on nicotine, tobacco, and vape products to fund universal preschool and tobacco education programs. Proposition EE estimated that the tax would collect 186.5 million dollars within its first year, however it ended up generating 208 million dollars. Under Article X of the Colorado Constitution, the state was obligated to return the excess revenue to vendors it was collected from, plus interest. Furthermore, the state would have to lower the tax rate to match the initially anticipated quantity of revenue. [2] [3]

On April 10, 2023, Representatives Julie McCluskie and Emily Sirota and Senators Dominick Moreno and Rhonda Fields introduced House Bill 23-1290 to the Colorado General Assembly to refer the issue of the excess tax revenue to voters. The bill passed both houses of the Colorado General Assembly with all Republicans and three Democrats voting against the legislation. [3] Governor Jared Polis signed the bill on June 2, 2023, resulting in Proposition II being on the November 2023 ballot. The bill stipulated that if Proposition II passed the excess revenue already generated, as well as any future excess revenue, would be transferred to funds for Colorado preschools. Additionally, it clarified that the tax rate set by Proposition EE would remain in place should Proposition II be approved by voters. [4]

Contents

The proposition appeared on the ballot as follows: [5]

Without raising taxes, may the state retain and spend revenues from taxes on cigarettes, tobacco, and other nicotine products and maintain tax rates on cigarettes, tobacco, and other nicotine products and use these revenues to invest twenty-three million six hundred fifty thousand dollars to enhance the voluntary Colorado preschool program and make it widely available for free instead of reducing these tax rates and refunding revenues to cigarette wholesalers, tobacco product distributors, nicotine products distributors, and other taxpayers, for exceeding an estimate included in the ballot information booklet for proposition EE?

Campaigns

Support

The main campaign to vote yes on Proposition II was led by the organization Preschool for all Coloradans. The organization contended that the passage of Proposition II would make preschool more widely available for Coloradan families and that the increased tax rate would lead to fewer youth and young adults using tobacco and nicotine products. [6] The official state voter guide also included arguments to support Proposition II including the claim that more preschool funding will lead to children of different socioeconomic backgrounds being able to start kindergarten with similar educational foundations. [5]

Opposition

There was no major organized campaign against Proposition II. However, the official state voter guide listed two main arguments against the proposition. The guide offered that Proposition II was an unnecessary expansion of government given that Colorado preschools were already fully funded and that the higher tax rate could harm those suffering from addiction. [1] [5] [10]

'No'
Organizations

Results

Proposition II [12]
ChoiceVotes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes1,130,14767.53
No543,40532.47
Total votes1,673,452100.00

