Colorado Require Life in Prison for Human Trafficking of Minors Measure (2026)

Colorado Require Life in Prison for Human Trafficking of Minors Measure
Election date November 3, 2026
Topic Criminal sentencing
Status On the ballot
Type Initiated state statute	Origin Citizens

The Colorado Require Life in Prison for Human Trafficking of Minors Measure is on the ballot in Colorado as an initiated state statute on November 3, 2026.

A "yes" vote supports requiring life in prison without parole or release for persons convicted of human trafficking a child for sexual servitude.

A "no" vote opposes this ballot initiative, keeping human trafficking of a child for sexual servitude classified as a class 2 felony, punishable by eight to 24 years in prison.

Overview

What would Initiative 108 do?

See also: Text of measure

The ballot initiative would require life in prison without parole or release for persons convicted of human trafficking a child for sexual servitude.

As of 2026, the crime human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude was defined as:

• selling or otherwise knowingly facilitating the commercial sexual activity involving a person under age 18 or
• knowingly advertising, offering, or selling travel services that facilitate commercial sexual activity involving a person under age 18.

The ballot initiative would add a third element to this definition: knowingly exchanging anything of monetary value to buy or sell sexual activity with a person under age 18.

The ballot initiative would change the offense from a class 2 felony to a class 1 felony. As of 2026, the sentence for a class 2 felony in Colorado was eight to 24 years in prison, while a class 1 felony was punishable by life imprisonment.

Who is behind the campaigns for and against Initiative 108?

See also: Support and Opposition

Protect Kids Colorado, an organization that describes its mission as "advocating for policies that promote children’s well-being and support the responsibility of loving parents," is leading the campaign in support of Initiative 108. The organization is also leading the campaign in support of Initiative 109 and Initiative 110.

Families Not Politics is leading the campaign against Initiative 108. The organization stated that, "[Initiative 108] is a Trojan horse using the language of child protection to advance a broader political agenda rather than reflect the best practices for supporting survivors.” The organization is also leading the campaign against Initiative 109 and Initiative 110.

How did this measure get on the ballot?

See also: Path to the ballot

In Colorado, in order for an initiative to qualify for the ballot, the measure must gather enough signatures equal to at least 5% of the votes cast for the Colorado secretary of state in the preceding general election. For Initiative 108 to qualify on the ballot in 2026, the supporting campaign needed to collect at least 124,238 valid signatures by February 17, 2026.

On February 17, 2026, Protect Kids Colorado submitted 169,775 signatures to the state Elections Division for review. On March 5, 2026 the Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) announced that Initiative 108 qualified for the ballot, having confirmed that a 5% random sample of the submitted signatures projected that the petition contained more than 110% of the number of valid signatures required.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for the initiative is as follows:

“

Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes modifying existing law concerning human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude, and, in connection therewith, creating new law expanding human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude to include knowingly trading anything of monetary value to buy or sell sexual activity with a minor and increasing the penalty to be life in prison without parole or release?

”

Full text

The ballot measure would amend Colorado Revised Statutes Title 18, Criminal Code. The following underlined text would be added and struck-through text would be deleted:

Note: Use your mouse to scroll over the text below to view the ballot language.

18-3-504. Human trafficking for sexual servitude - human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude.

(2) (a) A person commits human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude if the person:

(I) Knowingly sells, recruits, harbors, transports, transfers, isolates, entices, provides, receives, obtains by any means, maintains, or makes available a minor for the purpose of commercial sexual activity; or

(II) Knowingly advertises, offers to sell, or sells travel services that facilitate an activity prohibited pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(I) of this section; or

(III) Knowingly trades anything of monetary value to buy or sell sexual activity with a minor.

(b) Human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude is a class 2 1 felony. The court shall sentence a person convicted of such a class 2 1 felony to the Department of Corrections for a term of at least the

minimum of the presumptive range for a class 2 felony, life in prison without parole or release, as set forth in section 18-1.3-401.

