Everything you need to know about ranked-choice voting in one spot. Click to learn more!

Nevada Question 4, Remove Slavery as Punishment for Crime from Constitution Amendment (2024)

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge-smaller use.png

U.S. Senate • U.S. House • State executive offices • State Senate • State Assembly • Supreme court • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • All other local • How to run for office
Flag of Nevada.png


Nevada Question 4
Flag of Nevada.png
Election date
November 5, 2024
Topic
Constitutional language
Status
Approveda Approved
Type
Constitutional amendment
Origin
State legislature

Nevada Question 4, the Remove Slavery as Punishment for Crime from Constitution Amendment, was on the ballot in Nevada as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024.[1] The ballot measure was approved.

A "yes" vote supported repealing language from the Nevada Constitution that allows the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments.

A "no" vote opposed repealing language from the Nevada Constitution that allows the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments.


Election results

Nevada Question 4

Result Votes Percentage

Approved Yes

835,627 60.60%
No 543,236 39.40%
Results are officially certified.
Source


Overview

What did the amendment do?

See also: Text of measure

The amendment removed language from the Nevada Constitution that allows the use of slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishments. The amended text would read: Neither Slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever be tolerated in this State.[1]

Were similar measures proposed in other states?

See also: Related ballot measures

Between 2016 and 2022, voters in eight states decided nine measures that removed language in the constitution that allowed for enslavement or servitude as punishments for crimes, or, in Vermont, for the payment of debts, damages, or fines.

Seven measures were approved by voters in Colorado, Nebraska, Utah, Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont. Two measures were rejected by voters in Colorado and Louisiana. In Colorado, a measure that removed language from the state constitution saying that slavery and involuntary servitude were permitted as criminal punishments was rejected in 2016, but then approved in 2018.

What other states had constitutional provisions that provide for slavery as punishment for a crime?

See also: State constitutions

As of 2024, eight states—Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, and Wisconsin—had constitutions that include provisions prohibiting enslavement and involuntary servitude but with an exception for criminal punishments. An additional eight states—California, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio—have constitutions that include provisions permitting involuntary servitude, but not slavery, as a criminal punishment.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The official ballot title was as follows:[2]

Shall the Ordinance of the Nevada Constitution and the Nevada Constitution be amended to remove language authorizing the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment?[3]

Constitutional changes

See also: Article 1, Nevada Constitution

The measure amended both the Ordinance and Article 1, Section 17 of the Nevada Constitution. The following struck-through text was deleted:[4]

Text of Ordinance

Slavery prohibited; freedom of religious worship; disclaimer of public lands. [Effective until the date Congress consents to amendment or a legal determination is made that such consent is not necessary.] In obedience to the requirements of an act of the Congress of the United States, approved March twenty-first, A.D. eighteen hundred and sixty-four, to enable the people of Nevada to form a constitution and state government, this convention, elected and convened in obedience to said enabling act, do ordain as follows, and this ordinance shall be irrevocable, without the consent of the United States and the people of the State of Nevada:

First. That there shall be in this state neither slavery nor involuntary servitude., otherwise than in the punishment for crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.
Second. That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and no inhabitant of said state shall ever be molested, in person or property, on account of his or her mode of religious worship.
Third. That the people inhabiting said territory do agree and declare, that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within said territory, and that the same shall be and remain at the sole and entire disposition of the United States; and that lands belonging to citizens of the United States, residing without the said state, shall never be taxed higher than the land belonging to the residents thereof; and that no taxes shall be imposed by said state on lands or property therein belonging to, or which may hereafter be purchased by, the United States, unless otherwise provided by the congress of the United States.

Text of Section 17:

Slavery and Involuntary Servitude Prohibited

Neither Slavery nor involuntary servitude unless for the punishment of crimes shall ever be tolerated in this State. [3]

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2024

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The secretary of state wrote the ballot language for this measure.

The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 20, and the FRE is 0. The word count for the ballot title is 28.


Support

Supporters

Officials

Organizations

  • ACLU of Nevada
  • Abolish Slavery National Network

Arguments

  • Assemblyman Howard Watts (D-15): "I believe that it’s time for us to move forward and make it clear and unequivocal that nobody will ever live through the horror of state-sanctioned slavery, or servitude ever again."

Opposition

Ballotpedia did not locate a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure.

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Nevada ballot measures

Ballotpedia has not identified ballot measure committees registered to support or oppose the ballot measure.[5]

Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions Cash Expenditures Total Expenditures
Support $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Oppose $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

Media editorials

See also: 2024 ballot measure media endorsements

Support

The following media editorial boards published an editorial supporting the ballot measure:

  • Las Vegas Sun Editorial Board: "By voting to pass Question 4, Nevadans can make a powerful statement that slavery and involuntary servitude, in any form, have no place in the state. This change is not just symbolic but represents a commitment to ending any practices that resemble or perpetuate coerced labor, affirming the dignity and rights of all individuals in the Silver State."


Opposition

Ballotpedia did not locate media editorial boards in opposition to the ballot measure.

Background

Related ballot measures

See also: Constitutional language on the ballot

In 2022, voters in five states — Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont—decided on ballot measures to repeal language from their state constitutions that allows for enslavement or servitude as punishments for crimes or, in Vermont, for the payment of debts, damages, or fines. On November 8, 2022, voters in Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont approved measures to amend language in state constitutions regarding slavery as punishment for a crime. Voters in Louisiana rejected a measure to amend language in their state constitution regarding slavery as punishment for a crime.

In 2020, voters in Nebraska and Utah voted to remove language from their respective constitutions that allowed the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments. Nebraska Amendment 1 was approved by a margin of 68.23% to 31.77%. Utah Constitutional Amendment C was approved by a margin of 80.48% to 19.52%.

