Proposition 6, an amendment that would abolish forced labor in state prisons, was delayed by initial results Tuesday night.

The measure would remove “involuntary servitude” from the state constitution, which currently prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude except as penalties for crimes. This allows prisons to force prison staff to work and pay them less than $1 an hour, advocates say. California is one of eight states that still recognizes involuntary servitude as a criminal penalty.

More specifically, Proposition 6 would eliminate mandatory work requirements for state prisoners and replace them with voluntary work programs. Supporters of the bill said the volunteer work program would protect inmates from punishment for refusing work assignments.

A poll conducted in late September by the Public Policy Institute of California found that support for the bill was weak, with 46% of likely voters supporting it and 50% opposing it. The survey also found that Proposition 6 was the least popular of the 10 ballot measures voters decided on Tuesday.

There was no formal opposition to the measure.

This is part of a national movement to ban involuntary slavery in states where the constitution still states it is legal. Voters in other states passed similar measures in 2022, including Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont. That same year, Louisiana voters failed to pass the measure. This was California’s second attempt.