Results by county

CountyForAgainstMarginTotal votes cast
# %# %# %
Adams 67,34066.79%33,47733.21%33,86333.59%100,817
Alamosa 2,26060.70%1,46339.30%79721.41%3,723
Arapahoe 118,57270.41%49,82929.59%68,74340.82%168,401
Archuleta 3,72270.83%1,53329.17%2,18941.66%5,255
Baca 51840.28%76859.72%-250-19.44%1,286
Bent 60946.60%69853.40%-89-6.81%1,307
Boulder 97,03482.62%20,41917.38%76,61565.23%117,453
Broomfield 19,06073.51%6,86926.49%12,19147.02%25,929
Chaffee 6,45368.90%2,91331.10%3,54037.80%9,366
Cheyenne 18327.77%47672.23%-293-44.46%659
Clear Creek 2,29467.35%1,11232.65%1,18234.70%3,406
Conejos 1,27758.98%88841.02%38917.97%2,165
Costilla 75365.71%39334.29%36031.41%1,146
Crowley 44839.68%68160.32%-233-20.64%1,129
Custer 1,22647.21%1,37152.79%-145-5.58%2,597
Delta 5,87052.93%5,22147.07%6495.85%11,091
Denver 132,76982.54%28,09017.46%104,67965.08%160,859
Dolores 45151.72%42148.28%303.44%872
Douglas 93,63666.11%47,99333.89%45,64332.23%141,629
Eagle 11,16474.48%3,82525.52%7,33948.96%14,989
El Paso 118,02860.63%76,65639.37%41,37221.25%194,684
Elbert 5,09141.93%7,05058.07%-1,959-16.14%12,141
Fremont 7,79152.35%7,09247.65%6994.70%14,883
Garfield 9,88367.58%4,74132.42%5,14235.16%14,624
Gilpin 1,55760.73%1,00739.27%55021.45%2,564
Grand 3,74167.03%1,84032.97%1,90134.06%5,581
Gunnison 5,22877.05%1,55722.95%3,67154.10%6,785
Hinsdale 24461.77%15138.23%9323.54%395
Huerfano 1,56956.42%1,21243.58%35712.84%2,781
Jackson 19943.45%25956.55%-60-13.10%458
Jefferson 138,60967.85%65,68932.15%72,92035.69%204,298
Kiowa 15329.03%37470.97%-221-41.94%527
Kit Carson 1,15045.19%1,39554.81%-245-9.63%2,545
La Plata 13,24572.39%5,05227.61%8,19344.78%18,297
Lake 1,35565.30%72034.70%63530.60%2,075
Larimer 87,26270.49%36,53629.51%50,72640.97%123,798
Las Animas 2,72555.57%2,17944.43%54611.13%4,904
Lincoln 53535.38%97764.62%-442-29.23%1,512
Logan 2,71542.97%3,60457.03%-889-14.07%6,319
Mesa 28,75957.39%21,35442.61%7,40514.78%50,113
Mineral 37866.43%19133.57%18732.86%569
Moffat 1,69547.15%1,90052.85%-205-5.70%3,595
Montezuma 5,04260.73%3,26039.27%1,78221.46%8,302
Montrose 7,83253.23%6,88246.77%9506.46%14,714
Morgan 3,12643.71%4,02556.29%-899-12.57%7,151
Otero 2,84150.53%2,78149.47%601.07%5,622
Ouray 1,90972.53%72327.47%1,18645.06%2,632
Park 4,07058.03%2,94441.97%1,12616.05%7,014
Phillips 81546.76%92853.24%-113-6.48%1,743
Pitkin 4,35883.30%87416.70%3,48466.59%5,232
Prowers 1,57647.67%1,73052.33%-154-4.66%3,306
Pueblo 26,86559.26%18,46740.74%8,39818.53%45,332
Rio Blanco 74737.86%1,22662.14%-479-24.28%1,973
Rio Grande 1,85354.53%1,54545.47%3089.06%3,398
Routt 7,22678.40%1,99121.60%5,23556.80%9,217
Saguache 1,09861.89%67638.11%42223.79%1,774
San Juan 28476.34%8823.66%19652.69%372
San Miguel 2,57884.28%48115.72%2,09768.55%3,059
Sedgwick 35643.20%46856.80%-112-13.59%824
Summit 7,20476.22%2,24823.78%4,95652.43%9,452
Teller 6,30955.85%4,98744.15%1,32211.70%11,296
Washington 56230.53%1,27969.47%-717-38.95%1,841
Weld 44,54756.63%34,11543.37%10,43213.26%78,662
Yuma 1,29843.14%1,71156.86%-413-13.73%3,009
Total1,130,04767.53%543,40532.47%586,64235.06%1,673,452

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References

  1. 1 2 Jenny Brundin (October 17, 2023). "Proposition II: What to do with $24 million in excess tobacco and nicotine taxes?". Colorado Public Radio . Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  2. Richard, Brandon (October 31, 2023). "Proposition II: The other state ballot measure Colorado voters must decide on this November". ABC 7 Denver .
  3. 1 2 3 Sandra Fish (October 10, 2023). "Proposition II: Colorado would be able to keep all the tobacco, nicotine tax revenue it generates to pay for preschool". Colorado Sun . Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  4. "HB23-1290 Proposition EE Funding Retention Rate". Colorado General Assembly . Retrieved June 1, 2024. Reduction
  5. 1 2 3 "2023 State Ballot Information Booklet" (PDF). Colorado General Assembly . September 7, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  6. "About Us". Preschool for all Coloradans. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  7. "Endorsements". Preschool for all Coloradans. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  8. "Editorial: The Denver Post's endorsement on Proposition II". The Denver Post . October 24, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  9. "2023 endorsements: Aye, Aye on Prop II". The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel . October 20, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  10. Coltrain, Nick (October 25, 2023). "Here's how Colorado Proposition II would affect tobacco taxes and preschools". The Denver Post . Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  11. "2023 Ballot Guide". Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University . Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  12. Jena Griswold (4 December 2023). "Colorado Coordinated Election Results" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State . Retrieved June 1, 2024.