Amendment 70, Minimum Wage Ballot Initiative, Passes

DENVER (CBS4) - The minimum wage in Colorado is going up.

Voters have passed a measure that will increase it gradually to $12 by 2020.

Amendment 70 was one of the most contentious ballot measures in the state during Campaign 2016. Supporters rallied for it at the capitol in Denver and the U.S. Labor Secretary came to Colorado to show his support.

It was approved by a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent.

The state's minimum wage is currently $8.31. It will rise to $9.30 per hour in 2017 and then rise by 90 cents each year until 2020.

Arizona, Maine and Washington also had minimum wage initiatives on the ballot this fall.