Among the one hundred and thirty-two local referendums organized in thirty-seven states, Tuesday, November 8, on the occasion of the mid-term elections in the United States, it is the deletion in the Constitution of the States of the references to ” I’eslavery » and at the “involuntary servitude” for prisoners which was at stake in five states. Voters spoke out on the issue in Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont – one of the first states to abolish slavery, in 1777.
The drafting of 13e amendment to the United States Constitutionwhich put an end to slavery, left an exception: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime the culprit of which shall have been duly convicted, shall exist in the United States or in any place subject to its jurisdiction. » A gap that the local referendums proposed to fill. In the 2018 midterm elections, Colorado banned forced prisoner labor, followed in 2020 by Utah and Nebraska.
Tennessee and Oregon remove slavery from possible penalties
In Tennessee, the referendum proposed to amend the State Constitution in order to remove the mention of slavery as a possible sanction. After the counting of 65% of the votes, the voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of the proposal, at nearly 80%.
Similarly, Oregon proposed to remove slavery and “involuntary servitude” from its Constitution as possible penalties after conviction. After 64% of votes were counted, voters approved the proposal by almost 55%.
Alabama to Remove Slavery Sanctions and Eliminate Racist Elements in its Constitution
The state of Alabama on Tuesday proposed an amendment to its Constitution that would, among other changes, remove slavery and “involuntary servitude” from possible criminal penalties and eliminate racist language. After the counting of almost 70% of the votes, the voters approved this constitutional amendment by nearly 75%.
In Vermont, slavery and indenture prohibited
In the state of Vermont, the referendum proposed to prohibit slavery and indentured labor – a milder form of serfdom used after the abolition of slavery – of prisoners. After 99% of the votes were counted, voters voted in favor of this ban by almost 90%.
In Louisiana, voters refuse to remove slavery from the range of sanctions
In Louisiana, voters were called upon to vote on an amendment to the State Constitution to remove slavery from possible penalties for prisoners (except for criminal justice). Unlike the other states, Louisiana largely voted against, nearly 61% after counting 99% of the votes.