2008 Colorado Amendment 46

none Amendment 46 Discrimination and Preferential Treatment by Governments November 4, 2008 Colorado 1,102,046 1,138,134 2,240,180 250px County results For #B6C8D9 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid Against #BCBC83 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #DEDEBD 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid Amendment 46, also known as the Colorado Civil Rights Initiative, was a proposed initiative on the Colorado ballot for the state during the 2008 U.S general election. If ratified, Article II of the Colorado Constitution would have stated: The State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting. Controversy The proposed initiative was sponsored by Californian Ward Connerly. In April, 2008, a Colorado group sued, claiming that over 69,000 signatures on the ballot petition were invalid.David Montero (April 24, 2008). "Suit filed over Amendment 46", Rocky Mountain News. Some citizens also claimed that they signed the petition through voter fraud.Blake Wesley (April 16, 2008). "Colorado Anti-Affirmative Action Legislation Amendment 46 https://web.archive.org/web/20081010152243/http://www.electionunspun.org/issues/local-elections/234-colorado-anti-affirmative-action-legislation-amendment-46 2008-10-10 ", electionunspun.org. Governor Bill Ritter opposed the amendment,Jerd Smith (September 29, 2008). "Ritter: Amendment 46 'undercuts Colorado'", Rocky Mountain News. along with the Colorado Council of Churches.Associated Press (June 10, 2008). "Group Opposes Anti-Affirmative Action MeasureAugust 2017 InternetArchiveBot yes ", KCNC-TV. Petition company National Ballot Access was hired to manage this petition drive.Dan Hayes Denver Ballot Proposal A Success https://web.archive.org/web/20100614171042/http://www.minutemanhq.com/state/read.php?chapter=CO&sid=822 2010-06-14 The Minutemen Civil Defense CorpsUnions may lose a labor-state The Union News, April 10, 2008 Result Amendment 46https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2008AbstractBook.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20160329235504/http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2008AbstractBook.pdf dead March 29, 2016 Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2008 Primary 2008 General Secretary of State of Colorado Buescher Bernie June 29, 2009 October 3, 2024 1102046 1138134 Aftermath Initiatives with the same language have been introduced and approved in five other states, including California (1996), Washington (1998), Michigan (2006), Nebraska (2008), and Arizona (2010); Colorado was the first state where it was defeated. On December 17, 2010 the University of Colorado at Boulder released a reportMichele Moses, et al (September, 2010). "Investigating the Defeat of Colorado's Amendment 46: An Analysis of the Trends and Principal Factors Influencing Voter Behaviors. https://web.archive.org/web/20111013054456/http://civilrights.org/publications/colorado-46/ 2011-10-13 ", Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights. analyzing the factors that led to the defeat of Amendment 46. According to the study, "...Coloradans overwhelmingly intended to support affirmative action on Election Day; arguably, were Amendment 46 a clearly worded referendum on attitudes toward affirmative action, it would have failed by a much wider margin: 66 to 34 percent." The report also found that (a) many voters were confused by the initiative, (b) voters who followed the measure in the media were more likely to oppose it, and (c) proposed alternative initiatives in support of equal opportunity contributed to the measure's defeat.Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights (December 17, 2010). "Report Analyzes Successful Campaign to Defeat Colorado's Anti-Equal Opportunity Ballot Measure. https://web.archive.org/web/20110707165748/http://www.civilrights.org/archives/2010/12/1112-co-report.html?page=3 2011-07-07 " References Amendment 46 Category:2008 controversies in the United States Category:Initiatives in the United States Category:History of affirmative action in the United States Category:Opposition to affirmative action Category:Constitution of Colorado Category:Amendments to the Constitution of Colorado