No, Colorado is not predominantly racist.

At least that’s what proponents of a ballot measure that would have struck archaic slavery allowances from the state constitution are hoping.

Supporters conceded defeat on Monday, with Amendment T narrowly losing by 16,409 votes, as of Tuesday morning. The initiative garnered 1,278,433 “Yes” votes to 1,294,842 “No” votes.

It is not enough to trigger an automatic recount, which only happens in Colorado when the losing vote is less than or equal to 0.5 percent of the highest vote cast in the contest.

Proponents have been expecting defeat since the morning following the Nov. 8 election. They told The Durango Herald on Nov. 10 that confusion-not racism-is the culprit.

The poorly-worded ballot initiative was so perplexing to voters that many assumed a “No” vote meant they were saying “No” to slavery.

For a measure that was UNANIMOUSLY referred to voters by the Legislature last session, its defeat is disappointing to proponents. Supporters did not face an opposition campaign.

At a rally in August to launch the campaign, one proponent joked that only the KKK would oppose such an obvious initiative.

While the 140-year-old language was never used, it carries symbolism, which proponents-many who are African American-say is not a Colorado value.

The constitutional provision allows slavery and involuntary servitude when used as punishment for persons convicted of a crime.

A handful of concerns was raised, including that the effort would create legal uncertainties surrounding offender work and community-service programs. But no opposition group or effort was launched, which leads proponents to believe that it was confusion, not racism, that drove the measure to defeat.

Supporters say they will be back again, but their only choice might be to once again convince the legislature to send the issue to voters.

Another initiative that passed this election made it more difficult to amend the state constitution, so proponents say they don’t have the resources to push a citizen-initiated question. They plan on asking lawmakers to refer the anti-slavery measure again.

“I know that Colorado does not value slavery,” Sister Sharon Bridgeforth, a member of the campaign’s committee, told The Herald. “It has to be the language-people didn’t understand it.”