Vermont Proposal 2, Prohibit Slavery and Indentured Servitude Amendment (2022)
| Vermont Proposal 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 8, 2022 | |
| Topic Constitutional rights | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Vermont Proposal 2, the Prohibit Slavery and Indentured Servitude Amendment, was on the ballot in Vermont as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 8, 2022. The ballot measure was approved.
A "yes" vote supported amending the state constitution to repeal language stating that persons could be held as servants, slaves, or apprentices with the person's consent or "for the payments of debts, damages, fines, costs, or the like" and add "slavery and indentured servitude in any form are prohibited." |
A "no" vote opposed amending the state constitution to remove language that allows the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments. |
Election results
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Vermont Proposal 2 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
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238,466 | 88.71% | ||
| No | 30,335 | 11.29% | ||
Overview
What did Proposal 2 change in the state constitution?
- See also: Text of measure
Proposal 2 added language to the Vermont Constitution that says, "slavery and indentured servitude in any form are prohibited." The ballot measure repealed language stating that persons could be held as servants, slaves, or apprentices with the person's consent or "for the payments of debts, damages, fines, costs, or the like." At the time of the election, Vermont was the only state that has a constitutional provision permitting involuntary servitude to pay a debt, damage, fine, or cost.[1]
Have other states voted on a similar amendment?
- See also: Related ballot measures
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. 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.
In 2022, voters in Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, and Tennessee decided on similar constitutional amendments to repeal language that allowed the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments.
Who supported and opposed Proposal 2?
- See also: Support and Opposition
The amendment received support from Abolish Slavery National Network, Vermont Human Rights Commission, Vermont Interfaith Action, and Vermont Racial Justice Alliance. House Speaker Mitzi Johnson (D) said, "As we work to ensure that all Vermonters are treated equally and fairly, it is crucial that we amend the archaic language of the Constitution to emphasize that slavery and indentured servitude in any form and for persons of any age are prohibited. People of all races and genders who live, work, and visit Vermont should feel welcomed and safe."[2]
If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[1]
| “ | To see if the voters will amend the Vermont Constitution by amending Article 1 of Chapter 1 to read:
That all persons are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety; therefore |
” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Chapter I, Vermont Constitution
The ballot measure amended Article 1 of Chapter I of the Vermont Constitution. The following underlined text was added and struck-through text was deleted:[1]
|
Article 1. All persons born free; their natural rights; slavery and indentured servitude prohibited That all persons are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety; therefore |
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2022
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 state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.
The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 14, and the FRE is 40. The word count for the ballot title is 141.
Support
Abolish Slavery Vermont led the campaign in support of Proposal 2.[4]
Supporters
Officials
- Gov. Phil Scott (R)
Organizations
- Abolish Slavery National Network
- Human Rights Campaign PAC
- Vermont Human Rights Commission
- Vermont Interfaith Action
- Vermont Racial Justice Alliance
Arguments
Opposition
If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Campaign finance
Ballotpedia did not identify any committees registered to support or oppose the amendment. If you are aware of any committees, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org. [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 |
Background
Related ballot measures
In 2022, voters in five states — Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont—decided on ballot measures to repeal language from their state constitutions that allowed for enslavement or servitude as punishments for crimes or, in Vermont, for the payment of debts, damages, or fines.
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
The Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865. Like the Tennessee Constitution, 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:
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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 2023, 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 Vermont Constitution
In Vermont, a constitutional amendment requires a vote in each chamber of the Vermont General Assembly in two successive legislative sessions with an election in between. However, there are different vote requirements depending on the session and chamber. During the first legislative session, the constitutional amendment needs to receive a two-thirds vote in the state Senate and a simple majority (50%+1) vote in the state House. During the second legislative session, the constitutional amendment needs to receive a simple majority vote in each legislative chamber.
2019-2020 legislature
State Sens. Debbie Ingram (D-Chittenden), Timothy Ashe (D-Chittenden), and Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia) were the lead sponsors of the constitutional amendment, known as Proposal 2, in the Vermont General Assembly in 2020.[1]
On April 24, 2019, the state Senate approved Proposal 2. The vote was 28-1. At least 21 votes were needed to pass the constitutional amendment. On January 21, 2020, the state House approved Proposal 2. The vote was 145-0. At least 73 votes were needed.[1]
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2021-2022 legislature
Proposal 2 was introduced into the 2021-2022 legislative session on March 31, 2021. On April 9, 2021, it was approved by the state Senate by a vote of 29-1. On February 4, 2022, it was approved by the state House by a vote of 139-3.[6]
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How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Vermont
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Vermont.
| How to cast a vote in Vermont | |||||
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Poll timesIn Vermont, all polls must open by 10 a.m. All polls close at 7 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[7] Registration
A United States citizen and state resident who is at least 18 years of age may register to vote in Vermont. The registrant must take the "Voter's Oath," which is included on the voter registration form.[8][9] According to the secretary of state's website, "Beginning January 1, 2017, eligible persons may register to vote on any day up to and including the day of the election. Registration is available during all normal business hours of your town or city clerk's office on days preceding the election and during polling hours on Election Day. "[8] Automatic registrationVermont automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles.[9] Online registration
Vermont has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website. Same-day registrationVermont allows same-day voter registration.[8] Residency requirementsTo register to vote in Vermont, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible. Verification of citizenshipVermont does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Verifying your registrationThe My Voter Page, run by the Vermont Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirementsVermont does not require voters to present identification while voting in most cases. However, first-time voters who registered by mail are required to present identification at the polls.[10] The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Vermont Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Vermont General Assembly, "Proposition 2," accessed January 22, 2020
- ↑ Vermont Digger, "Vermont House advances proposal of amendment to the Vermont Constitution clarifying the prohibition of slavery and indentured servitude," accessed February 23, 2022
- ↑ 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 - ↑ Abolish Slavery Vermont, "Home," accessed November 2, 2022
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance Information Search," accessed February 15, 2022
- ↑ Vermont State Legislature, "PR 2 Overview," accessed February 4, 2022
- ↑ Vermont State Legislature, “17 V.S.A. § 2561,” accessed April 20, 2023
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Vermont Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed April 20, 2023
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Vermont Secretary of State, "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed April 20, 2023
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "Election Day FAQs," accessed April 20, 2023
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