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So, slavery and servitude is a potential punishment in more than a dozen states. though the penalty hasn't been enforced since the civil war, listen, now voters, alison, in alabama, in louisiana, in vermont, oregon, tennessee, they have a chance now to remove the punishment from their states constitution, once and for all. essentially saying that the 13th amendment would be universal and not include those who've been prisoners as well. but the way they're doing it is causing a little bit of confusion. >> okay, let me just make sure understand this. slavery is still legal, if you are a convicte...

>> so, voters in five states had the chance to wipe slavery and indentured servitude off the books on election day. >> i have no idea they were still on the books. >> if you thought that slavery was outlawed in this country, back in 1865, with the 13th amendment, let me remind you, it's actually one exception to it. the object of section one of the amendment reads, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, where the party should be dually convicted, shall exist within the united states, or any place in the jurisdiction, excuse me.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—More than 150 years after slaves were freed in the U.S., voters in five states will soon decide whether to close loopholes that led to the proliferation of a different form of slavery—forced labor by people convicted of certain crimes.

The states are asking voters whether to amend constitutions that have exceptions to slavery bans. Some hope that the changes could allow prisoners to challenge the practice of being forced into labor for little or no pay.

Language in the constitutions of multiple states still permits slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments, but a movement wants to change that.