Watch CBS News

3rd Attempt At 'Personhood' Fails In Colorado

DENVER (CBS4)- Colorado voters failed to approve the third attempt to extend right to unborn children once again this year.

Abortion opponents claimed Amendment 67 would strengthen protections for pregnant women by adding "unborn human beings" to Colorado criminal code. They argued the language would increase existing penalties for crimes that injure or kill babies in the womb.

A major sticking point to the measure is that it didn't define "unborn human being" which led reproductive health advocates to fear its adoption could outlaw abortion with no exceptions. They claim it would have outlawed common fertility treatments in which fertilized embryos are destroyed.

PHOTO GALLERY: Election Day In Colorado

Previous ballot measures to grant unborn children so-called "personhood" status failed by large margins in 2008 and 2010. This year's measure was expected to attract more support because ballot language described the amendment as a protection for pregnant women.

More Campaign 2014 Stories

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.