The voters have spoken and they have said they do not want the concept of slavery to have a place in the state Constitution, as Amendment A passed by a wide margin.
As of 9:49 p.m., Tuesday — and with 46 percent of the counties reporting — the measure had garnered 64.7 percent of the votes, with 35.3 percent voting against it.
Previously, as outlined in the Constitution, convicted criminals could be forced to work in prison without pay or restitution.
The Constitution read: “There shall never be in this state either slavery or involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.”
Amendment A removed “except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted” from the constitution.
This wasn’t the first time voters considered the issue,
A nearly identical measure appeared on the 2016 General Election ballot as Amendment T, but if failed to pass by a slim margin (50.32 percent for ‘no’ and 49.6 percent for yes).
Supporters at the time argued that the amendment failed because voters may have been confused by how the ballot question was worded.
Abolish Slavery Colorado has led the charge in support of Amendment A, raising more than $50,000 in campaign funds.