(5) Nothing in this section shall limit a governor’s standing authority of pardon, commutation, or clemency.

(6) The short title of this section is the “Children Are Not for Sale Act.”

Support

Protect Kids Colorado is leading the campaign in support of the ballot initiative. Additionally, the organization is leading the campaign in support of Initiative 109 and Initiative 110.

Supporters

Organizations

• Colorado Catholic Conference
• Focus on the Family

Arguments

• Protect Kids Colorado: "Age 14. That's the average age a child is first bought and sold into sex trafficking. Our ballot measure sets a penalty of life in prison without parole for anyone who buys or sells a minor child for sex in Colorado. Certain punishment, without a chance to ever brutalize another child. It's time Colorado voters loudly say, 'Not here. Not once. Not ever.'"

Opposition

Families Not Politics is leading the campaign in opposition to the ballot initiative. Additionally, the organization is leading the campaign in opposition to Initiative 109 and Initiative 110.

Arguments

• Families Not Politics: "[Initiative 108] is a Trojan horse using the language of child protection to advance a broader political agenda rather than reflect the best practices for supporting survivors.”

Sponsors

Protect Kids Colorado is leading the campaign in support of the ballot initiative. Supporters named the initiative The Children Are Not For Sale Act.

Campaign finance

See also: Ballot measure campaign finance, 2026 and Contributions to Colorado ballot measure campaigns

Protect Kids Colorado registered as a political action committee (PAC) to support the ballot initiative. Families Not Politics registered as a PAC to oppose the ballot initiative.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$53,396.81	$2,333.09	$55,729.90	$51,881.91	$54,215.00
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$53,396.81	$2,333.09	$55,729.90	$51,881.91	$54,215.00

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in support of the ballot measure.

Committees in support of Require Life in Prison for Human Trafficking of Minors Measure
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Protect Kids Colorado	$53,396.81	$2,333.09	$55,729.90	$51,881.91	$54,215.00
Total	$53,396.81	$2,333.09	$55,729.90	$51,881.91	$54,215.00

Donors

The following were the top donors to the committees.

Donor	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions
Protect Kids Colorado, 501(c)4	$29,731.39	$2,031.70	$31,763.09
Pikes Peak Citizens For Life	$4,000.00	$0.00	$4,000.00

Opposition

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee opposed to the ballot measure.

Committees in support of
Committee	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Total	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

Background

Colorado penalties against sex trafficking of a minor

Initiative 108 would amend Section 18-3-504 of House Bill 14-1273 (HB 14-1273) to include a third element to the definition of human trafficking of a minor: knowingly exchanging anything of monetary value to buy or sell sexual activity with a person under age 18.

The ballot initiative would change the offense from a class 2 felony to a class 1 felony. As of 2026, the sentence for a class 2 felony in Colorado was eight to 24 years in prison, while a class 1 felony was punishable by life imprisonment.

In 2014, former Gov. John Hickenlooper signed HB 14-1273 into law, which changed Colorado's criminal statutes on human trafficking to align more closely with federal human trafficking laws. Section 18-3-504 of HB 14-1273 identifies an individual as committing child sex trafficking as knowingly:

• Selling;
• Recruiting;
• Harboring;
• Transporting;
• Isolating;
• Enticing;
• Providing;
• Receiving;
• Obtaining by any means;
• Maintaining; or
• Making available a minor for the purpose of commercial sexual activity.

Penalties for the human trafficking of a minor ballot measures

See also: Criminal sentencing ballot measures

Since 2012, voters in two states — California and Arizona — have decided on ballot measures related to penalties for trafficking minors. The topic was last voted on in Arizona in 2024. Proposition 313 required that anyone convicted of child sex trafficking be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole or release. It passed with 64.5% of the vote in support.

