Secretary of State spokesman Andrew Cole tells the Denver Post the deadline for ballot certification was Monday. Even if a judge rules personhood sponsors' petition was sufficient, the measure would have to wait for the 2014 general election.

Secretary of State Scott Gessler announced last month that backers of the divisive "personhood" amendment fell about 3,900 valid signatures short of the some 86,000 needed.

The measure would amend the state constitution to extend protection of life to "all human beings at any stage of development."

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