Nevadans to vote in 2024 on removing slavery, involuntary servitude as punishment from state constitution

Nevada voters will decide whether to get rid of slavery and involuntary servitude as a form of criminal punishment from the state constitution on the 2024 ballot, part of a push among some states to remove outdated, century-old language that has stayed on the books.

The Nevada Senate unanimously passed the joint resolution on Thursday after the assembly took similar steps last week. The proposed amendment first passed the Nevada Legislature in 2021, though ballot measures must survive two consecutive sessions before going to a vote of the people.

"I don't know that we have fully accepted this very painful past," said Democratic Sen. Pat Spearman of North Las Vegas, who co-sponsored the resolution. "And what you don't face, you can't fix."