Apr. 16, Feature - Strong animosity is forming over the up coming November election in Colorado, because of a controversial anti-affirmative action initiative making its way on the ballot. If passed, the so-called Colorado Civil Rights Initiative would end all affirmative action programs, including equal opportunity measures in higher education and public employment.

However, some Colorado voters who endorsed the initiative, also known as Amendment 46, are claiming voter fraud. They claim petitioners' lied to them in order to get them to support the measure. Founder of movement to end affirmative action, Ward Connerly, has had success in the past with similar measures in California, Washington, and Michigan. Blake Wesley is in Denver and files this report.

When 25-year-old Colorado resident, Dara Burwell, signed a petition to put Amendment 46 on November's ballot she thought she was supporting a measure ensuring equal opportunities for minority groups.

But she later found out she was mistaken.

"I signed a petition not knowing it was an anti-affirmative action measure."

Burwell says the language of the petition was deceptive, and the petitioner made her believe she was supporting a pro-affirmative action measure.

"I was deceived."

Former petition circulator, Jennifer Stucka, says petition trainers' lied to them, and said the Colorado Civil Right Initiative had nothing to do with affirmative action.

"I went and did my research about the initiative and discovered it was exactly about ending affirmative action. So I was lied to and luckily I found out before I went out and got signatures."

That gives former Colorado state lawmaker, Polly Baca, reason to believe Colorado voters are victims of voter fraud.

"This person Ward Connerly has been conducting these kinds of initiatives throughout the country, and has been using the same insidious tactics. It's an attempt to defraud voters."

Ward Connerly, a 69-year-old black man, is the main architect behind the so-called Colorado Civil Rights Initiative.

The former University of California regent is also backing similar anti-affirmative action initiatives in Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
He says the government should not grant people preferential treatment based on race and gender.

"The issue really is a very simple one. Do we want our government to set aside contracts or to require prime contractors to employ as subcontractors firms that are specifically owned by women or minorities and to be required to direct contracts to them? I believe not."

However, Baca says women and minority have not yet reached an equal level playing field.

"You know all you have to do in terms of reverse discrimination is look at who has the power. At no level of government do you have an over representation of people of color."

But, Connerly argues Senators Clinton and Obama are living proof we no longer need affirmative action.

"In my own view we have come a long way with Senator Obama and Senator Clinton. It cannot escape you, it should not escape you that we have come an awfully long way."

But Dara Burwell says Connerly's position is unrealistic and fails to recognize prevailing institutional race and gender inequalities.

"It bares no resemblance to the current reality of inequality in this country, nor does it have any recognition of the historic legacy of inequality."

Burwell says Connerly's anti-affirmative action initiative represents everything she stands against and she wants her signature back.

Pro-affirmative action groups are exploring their legal options to defeat the initiative, and may have plans to wage a public campaign against the measure.