DENVER–Proponents of a late-term abortion ban on Wednesday turned in to the Colorado Secretary of State what they say is over 135,000 signatures towards that effort.
According to the proponents, 43,000 of those signatures were collected in just the last six days as part of a large volunteer push heading into the Wednesday deadline.
The measure, currently numbered Initiative 120, would restrict abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy in Colorado. According to the text of the measure, performing an abortion in violation of the ban would be a Class 1 Misdemeanor punishable by a fine. The measure goes on to say, “A woman on whom an abortion is performed or a person who fills a prescription or provides equipment used in an abortion” would not be charged with a crime. The measure also includes an exception to the ban to save the life of the mother.
Colorado is currently one of only a few states where late-term abortions can be performed with no restrictions.
To put the measure on the November 2020 ballot requires 124,632 valid signatures from registered voters, leaving the proponents a slim margin of error. Lauren Castillo, a spokesperson for Due Date Too Late, the organization formed to support the effort told Complete Colorado, “We’re excited that the momentum that built behind this initiative has allowed us to turn in more than the required number signatures to the Secretary of State. It really matches the belief of Coloradans in their desire to place a ban on abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy.”
The Secretary of State now has 30 days to certify that enough valid signatures were gathered, and if voters will get to decide the issue at the ballot. The initiative is a statutory change, meaning it needs 50 percent plus one of the vote to pass, and that lawmakers can later amend the measure if enacted, as with any other state law.
