[LWVNM Action] 100 years of gender equality at the ballot box - Oped in

[Richard Mason]

*https://www.abqjournal.com/1490122/100-years-of-gender-equality-at-the-ballot-box.html
<https://www.abqjournal.com/1490122/100-years-of-gender-equality-at-the-ballot-box.html>*

*100 years of gender equality at the ballot box*

*By Karen M. Douglas / Co-president, League Of Women Voters Of Central New
Mexico <https://www.abqjournal.com/author/abqnews>*

*Wednesday, August 26th, 2020 at 12:02am – ABQ Journal*

Today America celebrates Women’s Equality Day. This day marks the national
centennial of passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: “The
right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the U.S. or
any state because of sex.”

This milestone for the women’s suffrage movement occurred following
ratification by Tennessee, the 36th state required for the three-fourths
majority. Aug. 26 is observed as the 100th anniversary of the women’s
suffrage amendment, which was first introduced in 1878 and certified by the
U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby, permitting 26 million women to
participate in the 1920 presidential election. Women’s contributions to the
Great War effort were vital to impress upon male voters and elected
officials women’s importance to the continued success of our democracy.

Each state has its unique suffrage history. Women’s right to vote was
raised occasionally in the Territory of New Mexico because several Western
states pioneered the practice. Thousands of women and men in New Mexico
worked together to build support for suffrage between 1911 and 1920. On
Feb. 21, 1920, the amendment was ratified in New Mexico in a special
legislative session. The rich history of voting rights in New Mexico and
nationally is explored in Megan Kamerick’s four podcasts at
www.newmexicopbs.org/new-mexico-and-the-vote-podcast/.

Expansion of the right to vote has a long and difficult history and wasn’t
complete in 1920 or even today. It took much longer for disenfranchised
minority groups to gain voting rights – only white women were granted the
right to vote during 1920, with continuing struggles by Black women and all
Native Americans.

President Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924, permitting
Native Americans who were not living on reservations the right to vote. It
took Miguel Trujillo Jr., who was denied voting rights after fighting in
WWII, to win a N.M. Supreme Court decision recognizing the right of all
Native Americans to vote. Most Black women’s struggle for the vote was not
obtained until the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

This racial disparity continues today by voter suppression when there are
an inadequate number of polling places in minority communities or
restricted polling place hours and limited Postal Service availability for
absentee voting. Minorities still seek equality in the American workplace
and representative employment in professions providing both recognition and
an equal share in the rewards from our national prosperity. This historic
milestone marking white women’s earning the right to vote only reminds us
of the many national challenges we Americans face as this nation progresses
toward a more just and inclusive democracy.

2020 also marks the 100th anniversary of the League of Women Voters, which
formed from the National American Women’s Suffrage Association in Chicago
on Feb. 14, 1920. From its inception, LWV focused on registering the new
women electorate to vote and promoting an understanding of governmental
policies, and our mission continues to educate voters and protect voting
rights for everyone amidst this pandemic.

In 2020, LWVNM introduced a more extensive online resource – www.Vote411.org
– enabling voters to access candidate responses for all races in
Bernalillo, Torrance, Sandoval and Valencia counties. On Sept. 15, each
citizen may view their own personal ballot following entry of their address
to access statewide races, discussion of bond issues and judicial
candidates in this online voting guide.
LWVNM is monitoring any issues which could hamper absentee ballot return or
suppress voter participation in the upcoming election and will continue to
be vocal when concerns regarding fair elections and voter access warrant.
The League of Women Voters of Central N.M. will publish hard copies of the
voter guide in the beginning of October. Use
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