No vote pulls ahead on Prop. 6, California’s prison labor ballot measure, early results show
Voter have declined to alter California’s constitution to ban involuntary servitude in state jails and prisons.
Unofficial results from the California Secretary of State showed that 55% of voters rejected Prop. 6.
While slavery is banned by California’s constitution, involuntary servitude — or forcing people to work against their will — is permitted as punishment for a crime.
Prop. 6 would amend the state constitution to read “Slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited.”
The measure would not have stopped people in the state’s prisons and jails from working altogether, but would make prison labor voluntary, meaning that incarcerated people who refuse an assignment could not be sanctioned with write-ups, solitary confinement, loss of visitation privileges or other punishments.
The campaign was backed by the California Black Legislative Caucus, the labor icon Dolores Huerta and criminal justice groups like the Anti-Recidivism Coalition.
Despite the groups’ advocacy and the nearly $2 million raised to support the measure, the majority of voters kept involuntary servitude as part of California’s carceral system.
No arguments were submitted against Prop. 6. Campaign finance records do not show any committees opposing the measure.
Advocates and formerly incarcerated people argued forced labor prevents individuals in prison from attending educational and rehabilitation programs that are proven to reduce recidivism.
In recent years, a slate of states have outlawed all forms of slavery, including Alabama, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont.
Prop. 6 would not have required the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to increase wages for incarcerated workers, many of whom make less than $1 per hour. But the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimated that it could cost the state tens of millions of dollars.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 10:42 PM with the headline "No vote pulls ahead on Prop. 6, California’s prison labor ballot measure, early results show."
