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Coloradans have rejected a unique proposal that would have changed how the state allocates its votes for president, the Associated Press reported. Amendment 36 would have split the state's nine electoral votes proportionally among candidates based on the popular vote — starting this year. If President Bush were to defeat John Kerry 53 percent to 47 percent, for example, Bush would have won win five votes and Kerry four. Currently, all electoral votes go to the candidate who wins the state's popular vote. The proposal was overshadowed most of the fall by several other races, including the presidential and U.S....

According to a Survey USA poll for 9NEWS, opposition to Amendment 36 has grown in the last two weeks, when the last poll was taken. In the poll of 513 likely voters taken this week, 55 percent of the respondents were opposed to Amendment 36 and just 38 percent were in favor. Seven percent were undecided. The proposal would allocate Colorado's electoral votes based on the percentage of votes a presidential candidate receives. Currently, whoever wins a majority of votes receives all of the state's nine Electoral College votes. Supporters of Amendment 36 say it would ensure every vote counts....

Colorado seems to have a knack for making the national news. Since 1998 Colorado has played host to the 2002 wildfires, the Columbine massacre, Vail's Two Elk arson fires, the rise to fame of Ryan and Trista, and most recently the Kobe Bryant rape case. But a new event looms on the horizon, one that is already focusing the eye of the world onto Colorado's election, and one that, experts say, could create shock waves as big, if not bigger, than the state has seen in recent memory. Amendment 36, a proposal to change the way Colorado distributes its...

The proposed Amendment 36 to the Colorado Constitution would change the way Electoral College votes are awarded in the state. Proponents say we need this reform because too many citizens are disenfranchised under the current system; however, I believe "disenfranchised" isn't a strong enough word. What happens during our presidential elections goes beyond disenfranchisement, because your vote actually gets converted into an endorsement of the person you voted against. In a typical election - say, for mayor - if you vote for the losing candidate, then your vote simply didn't carry the day. It doesn't have any residual power. But...

Around our consulting firm, any mediocre, half-baked suggestion is greeted with the retort, "Well, that's not the dumbest idea I've ever heard." But then, every so often, along comes an idea so profoundly lacking in merit that it perhaps qualifies for that dubious distinction as one of the dumbest ideas ever. Amendment 36 is such a misguided, mischievous idea. This is not a debate about the efficacy or wisdom of the Electoral College. If there is to be such a debate, it needs to occur on the national level, perhaps leading to a proposed amendment to our federal constitution. But...

Colorado's general election features a string of delicious dishes, from marquee matchups like Bush-Kerry and Salazar-Coors to far-reaching initiatives on energy and transportation. Tucked in among these races is a real sleeper, Amendment 36, the Make Every Vote Count initiative. It is an effort to reform presidential balloting in the state, replacing the winner-take-all system of electoral votes with a proportional system that reflects the popular vote. Amendment 36 seems to have caught the attention of people everywhere - except in Colorado. That's sure to change, and for good reason: The measure is designed to be "retroactive" to the 2004...

Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - Key figures in the company that owns the University of Phoenix are bankrolling opposing sides of a state ballot issue that could radically change the way Colorado and the nation elect the president. At the urging of Gov. Bill Owens, the Arizona-based Apollo Group gave $100,000 this week to Coloradans Against a Really Stupid Idea. The contribution is by far the biggest yet to the committee, which so far has raised $125,000 to fight a measure that would end the winner-take-all rules for apportioning Colorado's Electoral College votes. Supporters of the initiative - Amendment 36...

A proposal to change how Colorado allocates its presidential electoral votes is winning by double digits, according to a Rocky Mountain News/News4 poll - but a majority of voters don't feel strongly either way. Amendment 36 would scrap the traditional "winner take all" system and award Colorado's electoral votes proportionally, based on popular vote. It would be the first such system in the nation, and it would apply immediately to the November presidential vote. Poll respondents favor it, 47 percent for to 35 percent opposed. Less than half those polled said they'd "definitely" support or oppose the measure - 22...