ALAMOSA — In what is the first step to the conclusion of the most closely watched campaign season in recent memory, voter ballots for people living in Alamosa County will be mailed the middle of this week, according to the Alamosa County Clerk’s office.  

The ballot is going to be extensive, not just because it’s a general election but because, in Colorado, there are five amendments to the state constitution and nine propositions on the ballot for voters to consider. Residents in the City of Alamosa will have three additional measures to consider.  

It should be noted that new amendments to the Colorado Constitution require 55% of the vote (versus a simple majority) in order to pass. Amendments that repeal a portion of the constitution only require a simple majority. 

Statewide, the amendments up for voters to decide include: 

Amendment G: This new constitutional amendment would allow more disabled veterans to qualify for a property tax exemption for a portion of their primary residence’s value. 

Amendment H: This new constitutional amendment would create an independent board to preside over and hand down consequences in cases involving judges accused of ethical misconduct.  

Amendment I: This amendment, brought to the voters by state lawmakers, would allow judges to order defendants accused of first-degree murder to be held without bail until trial.  

Amendment J: This amendment would abolish language in Colorado’s Constitution that states, “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.” The amendment would not have any material impact since same-sex marriage is legal across the country.  

Amendment K: This amendment would move the deadline up by one week for petitions initiated by citizens to be placed on the ballot. 

Colorado voters will also be asked to cast their vote on the following nine propositions. 

Proposition 79: If passed, this proposition would enshrine a woman's right to abortion in the state constitution and prevent the state legislature from adopting any abortion restrictions. It would also repeal Amendment 3, a 1984 constitutional ban on public funding for abortions. 

Proposition 80: If passed, this would enshrine in the constitution access to school choice, constitutionally guaranteeing a law already in effect that allows students to attend the school of their choice for free. Proposition 80 would include charter schools, homeschools and “future innovations in education.” 

Proposition 127: This proposition would ban the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx. Lynx hunting is already banned since they were listed on the Endangered Species List in 1999 but passage of this proposition would guarantee they could not be hunted should their protected status be removed.  

This proposition both creates conditions for exceptions and lays out punishment for those who break the law. 

Proposition 128: Current law allows for those convicted of violent crimes (for example, murder, sexual assault, serious cases of assault, aggravated robbery) to be considered for parole after serving 75% of their sentence or even earlier for good behavior. If passed, Prop 128 would increase that mandatory minimum to 85% of sentence. Anyone convicted of violent crimes three times would also be required to serve their entire sentence, removing the possibility of early parole. 

Proposition 129: This proposition creates a mid-level of care in veterinary practices with a new position called a Veterinary Professional Associate. Veterinary clinics are currently staffed by veterinarians, who complete a minimum of eight years of school, and veterinary technicians, who hold an associate’s degree. If passed, the VPA, who holds a master’s degree in veterinary clinical care, could diagnose, perform routine surgery and other routine tasks under a licensed veterinarian’s supervision.   

Proposition 130: This ballot initiative would direct the state legislature to direct $350 million of state funding for local law enforcement agencies to recruit, train and retain officers. A portion of that money would also be designated toward a new $1 million death benefit for families of officers killed in the line of duty. 

Proposition 131: This proposition is more complicated and would significantly change how elections are held in Colorado. 

 Republican and Democratic primaries would be replaced with “all candidate”, “all party” primaries. It would also introduce rank choice voting in general elections. 

In a primary, no more Republican or Democratic ballots. All candidates for a given office would appear on the ballot with the four candidates who get the most vote going on to the general election. This could result in all the candidates being from one party. 

Once the general election is held, all four names would appear on the ballot and voters would rank candidates in order of preference. For example, one candidate could be ranked first four-times or all the candidates could be ranked #1 through #4, however the voter preferred. Those votes would then be tabulated in a process involving multiple steps. 

This system would not apply to presidential elections or local elections but would apply to Congress, the state legislature, the governor and certain other statewide offices. 

Proposition JJ: This proposition would allow the state to retain sports betting tax revenue collected over a cap of $29 million to be diverted to state water conservation projects.  

Proposition KK: This proposition would levy a new 6.5% excise tax on gun sellers for all sales of ammunition, firearms and gun parts. The money collected from the new tax would go toward funding programs for victims of crime and behavioral health support for youth and veterans. 

In Alamosa, voters will also be considering three additional measures. 

The sale of marijuana – retail or medical - is not currently allowed within the city limits of Alamosa. After numerous requests from constituents, members of Alamosa’s city council voted to put the question of whether the sale and subsequent tax should be allowed. 

Voters will be asked two questions: should the sale of medical marijuana at a 2% tax rate be allowed within city limits? And should the sale of recreational marijuana at a 5% sales tax rate be allowed within city limits?  

Voters will also be asked to consider a $28 million bond being requested by the Alamosa School District.  If approved, the funding will go toward much needed maintenance and repair plus added updates to assure school safety and amplify healthy learning environments.