In 2018, voters in Colorado approved Amendment A, which removed language from the state constitution saying that slavery and involuntary servitude were permitted as criminal punishments. Amendment A received 66.2% of the vote. In 2016, voters in Colorado rejected a constitutional amendment—Amendment T—that would have removed the same language as Amendment A. Amendment T received 49.7% of the vote.

Federal constitution

See also: Amendment XIII, United States Constitution

The Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865. The Thirteenth Amendment prohibited slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for those convicted of crimes. The text of the Thirteenth Amendment is as follows:

1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

State constitutions

Slavery as criminal punishment

As of 2024, eight states had constitutions that included provisions prohibiting enslavement and involuntary servitude but with an exception for criminal punishments. These constitutional provisions were added to state constitutions, in their original forms, from the 1850s to the 1890s.

State Constitution Language
Arkansas Article II, Section 27 "There shall be no slavery in this State, nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime."
Indiana Article I, Section 37 "There shall be neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, within the State, otherwise than for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."
Kentucky Article I, Section 25 "Slavery and involuntary servitude in this State are forbidden, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."
Minnesota Article I, Section 2 "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the state otherwise than as punishment for a crime of which the party has been convicted."
Mississippi Article III, Section 15 "There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in this state, otherwise than in the punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."
Nevada Article I, Section 17 "Neither Slavery nor involuntary servitude unless for the punishment of crimes shall ever be tolerated in this State."
North Dakota Article I, Section 6 "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crime, shall ever be tolerated in this state."
Wisconsin Article I, Section 2 "There shall be neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude in this state, otherwise than for the punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."

Involuntary servitude as criminal punishment

As of 2023, eight states had constitutions that included provisions permitting involuntary servitude, but not slavery, as a criminal punishment.

State Constitution Language
California Article I, Section 6 "Slavery is prohibited. Involuntary servitude is prohibited except to punish crime."
Georgia Article I, Paragraph XX "There shall be no involuntary servitude within the State of Georgia except as a punishment for crime after legal conviction thereof or for contempt of court."
Iowa Article I, Section 23 "There shall be no slavery in this state; nor shall there be involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crime."
Kansas Bill of Rights, Section 6 "There shall be no slavery in this state; and no involuntary servitude, except for the punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."
Louisiana Article I, Section 3 "Slavery and involuntary servitude are prohibited, except in the latter case as punishment for crime."
Michigan Article I, Section 9 "Neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude unless for the punishment of crime, shall ever be tolerated in this state."
North Carolina Article I, Section 17 "Slavery is forever prohibited. Involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the parties have been adjudged guilty, is forever prohibited."
Ohio Article I, Section 6 "There shall be no slavery in this state; nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crime."

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Nevada Constitution

In Nevada, a majority vote is required in two successive sessions of the Nevada State Legislature to place an amendment on the ballot.

2021-2022 legislative session

The amendment was introduced as Assembly Joint Resolution 10 (AJR 10). On April 13, 2021, it was approved by the Assembly in a vote of 42-0. On May 17, 2021, it was approved in the Senate by a vote of 21-0. The amendment must also pass in the 2023 legislative session.[1]

Vote in the Nevada State Assembly
April 13, 2021
Requirement: SImple majority vote of all members in each chamber in two sessions
Number of yes votes required: 22  Approveda
YesNoNot voting
Total4200
Total percent100.0%0.0%0.0%
Democrat2600
Republican1600

Vote in the Nevada State Senate
May 17, 2021
Requirement: SImple majority vote of all members in each chamber in two sessions
Number of yes votes required: 11  Approveda
YesNoNot voting
Total2100
Total percent100.0%0.0%0.0%
Democrat1200
Republican900

2023-2024 legislative session

On February 16, 2023, AJR 10 was approved by the Assembly by 42-0. On February 23, 2023, it was approved in the Senate by a vote of 21-0.[1]

Vote in the Nevada State Assembly
February 16, 2023
Requirement: SImple majority vote of all members in each chamber in two sessions
Number of yes votes required: 22  Approveda
YesNoNot voting
Total4200
Total percent100.0%0.0%0.0%
Democrat2600
Republican1600

Vote in the Nevada State Senate
February 23, 2023
Requirement: SImple majority vote of all members in each chamber in two sessions
Number of yes votes required: 11  Approveda
YesNoNot voting
Total2100
Total percent100.0%0.0%0.0%
Democrat1200
Republican900

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Nevada

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Nevada.

How to vote in Nevada


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Nevada State Legislature, "AJR 10," accessed June 3, 2021
  2. Nevada Secretary of State, "Statewide Ballot Questions," accessed September 13, 2024
  3. 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content
  4. Nevada Legislature, "AJR 10 Text," accessed June 3, 2021
  5. Nevada Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance," accessed March 2, 2023
  6. Nevada Revised Statutes, "Title 24, Chapter 293, Section 273," accessed April 17, 2023
  7. ACLU of Nevada, "Know Your Voting Rights - Voting in Nevada," accessed April 17, 2023
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Nevada Secretary of State, “Elections,” accessed October 3, 2024
  9. Nevada Secretary of State, “Registering to Vote,” accessed April 17, 2023
  10. Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, “Voter Registration,” accessed April 17, 2023
  11. The Nevada Independent, “The Indy Explains: How does Nevada verify a voter's eligibility?” April 23, 2017
  12. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  13. Nevada Revised Statutes, "NRS 293.277 Conditions for entitlement of person to vote; forms of identification to identify registered voter." accessed April 17, 2023