California voters reject Proposition 6 to ban forced labor in prisons

California voters rejected Proposition 6, a measure that would have banned forced labor in jails and prisons.

The Associated Press called the race Sunday evening. Prop 6 was failing 46%-54% Monday, according to numbers from the Secretary of State.

If approved, Prop. 6 would have removed language in the California constitution that allows involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. It had no formal opposition and was supported by criminal justice reformers and the California Legislative Black Caucus.

Its supporters said in a statement they would not give up the fight to “preserve basic human dignity.”

“The failure of California to abolish slavery in our state constitution perpetuated a system that exploits our most vulnerable communities,” said Dorsey Nunn, co-founder of All of Us or None, a group that advocates for current and formerly incarcerated people.

“When incarcerated Californians are forced to work for pennies per hour — sometimes as little as 8 cents — under threat of punishment including solitary confinement, we’re not just talking about labor practices. We’re talking about a modern extension of historical inequities that disproportionately impact Black, Latino, and Indigenous people,” Nunn said.

“While this vote maintains the status quo, our fight for basic human dignity continues.”

Prop. 6 sought to 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.

Advocates and formerly incarcerated people argued forced labor prevents individuals in prison from participating in 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.

Voters in Nevada passed a similar measure this election.

This story was originally published November 11, 2024 at 12:06 PM.