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Colorado · November 3, 2026 general election · Statewide ballot measure

Amendment 81: what your vote means

Law enforcement communication with federal immigration authorities. On every Colorado ballot. Official sources checked October 22, 2026.

Amendment 81 · Citizen-initiated constitutional amendment (needs 55% to pass)

Law enforcement communication with federal immigration authorities

Official ballot title (quoted exactly)

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution requiring law enforcement to notify the department of homeland security when a person is charged with either a violent crime or any crime if the person has a prior felony conviction if law enforcement cannot determine that the person is lawfully present in the United States?

Ballot title as printed in the 2026 State Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book), Colorado Legislative Council Staff.

A YES vote means:

Law enforcement would have to try to determine whether a person charged with a violent crime, or charged with any crime after a prior felony conviction, is lawfully present, and notify federal immigration authorities within 72 hours if that cannot be determined.

A NO vote means:

Current law stays as it is: cooperation with federal immigration authorities is allowed in some criminal matters, but state and local involvement in civil immigration enforcement is limited.

What it would change

  • Who is affected: people charged with a crime of violence or with a prior felony conviction, and state and local law enforcement and district attorney offices.
  • Taxes and fees: none.
  • Fiscal impact (Legislative Council Staff): $60,000 in state system updates in 2026-27 (Revenue $50,000; Natural Resources $10,000), plus added workload, mostly for local district attorney offices.

Official arguments, summarized

Short neutral summaries of the arguments printed in the official voters’ pamphlet. The committees that wrote them are responsible for their content. Read the full text at the link below.

Argument for

Supporters say people charged with violent crimes or with a prior felony who are in the country unlawfully should be reported to federal immigration authorities, and that one statewide standard would improve coordination and public safety without targeting law-abiding residents.

Argument against

Opponents say reporting people when they are charged, before any finding of guilt, undermines due process, that the 72-hour window could sweep in people lawfully present, and that undefined terms could erode community trust in law enforcement.

Arguments for and against Amendment 81, 2026 Blue Book, Colorado Legislative Council Staff (PDF, p. 16)

Who supports it and who opposes it

These lists come from official campaign filings (registered committees) and public endorsements, each linked to its source. They are not complete, and SaveYourState does not endorse anyone listed. Lists checked October 30, 2026.

Who supports it

Who opposes it

Official sources

SaveYourState is independent and nonpartisan, not a government site, and does not take positions on ballot measures. This explainer describes effects only, using the official ballot title, explanatory statement, full text, and fiscal impact statement. If anything here differs from those documents, the official documents control.