In 2012, voters in California voted on Proposition 35, which:

• increased maximum sentencing for human trafficking to 15 years to life and $1.5 million in fines;
• allocated collected fines to victims of human trafficking and law enforcement;
• required persons convicted to be registered as a sex offender; and
• required human trafficking training for law enforcement.

Proposition 35 was approved with 81.35% of the vote in favor.

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing the initiative process in Colorado

The state process

An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are 21 states that allow citizens to initiate state statutes, including 14 that provide for direct initiatives and nine (9) that provide for indirect initiatives (two provide for both). An indirect initiated state statute goes to the legislature after a successful signature drive. The legislatures in these states have the option of approving the initiative itself, rather than the initiative appearing on the ballot.

In Colorado, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 5% of the votes cast for the Colorado secretary of state in the preceding general election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. The requirements to get an initiated state statute certified for the 2026 ballot:

• Signatures: 124,238 valid signatures are required.
• Deadline: The deadline to submit signatures is August 3, 2026.

Details about this initiative

• July 25, 2025: Erin Lee and Michele Austin filed the ballot initiative.
• August 25, 2025: The petition format was approved, allowing supporters to begin collecting signatures. The deadline for submitting signatures was February 17, 2026.
• February 17, 2026: The campaign supporting the initiative, Protect Kids Colorado, submitted 169,775 signatures to the state Elections Division for review.
• March 5, 2026: Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) announced that a 5% random sample of the submitted signatures projected that the petition contained more than 110% of the number of valid signatures required, thereby qualifying for the ballot.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Colorado

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Colorado.

How to vote in Colorado

Poll times

In Colorado, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time for those who choose to vote in person rather than by mail. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

In Colorado, an individual can pre-register to vote if they are at least 15 years old. Voters must be at least 18 years old to vote in any election. A voter must be a citizen of the United States and have established residence in Colorado to vote.

Colorado voters can register to vote through Election Day. However, in order to automatically receive a absentee/mail-in ballot, a voter must register online, through the mail, at a voter registration agency, or at a driver's license examination facility at least eight days prior to Election Day. A voter that registers through a voter registration drive must submit their application no later than 22 days before the election to automatically receive an absentee/mail-in ballot. A voter can register online or submit a form in person or by fax, email, or mail.

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

Colorado automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and certain other state agencies.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Colorado has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

Colorado allows same-day voter registration for individuals who vote in person.

Residency requirements

Colorado law requires 22 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Colorado does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Eight states — Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming — have laws requiring individuals provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. Three states, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, require a person provide proof of citizenship if their citizenship status cannot be verified by other means. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site Go Vote Colorado, run by the Colorado Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Colorado requires voters to present non-photo identification when voting in person. If voting by mail for the first, a voter may also need to return a photocopy of his or her identification with their mail-in ballot. Click here for more information.

The following list of accepted forms of identification was current as of October 2025. Click here for the most current information, sourced directly from the Office of the Colorado Secretary of State.

“

The following documents are acceptable forms of identification: A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note: documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.) A valid U.S. passport. A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado. A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S. A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector. A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector. A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood. A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector. Certified documentation of naturalization. A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S.. A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector. A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership. Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification. The following documents are also considered acceptable forms of identification for voting: Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S. Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S. Written correspondence from the county sheriff or his or her designee to the county clerk indicating that a voter is confined in a county jail or detention facility.

”

• Note: SB 1, signed into law on May 12, 2025, specified that tribal IDs issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, or another federal agency were also valid identification.

See also

2026 ballot measures

View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Colorado.

• 2026 ballot measures
• Colorado 2026 ballot measures
• Colorado elections, 2026

Colorado ballot measures

Explore Colorado's ballot measure history, including citizen-initiated ballot measures.

• List of Colorado ballot measures
• Criminal sentencing ballot measures
• Colorado State Legislature

Initiative process

Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.

• Laws governing the initiative process in Colorado
• Initiated state statute
• Colorado Constitution

External links

• Colorado Initiative 108 (2026)

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