Proposition 6 was an effort to banslaveryby creating voluntary work programs with a focus on rehabilitation.
Supporters of the measure spent $2.1 million, compared to roughly $9,000 spent against it.
California voters also passed ameasureto make shoplifting a felony for repeat offenders and makefentanylpossession a felony as well.
A crew of inmate firefighters walks to their vehicle after shoveling and clearing snow following a series of winter storms in Southern California on March 3, 2023, in Crestline, California.Mario Tama/Getty Images
Supporters of Proposition 6 argued that the measure would uphold human rights and basic dignity.
Only a handful organizations are on the record opposing the measure.
Even still, no argument against the measure was actuallysubmittedto the official state voter guide.
Removing slavery was on the ballot in California.
It literally had no opposition campaign at all, and it still lost, one userpostedon X.
The 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bans slavery, but it has an exception for punishment of crimes.
An effort in Louisiana failed in 2022.
A similar initiative failed in California that year, too.
Forexample, if an inmate misses work because of being sick, they could lose visits with family members.
However, the proposition did not include language about raising wages.
The state voter guide said the cost of the measure would not exceed tens of millions of dollars annually.
In fact, proponents of the propositionarguedthat by lowering recidivism, taxpayers would save money.
Across the country, Black people are disproportionately incarcerated.
I think the narrative around Prop.
