Honoring Our Right to Vote

Ninety-three years ago today, following over seven decades of tireless advocacy, the 19th amendment became law and women gained the right to vote. Later this week another important anniversary occurs – the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which later helped spark Congressional action on the Voting Rights Act (VRA).

As we celebrate our nation’s progress toward equality, voting rights remain under attack across the country. Help the League of Women Voters mark these important anniversaries and continue the fight for voting rights for all citizens!

Earlier this summer the U.S. Supreme Court erased fundamental protections in the VRA against racial discrimination in voting that have been critical to protecting our democracy. The damage to the VRA can and must be fixed – Congress has the power to act swiftly to restore the effectiveness of the Voting Rights Act. Tell your members of Congress to work quickly to repair and restore the VRA to ensure our elections are free, fair and accessible to all citizens.

Upon passage of the 19th amendment, Carrie Chapman Catt, founder of the League of Women Voters, proclaimed “Progress is calling to you to make no pause. Act!” These words continue to ring true as we remain committed to fighting back against the attacks on voting rights.

The League is continuing to pursue all avenues to fight for voters’ rights following the Supreme Court’s decision. This past weekend I joined with members of the League and thousands of other activists at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC to mark the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. Speakers at the rally renewed the call to protect our voting rights and called on Congress to restore the VRA. Add your voices to those who rallied in Washington and tell Congress to work quickly to fix the Voting Rights Act.