Results: Oregon Measure 112: Voters decided to remove the state constitution's language addressing slavery in prisons

• Polls closed in the state at 8 p.m. local time, or 11 p.m. EST.
• Oregon Measure 112 changed language in the state constitution that addressed slavery and involuntary servitude in prisons.

Oregonians voted "yes" on Measure 112, which edited language in the state constitution regarding slavery and involuntary servitude.

Ballot measure details

Known as the Remove Slavery as Punishment for Crime from Constitution Amendment, Oregon Measure 112 removed the exception in the Constitution that allowed for slavery as "a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted."

In turn, it added the following language: "Upon conviction of a crime, an Oregon court or a probation or parole agency may order the convicted person to engage in education, counseling, treatment, community service or other alternatives to incarceration, as part of sentencing for the crime, in accordance with programs that have been in place historically or that may be developed in the future, to provide accountability, reformation, protection of society or rehabilitation."

A Secretary of State's analysis of the measure stated: "The measure does not require additional state government revenues or expenditures; however the impact of the measure will depend on potential legal action or changes to inmate work programs."

Support and opposition

Oregonians Against Slavery & Involuntary Servitude led the campaign in support of the measure. Supporters argued that the slavery exception heavily affected marginalized communities.

Zach Winston, the policy director of the Oregon Justice Resource Center, said that "while the slavery exception was drafted over 160 years ago, the impact is still disproportionately felt today by the BIPOC communities."

There was no organized campaign against the proposal, according to Ballotpedia, but the Oregon Department of Corrections argued that the measure misleads the public about what goes on inside the state's prisons.

"DOC recognizes that compelled prison labor is sometimes perceived as modern-day slavery," Rob Persson, assistant director of operations at the Oregon Department of Corrections, said to lawmakers, according to OPB. "DOC believes that perception is misplaced, at least with respect to the manner in which adults in custody are engaged in prison work programs in Oregon's prisons."

The money race

The measure attracted about $75,000 in support contributions and $0 in opposition contributions, according to Ballotpedia.