Legal Commentary

Colorado Voters Reject Ban on Affirmative Action

By Jeralyn

Colorado is now the first state in the country where voters rejected a ban on affirmative action programs.

The only votes still uncounted are about 55,000 in Boulder (dust got on the paper ballots, another first) but the remaining Boulder votes are 70% against the ban so the papers have called the it.

Amendment 46 would have barred state officials from considering race or gender in decisions on hiring, contracting and admissions to public colleges and universities.

...In Colorado, the proposal would have amended the state constitution to declare that the state may not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, individuals or groups based on race, color, sex, ethnicity or national origin.

More....

We had 18 ballot initiatives. All but one or two lost. I think a lot of voters just looked at the list, many of which called for new taxes and funding for special projects, and said "no" to all.

I voted no on every one that called for an amendment to the state constitution, consistent with the principle that the Constitution is not a rough draft, it has served us well for 200 years -- pass a law if you want change but leave the constitution alone.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on November 07, 2008 (boomark / email).