AUSTIN - Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs and Grace Chimene, President of the League of Women Voters of Texas (LWV), today commemorated the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment became law on August 26, 1920. Women's Equality Day is celebrated annually on August 26th in recognition of the efforts of those who fought and sacrificed to make its passage a reality.
"On this monumental day, we commemorate and celebrate the sacrifices of those women who came before us and fought for our fundamental right to vote," said Secretary Hughs. "Texas was the first southern state to ratify the 19th Amendment in 1919, and former Texas Secretary of State (and former League leader) Jane McCallum was an active participant in the movement for women's suffrage. I am proud to partner with the League of Women Voters of Texas as we celebrate this historic day."
When the 19th Amendment passed there were over 80 women's suffrage organizations in Texas. "The League of Women Voters was born out of the suffrage movement on October 19, 1919," stated Chimene, "The 19th Amendment was a tremendous first step in the fight for women's suffrage. However, it did not provide suffrage for all women. The fight for voting rights continued for another 100 years through the efforts of many organizations and heroic individuals, and that fight continues today. We thank Secretary Hughs for her partnership as we celebrate this historic day."
Learn more about the passage of the 19th Amendment from the
National Archives and the history of the suffrage movement in Texas from
LWV. Learn more about how the League continues to empower voters and defend democracy on their
website and
Facebook page.