Slavery Is On The Ballot For Voters In 5 US States

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – As U.S. midterm elections are underway, voters in 5 U.S. states will decide to close constitutional loopholes that led to a different form of slavery – forced labour by convicts of certain crimes. The effort is a part of a national plan to push to change the 13th amendment that banned slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a form of criminal punishment. 

That exception has long permitted exploitation of labour by convicted felons. 

If passed, none of the proposals would see immediate changes in state prisons. Nearly 20 states have language that include permitting slavery and voluntary servitude as criminal punishments. A number of southern states make up the five including Georgia. Despite her failed bid to become governor in 2018 former Georgia house minority leader Stacey Abrams was out early to vote in the mid-terms, still promoting the message of voter suppression.