2024 California Proposition 6

{{Infobox referendum|name=Proposition 6|country=California|date={{Start date|2024|11|05}}|question=Ban Involuntary Servitude as Punishment for Crime|image=|image_width=|image_alt=|caption=|location={{Flag|California}}|no=7,882,137|yes=6,895,604|turnoutpct=54.9

|map=File:2024 California Proposition 6 results map by county.svg|map_size=|map_alt=|map_division=|map_caption={{col-begin}}

Yes

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Proposition 6, titled Remove Involuntary Servitude as Punishment for Crime Amendment, was a California ballot proposition and constitutional amendment that failed in the 2024 general election on November 5.{{Cite web |title=California Proposition 6, Remove Involuntary Servitude as Punishment for Crime Amendment (2024)|url=https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_6,_Remove_Involuntary_Servitude_as_Punishment_for_Crime_Amendment_(2024) |access-date=November 3, 2024 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Nanguneri |first=Shaanth |date=2024-08-14 |title=California Proposition 6: Limit forced labor |url=https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2024/propositions/prop-6-involuntary-servitude/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |work=CalMatters |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-13 |title=Statement of Vote - General Election |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-general/sov/complete-sov.pdf |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=California Secretary of State}} The proposition, if passed, would have repealed the line "Involuntary servitude is prohibited except to punish crime" from the California Constitution, replacing it with language saying that involuntary servitude is prohibited absolutely.

Support

Supporters argued that "Proposition 6 ends slavery in California and upholds human rights and dignity for everyone. It replaces carceral involuntary servitude with voluntary work programs, has bipartisan support, and aligns with national efforts to reform the 13th Amendment. It will prioritize rehabilitation, lower recidivism, and improve public safety, resulting in taxpayer savings."

"Yes on Prop. 6" has raised $2.07 million as of October 30, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2024/propositions/prop-6-involuntary-servitude/#h-funders|title=Prop 6: Limit forced labor in state prisons|last=Nanguneri|first=Shaanth|access-date=November 3, 2024|website=CalMatters}}

{{Endorsements box|title=Supporters|width=50em|list=

; Federal officials

Barbara Lee, U.S. Representative from CA-12 (1998–present)
Maxine Waters, U.S. Representative from CA-43 (1991–present)

; State legislators

Lori Wilson, state assemblymember from the 11th district (2022–present)

; Municipal officials

Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles (2022–present) and former U.S. Representative from CA-37 (2011-2022)

; Notable individuals

Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers{{cite web|url=https://www.kcra.com/article/proposition-6-california-prison-labor-involuntary-servitude/62073734|title=Prop 6 explained: Prohibits California state prisons from forcing incarcerated people to work|last=Zavala|first=Ashley|date=October 24, 2024|access-date=November 3, 2024|publisher=KCRA}}

; Organizations

ACLU California Action
Anti-Recidivism Coalition
California Teachers Association
California Legislative Black Caucus
League of Women Voters of California
Council on American-Islamic Relations California
Law Enforcement Action Partnership

; Political parties

California Democratic Party

; Labor unions

California Labor Federation

; Newspapers and publications

The Los Angeles Times{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-09-27/yes-on-proposition-6|title=Endorsement: Yes on Proposition 6. Forced labor undermines prisoner rehabilitation|author=The Times Editorial Board|website=Los Angeles Times|date=September 27, 2024|access-date=November 3, 2024}}
The Sacramento Bee{{cite web|url=https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/election-endorsements/article291735410.html|title=Bee endorsement: California voters could abolish the vestiges of slavery with Prop. 6|author=The California McClatchy Editorial Board|date=September 23, 2024|access-date=November 3, 2024|website=The Sacramento Bee}}
The San Francisco Chronicle{{cite web|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/prop-6-prison-crime-19821483.php|title=Endorsement: Yes on Prop 6 to end a historic wrong and fight crime recidivism|author=Chronicle Editorial Board|website=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 12, 2024|access-date=November 3, 2024}}

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Opposition

No official argument against Proposition 6 was submitted to the California Secretary of State and no opponents were listed on the ballot. However, public polling has shown the oppose side leading.{{cite web|url=https://calmatters.org/justice/2024/10/prop-6-forced-prison-labor/|title=No one is fighting a proposition to ban forced labor in California prisons. Why it could still fail|last=Garcia|first=Joe|date=October 17, 2024|access-date=November 3, 2024|website=CalMatters}}

The oppose side has not established an official campaign and raised $0 as of October 30, 2024.

{{Endorsements box|title=Opponents|width=50em|list=

; Organizations

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

; Political parties

California Republican Party

; Newspapers and publications

The Orange County Register{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2024/09/23/endorsement-no-on-proposition-6-theres-nothing-wrong-with-requiring-prisoners-to-work/|title=Endorsement: No on Proposition 6. There’s nothing wrong with requiring prisoners to work.|date=September 23, 2024|access-date=November 3, 2024|author=Editorial Board|website=The Orange County Register}}
The San Diego Union-Tribune{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/09/13/no-on-flawed-poorly-crafted-prop-6/|title=Endorsement: No on flawed, poorly crafted Prop. 6|date=September 6, 2024|access-date=November 3, 2024|website=The San Diego Union-Tribune|author=U T Editorial Board}}
The Mercury News/East Bay Times{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/09/12/california-proposition-6-editorial-slavery-involuntary-servitude/|title=Editorial: No, California inmates should not be entitled to refuse to do chores in prison|date=October 31, 2024|access-date=November 3, 2024|website=The Mercury News|author=Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Board}}

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Polling

class="wikitable"

!Date of opinion poll

!Conducted by

!Sample size

!In favor

!Against

!Undecided

!Margin

!Margin of Error

style="background:#f0f0f0;" |October 7–15, 2024https://www.ppic.org/?show-pdf=true&docraptor=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ppic.org%2Fpublication%2Fppic-statewide-survey-californians-and-their-government-october-2024%2F

|Public Policy Institute of California

|1,137
LV

41%

|{{No|56%|align=left}}

|4%

|15% Against

|±3.1%

style="background:#f0f0f0;" |August 29 – September 11, 2024https://www.ppic.org/?show-pdf=true&docraptor=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ppic.org%2Fpublication%2Fppic-statewide-survey-californians-and-their-government-september-2024%2F

|Public Policy Institute of California

|1,071
LV

46%

|{{No|51%|align=left}}

|3%

|5% Against

|±3.7%