An anti-abortion ballot initiative survived a legal challenge Wednesday.

Barring an appeal, supporters will be free to start collecting voter signatures next week.

Colorado's Ballot Title Board unanimously upheld its previous decision to approve the ballot title.

Opponents have until Wednesday to appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.

As it stands, the ballot measure would amend the Colorado Constitution to define the term 'person' to "include any human being from the moment of fertilization."

Mark Meuser, who represents Colorado Equal Rights, the group heading the drive, said the measure would lay down the constitutional framework by which a statute might be enacted later to ban abortions.