On April 12, Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom, a coalition of reproductive rights organizations, officially collected over 225,000 signatures and surpassed the requirements to add Proposed Initiative 89 to ballots this fall.

Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom exceeded the required qualification goal of 124,238 signatures as well as their own personal goal of 185,000 signatures.

On September 20, 2023, almost a year prior to the signature collections, Initiative 89 was proposed to the Colorado Constitution to recognize the right to abortion and prohibit state and local governments from “denying, impending, or discriminating” against someone getting an abortion in Colorado.

Colorado is one of 11 states to attempt this addition thus far. According to NBC, Florida, Maryland and New York will include ballot measures to either protect or expand abortion rights this November, while eight more including Arizona, Montana and Nevada are attempting to confirm ballot status.

Contrary to many of these states, Colorado has no current laws restricting abortion care.

Colorado has had a long history of being a trailblazer in reproductive care. In 1967, it became the first state to decriminalize abortion in cases of rape, incest, or cases in which a pregnancy would lead to physical harm. This bill came six years before Roe v. Wade, where the Supreme Court would do the same thing on a national level.

Members of Buffs for Reproductive Rights, The University of Colorado Boulder’s reproductive rights club, tabled at the University Memorial Center to collect signatures and spread awareness about Proposed Initiative 89. The club works as a Planned Parenthood Generation Action member to educate students about sex education, reproductive rights and abortion care.

Helena Neufeld, the president of Buffs for Reproductive Rights, shared her thoughts about the signature collection and Proposed Initiative 89.

“It’s good for our club, but I think it’s more broadly good for the state of Colorado,” Neufeld said. “It means that in the fall, we get to vote on a constitutional amendment to add abortion rights and reproductive rights to the constitution. We’re obviously going to be supporting that process and getting people out to vote.”

In order to become more involved and familiar with reproductive rights issues in Colorado or any other state, Neufeld encouraged students to learn as much as they can.

“Educate yourself. So much of this is just being able to credibly speak about the issue,” said Neufeld. “Be knowledgeable, educate yourself, stand up for yourself, ask questions.”

CU Boulder’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services website includes a section about reproductive rights, where links to resources for students are included. They also state their support for the mental and physical health of students looking for reproductive care.

“At CAPS, we also acknowledge the long history of restricting access and recent efforts to limit reproductive rights in this country. The recent changes to healthcare and established law have widespread implications, increasing distress, and negative psychological impacts.”

Proposed Initiative 89 was created in hopes to solidify abortion rights into the Colorado State Constitution, which is especially notable after the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade. If Initiative 89 is successfully added to the Colorado Constitution this fall, it will cement the legal right for women to receive abortions in the state, regardless of whether the Supreme Court protects the right nationally.