2024 Colorado Amendment I

Last updated
Amendment I
Flag of Colorado.svg
November 5, 2024
Constitutional Bail Exception for First Degree Murder
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes2,058,06368.34%
Light brown x.svgNo953,65231.66%
Total votes3,011,715100.00%
2024 Colorado Amendment I results map by county.svg

2024 Colorado Amendment I was a proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution that appeared on the general election ballot on November 5, 2024, in Colorado. The measure allows judges to deny bail to individuals accused of first degree murder in cases where there is enough evidence for the judge to presume the defendant will eventually be convicted. As the ballot measure modified the state Constitution, it required a 55% majority to pass. [1]

Contents

Background

In 2020, the Colorado General Assembly abolished the death penalty within the state. Since Colorado law only allows denial of bail for capital offenses, abolishing the death penalty inadvertently removed the ability of judges in the state to deny bail. This was made official by the Colorado Supreme Court decision People v. Smith. This led to bipartisan calls to restore the ability of judges to deny bail when "proof is evident or presumtion is great". [2]

On February 8, 2024, Representatives Monica Duran and Mike Lynch and Senators Rhonda Fields and Bob Gardner introduced House Concurrent Resolution 24-1002 to refer the issue of creating an exemption for the right to bail in suspected cases of first degree murder to voters. The bill passed the Colorado House of Representatives with bipartisan support and was then passed by the Colorado Senate unanimously. [3]

March 4, 2024 vote in the Colorado House of Representatives
Political affiliationVoted forVoted againstAbstained/Not present
  Democratic Party 41
  Republican Party 18-
Total 5951
March 28, 2024 vote in the Colorado Senate
Political affiliationVoted forVoted againstAbstained/Not present
  Democratic Party 23--
  Republican Party 12--
Total 35--

Contents

The amendment appeared on the ballot as follows: [4]

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning creating an exception to the right to bail for cases of murder in the first degree when proof is evident or presumption is great?

Results

Amendment I required a 55% majority to pass. It was approved by voters with roughly two-thirds voting in favor of the amendment. [5]

Amendment I
ChoiceVotes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes2,058,06368.34
No953,65231.66
Total votes3,011,715100.00

Results by county

CountyForAgainstMarginTotal votes cast
# %# %# %
Adams 138,77264.11%77,68435.89%61,08828.22%216,456
Alamosa 4,34661.83%2,68338.17%1,66323.66%7,029
Arapahoe 209,35568.12%97,98931.88%111,36636.23%307,344
Archuleta 5,92668.09%2,77731.91%3,14936.18%8,703
Baca 97351.05%93348.95%402.10%1,906
Bent 1,24559.57%84540.43%40019.14%2,090
Boulder 135,07674.04%47,35025.96%87,72648.09%182,426
Broomfield 32,60973.46%11,78226.54%20,82746.92%44,391
Chaffee 9,41168.77%4,27331.23%5,13837.55%13,684
Cheyenne 59258.33%42341.67%16916.65%1,015
Clear Creek 3,90768.17%1,82431.83%2,08336.35%5,731
Conejos 2,10253.51%1,82646.49%2767.03%3,928
Costilla 1,01854.06%86545.94%1538.13%1,883
Crowley 1,01761.97%62438.03%39323.95%1,641
Custer 2,60870.35%1,09929.65%1,50940.71%3,707
Delta 12,28465.87%6,36634.13%5,91831.73%18,650
Denver 228,71167.84%108,42332.16%120,28835.68%337,134
Dolores 81261.01%51938.99%29322.01%1,331
Douglas 170,99173.64%61,19726.36%109,79447.29%232,188
Eagle 17,67668.43%8,15331.57%9,52336.87%25,829
El Paso 248,99168.71%113,40331.29%135,58837.41%362,394
Elbert 13,53768.79%6,14131.21%7,39637.59%19,678
Fremont 16,02965.29%8,52134.71%7,50830.58%24,550
Garfield 19,15466.54%9,63133.46%9,52333.08%28,785
Gilpin 2,75169.45%1,21030.55%1,54138.90%3,961
Grand 6,19965.99%3,19534.01%3,00431.98%9,394
Gunnison 7,23370.70%2,99829.30%4,23541.39%10,231
Hinsdale 39169.08%17530.92%21638.16%566
Huerfano 2,66663.72%1,51836.28%1,14827.44%4,184
Jackson 45358.00%32842.00%12516.01%781
Jefferson 244,13570.75%100,93229.25%143,20341.50%345,067
Kiowa 49459.88%33140.12%16319.76%825
Kit Carson 2,18061.97%1,33838.03%84223.93%3,518
La Plata 23,13669.55%10,13030.45%13,00639.10%33,266
Lake 2,33263.66%1,33136.34%1,00127.33%3,663
Larimer 149,11570.39%62,73129.61%86,38440.78%211,846
Las Animas 4,36759.87%2,92740.13%1,44019.74%7,294
Lincoln 1,52461.03%97338.97%55122.07%2,497
Logan 6,00462.18%3,65237.82%2,35224.36%9,656
Mesa 55,99864.01%31,48035.99%24,51828.03%87,478
Mineral 44863.82%25436.18%19427.64%702
Moffat 3,71059.36%2,54040.64%1,17018.72%6,250
Montezuma 9,28364.67%5,07235.33%4,21129.33%14,355
Montrose 16,03065.54%8,42834.46%7,60231.08%24,458
Morgan 7,91861.47%4,96438.53%2,95422.93%12,882
Otero 5,24960.99%3,35739.01%1,89221.98%8,606
Ouray 2,73970.34%1,15529.66%1,58440.68%3,894
Park 8,04969.48%3,53630.52%4,51338.96%11,585
Phillips 1,32460.48%86539.52%45920.97%2,189
Pitkin 7,73375.89%2,45724.11%5,27651.78%10,190
Prowers 2,86658.68%2,01841.32%84817.36%4,884
Pueblo 46,71957.53%34,48942.47%12,23015.06%81,208
Rio Blanco 2,04258.29%1,46141.71%58116.59%3,503
Rio Grande 3,65961.57%2,28438.43%1,37523.14%5,943
Routt 10,64469.21%4,73530.79%5,90938.42%15,379
Saguache 1,95662.53%1,17237.47%78425.06%3,128
San Juan 37070.48%15529.52%21540.95%525
San Miguel 2,91966.46%1,47333.54%1,44632.92%4,392
Sedgwick 75359.67%50940.33%24419.33%1,262
Summit 11,54970.90%4,73929.10%6,81041.81%16,288
Teller 11,10170.54%4,63629.46%6,46541.08%15,737
Washington 1,58258.81%1,10841.19%47417.62%2,690
Weld 110,33764.72%60,14735.28%50,19029.44%170,484
Yuma 2,96366.12%1,51833.88%1,44532.25%4,481
Total2,058,06368.34%953,65231.66%1,104,41136.67%3,011,715

See also

References

  1. ↑ Olivia Prentzel (October 7, 2024). "Amendment I: Should Colorado judges be able to deny bail to people charged with first-degree murder?". The Colorado Sun . Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  2. ↑ Megan Verlee (October 3, 2024). "Amendment I: No bail for first degree murder in Colorado, explained". Colorado Public Radio . Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  3. ↑ "HCR24-1002 Constitutional Bail Exception First Degree Murder". Colorado General Assembly . Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ "2024 State Ballot Information Booklet" (PDF). Colorado General Assembly . October 26, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Results". Colorado Secretary of State . Retrieved December 3, 2024.
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