By Carolyn Martin (Director of Government Relations)

Summer is generally the time when you start to see people hanging outside of the local grocery store or library asking you to sign a petition to get an initiative on the ballot. (Yes, it’s that time again!) Depending on where you live, you might see some candidates on your ballot for school board or other local races, but mostly you will see initiatives dealing with taxes or amending the state Constitution.

Some people choose to sign the petitions with the attitude of putting everything on the ballot so “the people can decide.” While that might sound good, in practice, it is harmful. The turnout in odd year elections is usually lower than other elections, and the power of the vote is consolidated in fewer people — usually those who have a stake on either side of the issue. Ultimately, the vote comes down to who has the most money to convince the largest number of people to get out and vote the way they want them to vote.

Signing a petition is the first place you cast your vote. Would you vote for the initiative if it were on the ballot? Then, sign the petition. Otherwise, do all you can to not get it on the ballot.

From the looks of it, there are over two dozen petitions that have been approved to be circulated. The organizations that wrote the initiatives have filed multiple versions of their proposals but you’ll probably only see one of those versions out there. Most of them have to do with taxes and fees. Take a look at the proposed initiatives here. Check back often as there is still time to file for petitions.

One of the initiatives filed seeks to give per pupil funding to all forms of education including homeschooling. Please, if you see a “school choice” petition, do not sign it! It is not in the best interest of homeschoolers to receive government funding. What the government funds, the government controls. This cannot be said enough!

Tell your friends and let’s pray we don’t see this initiative on the ballot in November!

Trusting in the mighty power and grace of Jesus,
Carolyn Martin, CHEC Director of Government Relations 
Carolyn@chec.org

About the Author: Carolyn Martin

Carolyn Martin serves as CHEC’s Director of Government Relations, working for you and other liberty-loving families to protect homeschool freedom, parental rights, and religious liberty at the state capitol. Subscribe to the CHEC blog for Carolyn’s regular updates here, learn more about legal issues in Colorado here, and donate to support Homeschool Freedom here. Contact Carolyn directly at carolyn@chec.org.