Where slavery is on the ballot this November

This midterm elections, voters in five states will decide whether to remove from state constitutions language allowing slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments.

The big picture: Over 150 years after the U.S. abolished slavery, nearly 20 state constitutions still allow forced labor as punishment for certain crimes.

Context: Across the U.S., incarcerated people often endure back-breaking labor only to be paid pennies per hour — or none at all.

They aren't afforded the same kinds of protections, such as minimum wage and benefits, and in many cases lose visitation privileges or face solitary confinement if they do not work, even in cases of injury or illness. West Coast states, for example, have long relied on incarcerated people to fight wildfires.

Colorado became the first to remove the language by ballot measure in 2018. Nebraska and Utah did the same two years later.

This year, voters in Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont will decide whether to close the loopholes in their constitutions.