Voters Will Decide on Slavery Ban Championed by Watts

Question 4 on the 2024 Nevada ballot proposes to explicitly ban slavery and involuntary servitude in the state constitution, aiming to close a controversial loophole that allows these practices as punishment for a crime. Introduced by Assemblymember Howard Watts and the Nevada Black Legislative Caucus, this measure responds to growing concerns about forced labor in prisons, where inmates can be compelled to work without pay or under harsh conditions. It passed the Legislature with unanimous support in 2021 and 2023.

By removing this exception, the amendment seeks to align Nevada with the evolving national dialogue on criminal justice reform and human rights, ensuring that all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude are unequivocally prohibited within the state.

Read More: The Nevada Independent, The Nevada Current, Las Vegas Sun