The Womanifesto 2022

A Ballot Guide for Coloradans Who Want Women to Thrive

wo•man•i•fes•to

noun: a public proclamation of policy goals, intentions, or views, especially one issued before an election; a policy statement or platform

When we vote, we shape the future. The Women’s Foundation of Colorado (WFCO) created the Womanifesto to help create an equitable future for women in the communities in which we live and work. Using your voice at the ballot box can powerfully accelerate gender, racial, and economic equity so that all 2.85 million Colorado women and girls can prosper.

WFCO is the only community foundation in our state focused exclusively on creating more pathways to economic security for Colorado women and girls of every background and identity. How do we do this? WFCO learns from and informs our community through research. We translate information into action through grantmaking partnerships. We transform systems for Colorado women and their families through advocacy - it’s about people, not politics. 

Join us in improving economic outcomes for Colorado women by voting in the Nov. 8, 2022 election. Four of the statewide ballot measure questions will impact gender, racial, and economic equity in Colorado. 

 

 

Ballot Measures WFCO Has Taken a Position On:

*You can read more about each measure and their fiscal notes by accessing the “Blue Book” or the 2022 State Ballot Information Booklet. 

	WFCO Position	Ballot Measure
	Oppose	Proposition 121 – State Income Tax Rate Reduction WFCO Position: Oppose WFCO Reasoning: A decrease in the state’s income tax would result in an estimated $572.1 million loss for the State of Colorado in the first year of the measure’s implementation. In a time when Colorado women and their families are severely impacted by inflation and cost of living increases, while trying to rebound from the economic effects of the pandemic, decreasing state tax revenue will only further limit resources for essentials such as child care, housing, and education. Summary of Ballot Measure: If passed this measure would lower state income tax from 4.55% to 4.4%. Proponents: Americans for Prosperity Colorado, Coloradans for Civil Liberties, Colorado Rising Action, Defend Colorado, Independence Institute Opponents: Bell Policy Center, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Keeping Colorado Great
	Support	Proposition 123 – Dedicate Revenue for Affordable Housing WFCO Position: Support WFCO Reasoning: In the first full year of implementation an estimated $270 million would be collected. WFCO grantee partners continually report that their participants’ top needs include access to affordable and safe housing. Too many women and their families are making impossible decisions between staying in their homes and feeding their children. Without raising taxes this measure would allow for local solutions to combat the full spectrum of Colorado’s affordable housing crisis from homelessness to home ownership. Summary of Ballot Measure: If passed this measure would dedicate .1% (one-tenth of one percent) of the state’s income tax revenue for housing programs and creates the State Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF). The SAHF would be separated into two funds - Affordable Housing Financing Fund (60%) and the Affordable Housing Support Fund (40%). These will fund programs including those to purchase land for affordable housing, provide rent support, maintain existing affordable housing, assist Coloradans who are homeless, and build local planning capacity. Proponents: Led by Gary Community Ventures,  the full list of current campaign supporters includes a broad range of supporters, from Children’s Hospital and Colorado Nurses Association to Colorado Association of Realtors. Opponents: Advance Colorado Action
	Support	Proposition FF – Healthy Meals for All Public School Students WFCO Position: Support WFCO Reasoning: Two out of every five Colorado families struggle to put food on their tables. Colorado women and their families depend on free and reduced lunch programs that were supported by COVID relief funds and are back to school without those resources. Summary of Ballot Measure: If passed this measure would close tax loopholes for taxpayers making more than $300,000 per year. It would reduce income tax deduction limits for those earning $300,000 or more from $30,000 for single filers and $60,000 for joint filers to $12,000 for single filers and $16,000 for joint filers. The resulting tax revenue, an estimated $100.7 million per year, would be used to provide free breakfasts and lunches for all Colorado K-12 students. Proponents: Led by Hunger Free Colorado, the list of current campaign supporters includes broad range of supporters, from Children’s Hospital to Colorado Academy of Family Physicians and Colorado Public Health Association. Opponents: Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University
	Support	Proposition GG – Amount of Tax Owed Table for Initiatives WFCO Position: Support WFCO Reasoning: This change would create transparency and help voters make better-informed decisions on their ballots. Summary of Ballot Measure: If passed, this measure would require that the ballot title and fiscal summary for any ballot initiative that increases or decreases state income tax rates includes a table showing the average tax change for tax filers in different income categories. Proponents: Bell Policy Center, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Coloradans for Ballot Transparency. Opponents:

 

Other Ballot Measures That We are Not Taking A Position On:

*You can read more about each measure and their fiscal notes by accessing the “Blue Book” or the 2022 State Ballot Information Booklet. 

 Amendment D - New 23rd Judicial District Judges

 Amendment E - Extend Homestead Exemption to Gold Star Spouses

 Amendment F - Changes to Charitable Gaming Operations

 Proposition 122 - Access to Natural Psychedelic Substances

 Proposition 124 - Increase Allowable Liquor Store Locations

 Proposition 125 - Allow Grocery and Convenience Stores to Sell Wine

 Proposition 126 - Third-Party Delivery of Alcohol Beverages

Exercise Your Right:

We celebrate a woman's right to vote and acknowledge that even today, not all women, especially women of color, have access to this fundamental right. Voter suppression still happens throughout our country. We must remain vigilant and proactive in exercising this right and ensuring that regardless of background and identity every person can vote. Please visit Just Vote Colorado’s website if you have any questions or experience voter protection issues while voting. Their resources are in English and Spanish.

Register to Vote:

• Register to vote and confirm or update your voter registration at www.GoVoteColorado.com or complete your voter registration form and mail it to your country clerk and recorder. 
• Colorado law allows voter registration through election day. Refer to guidance from your county clerk and recorder to make sure you receive and submit your ballot in time so that your vote counts.
• To register to vote, individuals must be 18 years old by election day (although individuals as young as 16 can register in preparation for their 18th birthdays), citizens of the United States, and have lived in Colorado at least 22 days prior to election day.
• Visit the Colorado Secretary of State website for more information

Vote By November 8, 2022: 

• All Colorado voters (whose registration is completed at least 8 days in advance of an election) receive a mail-in ballot. Mailed ballots must be received (not just postmarked) by your county clerk and recorder by 7:00 p.m. on election day.
• If you are unsure whether your ballot will be received in time, drop it off at a designated drop-off location until 7:00 p.m. on election day.
  Polling locations are also available for in-person voting. Visit your county clerk and recorder’s website to find your polling place or ballot drop-off location.
• Visit the Colorado Secretary of State website for more information about mail-in ballots and to check whether your mail-in ballot was received and accepted.

We must remain vigilant and proactive in exercising this right and ensuring that regardless of background and identity every person can vote.

Remind your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues to register and to vote. Be sure to share these resources and The Womanifesto with them. 

 

Other Voting Resources

• The “blue book” is created by the Colorado General Assembly Legislative nonpartisan legislative council staff and overseen by a bipartisan committee of members of the Colorado General Assembly. It provides information on the statewide measures on your ballot and the judges who are on the ballot in your area. Every voter should receive both an English and Spanish version via mail. It can also be found here.
• Many online newspapers, print newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and tv stations create ballot online guides. 
• Similar to WFCO, nonprofit organizations, associations, and other entities also produce ballot guides.