Louisiana voters rejected an antislavery ballot measure. The reasons are complicated
Out of five states that put measures to voters on the subject, Louisiana voters were the only ones to vote against banning slavery and involuntary servitude in the state constitution, according to calls by The Associated Press. This year, in Vermont, Oregon, Alabama and Tennessee, voters decided to ban slavery and involuntary servitude.
The United States abolished slavery in 1865 with the 13th Amendment. But it makes an exception for slavery as “punishment for crime.” Many states followed suit with similar exception clauses to individual state constitutions.
In Colorado in 2018, voters approved a ballot measure to fully ban slavery – no exceptions – in the state’s constitution. Before that, only Rhode Island explicitly forbade the use of slavery and involuntary servitude, nearly 200 years ago.
Nebraska and Utah joined Colorado in 2020. Once this year’s results are reflected in states’ constitutions, eight states will explicitly forbid slavery and involuntary servitude.