California lawmakers agreed to put Proposition 6 on the ballot at the urging of criminal justice advocates. Since 2018, at least a half-dozen states — including Alabama, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont — have approved similar measures.

The measure would have amended the state’s constitution to repeal language that allows involuntary servitude as a form of criminal punishment.

Gathered on a sunny morning in Los Angeles on Wednesday, a coalition of criminal justice reform advocates urged voters to pass Proposition 6 and finally rid California of slavery nearly 175 years after it joined the union — as a free state.

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.

California Proposition 6 would amend the state constitution to remove a provision allowing jails and prisons to impose involuntary servitude on inmates and to discipline those who refuse to work.

More specifically, Proposition 6 would have ended mandatory work requirements for state prisoners and instead implemented a voluntary work program. Supporters of the measure said that a voluntary work program would protect prisoners from being disciplined for refusing a work assignment.

Californians voted down Proposition 6, a ballot measure that eliminates the state’s constitutional provision that allows involuntary servitude for incarcerated workers. The measure would not have ended the practice of incarcerated people working for little to no pay,

In a setback to California’s historic reparations effort, voters rejected a ballot measure that would have ended forced labor in prisons and jails. Proposition 6 garnered support from Democratic party