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Read. Follow. Verify.North Carolina General Assembly puts constitutional amendment on November 2026 ballot to completely ban involuntary servitude
Last action · April 2, 2025: Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Allen Buansi and 23 others
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What This Bill Would Do
North Carolina voters will decide at the November 3, 2026 general election whether to amend the state constitution to remove the exception allowing as a punishment for a crime. If approved by a majority of voters, the change takes effect upon certification by the State Board of Elections.
The measure changes the state constitution by eliminating the legal authority to use for individuals convicted of crimes, submitting the final decision directly to the state's electorate.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
qualified voters of the State
Voters will cast ballots on November 3, 2026, to approve or reject the constitutional amendment.
inmates
The legal status of involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment in the state constitution is removed.
Key Facts
- Section 17 of Article I of the North Carolina Constitution is amended to remove the exception allowing involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime.
- The constitutional amendment will be submitted to qualified voters at the statewide general election on November 3, 2026.
- The official ballot question asks voters to vote for or against a constitutional amendment providing that slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited.
- The State Board of Elections is required to certify the results of the referendum.
Show all 7 facts
- The Secretary of State must enroll the amendment among permanent records if a majority of votes cast are in favor.
- The amendment has no effect if a majority of votes cast are against it.
- If approved, the amendment becomes effective upon certification of the election results.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will voters decide on this constitutional amendment?
What happens if a majority of voters vote against the amendment?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
3 actions- Apr 2, 2025HouseRef To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Apr 2, 2025HousePassed 1st Reading
- Apr 1, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Removal of Criminal Exception for Involuntary Servitude
The measure entirely strikes out the constitutional exception that allowed involuntary servitude as a punishment for a convicted crime.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.ncleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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