This edition highlights the powerful history of Women’s Suffrage in the United
States, a story of determination, resilience, and activism that helped shape
the course of American democracy.




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Hi friend,

Welcome to the final installment in our first educational series from Voting
Rights Fund (VRF). As a national leader in the fight for voting rights, VRF is
committed to promoting voter access, safeguarding election integrity, and
protecting the fundamental right to vote. We proudly endorse and support
candidates who share our democratic values, which include our commitment to
protecting the rights of women.

This edition highlights the powerful history of Women’s Suffrage in the United
States, a story of determination, resilience, and activism that helped shape
the course of American democracy. After 72 years of organized struggle, women
won the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Today marks
the 105th anniversary of that historic milestone, and we are honored to
celebrate the legacy of the suffragists who made it possible.



A Brief History of Women’s Suffrage

In the years following the Civil War, the United States ratified the 13th,
14th, and 15th Amendments to restore equality under the law and expand the
electorate yet women were notably excluded. While African American men gained
the legal right to vote, women continued to be denied access to the ballot box.
It should be noted that, despite being legally able to vote, African American
men were often discriminated against and disenfranchised in the reconstruction
era.

Champions such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton emerged to fight
this injustice. They founded the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA),
one of the first major organizations advocating for women’s voting rights.
Their efforts, including lobbying, education campaigns, and public speaking,
captured national attention. Stanton famously co-organized the Seneca Falls
Convention, where activists drafted the Declaration of Sentiments, echoing the
Declaration of Independence but demanding equality for women.

Lucy Stone, founder of the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), helped
mobilize broad public support through publications, petitions, and protest.
Eventually, the NWSA and AWSA merged to form the National American Woman
Suffrage Association (NAWSA), a powerhouse of national advocacy.

Alongside NAWSA, the National Woman’s Party (NWP) led by Alice Paul and others
took a more confrontational approach, organizing public demonstrations,
lobbying campaigns, and high-profile protests. Together, these organizations
applied relentless pressure on lawmakers, picketing outside the White House and
targeting President Woodrow Wilson with public messaging directly.


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Thanks to decades of grassroots and national advocacy, the suffragists secured
the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, giving women the
right to vote nationwide.
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“Ain’t I a Woman Too?” – The Exclusion of Black Women

While the Suffrage movement broke barriers, it also revealed enduring
divisions. African American women, despite their leadership in abolition and
civil rights, were often excluded from major suffrage organizations. Leaders
like Sojourner Truth challenged this exclusion directly in her iconic speech,
“Ain’t I a Woman?”, which called attention to the double discrimination faced
by Black women.

The National Association of Colored Women (NACW), founded by Ida B. Wells,
Harriet Tubman, Nannie Helen Burroughs, and others, fought for full
enfranchisement and racial justice. These women formed their own coalitions and
strategies, working in parallel with, and sometimes in tension with, white
suffrage leaders.

Although Black women were not fully enfranchised until the Voting Rights Act
of 1965, their activism laid essential groundwork and helped strengthen the
broader movement for civil and voting rights.



Ratifying the 19th Amendment

After years of advocacy and a failed attempt in 1918, the 19th Amendment was
finally ratified on August 18, 1920, marking a pivotal step toward gender
equality. Even before they could legally vote, some women were already serving
in public office, likeJeannette Rankin
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Montana, the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, who cast
votes in Congress before being able to vote for herself at the ballot box.

Since then, women have become an increasingly powerful force in American
politics. Today:

— Women register to vote at higher rates than men.

— Women turn out to vote at higher rates across most demographics.

— Women are more likely to serve as election workers and administrators.

— Since 1980, the number of women serving in state legislatures has steadily
increased.

Currently, states like Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado lead the nation in
electing women to legislative office, reflecting the growing role of women in
shaping U.S.democracy.2


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Protecting Women’s Voting Rights Today

The story of the suffrage movement is a reminder that representation must be
fought for and preserved. While generally considered a more permanently
entrenched set of rights, women’s right to vote is still facing gradual erosion.

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, recently passed by the
House and pending in the Senate, has potential to disenfranchise female voters.
Critics warn that its requirements could disenfranchise women who have changed
their last names after marriage or divorce. Voting Rights Fund does not support
the SAVE Act, nor do we endorse its supporters.

This legislation undermines the hard-won progress made by generations of women
and is part of a larger retrenchment of voting rights across the political
spectrum. VRF remains vigilant and committed to defending every eligible
voter’s right to access the ballot, free from bureaucratic barriers or
discriminatory intent.

The women who led the suffrage movement changed history by demanding a voice
in the democratic process, even when they were denied every platform of power.
Their courage reminds us that democracy requires participation, representation,
and constant vigilance.

As we mark over a century since the ratification of the 19th Amendment, we
reflect on the achievements of those who came before us and recommit to
protecting those rights today. At Voting Rights Fund, we are proud to celebrate
this milestone and to support champions working to pass the John R. Lewis
Voting Rights Advancement Act, which will strengthen protections for all voters.

To learn more or support our work, please visit our website
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With gratitude,
Voting Rights Fund Team



(P.S. If you can, please give a contribution to support our year-round work to
elect voting rights leaders committed to expanding access to the ballot »)
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candidate's committee




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