Mixed Results for School and Election Amendments

Colorado voters have rejected Amendment 80, a proposal to enshrine school choice in the state Constitution, with 52% opposing and 48% in favor, falling short of the required 55% approval. The amendment aimed to ensure the right to choose between public, charter, private, and home schooling. Opponents argued it could pave the way for a voucher system, diverting public funds to private schools, while proponents claimed it was necessary to protect educational choices against future legislative changes. Meanwhile, Colorado voters also rejected Proposition 131, which would have introduced open primaries and ranked-choice voting for state and congressional races. Critics of Proposition 131 expressed concerns over potential voter confusion and ballot errors, despite supporters suggesting it could diversify candidate pools. In Minnesota, a majority of school referendums failed during the recent election, reflecting a trend of voter resistance to changes in educational funding and structure.