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Happy Birthday 19th Amendment!As Schoolhouse Rock put it so succinctly: Oh, we were suffering until suffrage,It was 88 years ago today that the 19th Amendment of the Constitution was certified, guaranteeing women the right to vote in this country. And this day brings cause to celebrate a huge step towards universal suffrage — or, put more simply, expanding the right to vote to every man and woman in America. It’s stunning to think of how far we’ve come. In 1919, a woman couldn’t enter a voting booth. In 2008, a woman serves as Secretary of State. A woman serves as Speaker of the House. And America very nearly saw its first woman on the presidential ballot. In recent years, women have consistently cast a majority of votes in presidential elections. In this exhilarating election year, women are once again poised to represent a greater piece of the electoral pie than men. But sometimes the appearance of progress fails to tell the whole story. There are still far too many barriers that stand in the way of truly universal suffrage. According to a census data analysis by Project Vote (PDF), restrictions on the right to vote, like state photo identification laws, are likely to harm women voters (as well as minorities, people with disabilities, and senior citizens) disproportionately. They found:
— James Freedland & Rachel Perrone
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Aug 26th, 2008 at 5:34pm
"restrictions on the right to vote, like state photo identification laws, are likely to harm women voters disproportionately."
False. Having the right to vote and not exercising it does not cause harm. They have the right to vote and placing a restriction like id is no different than the 18yrs or older restriction. They are not restricted from having state identification (the fact that that is usually a driver's lic. is irrelevant) and so are choosing not to vote by not having the proper identification (ergo- no harm).
"There are still far too many barriers that stand in the way of truly universal suffrage."
You will need to make a much stronger case than not knowing how to drive. Unless, you also mean children and criminals should be allowed to vote? In which case you should come out, say it, and defend it. Without evidence that women are graded harded during their driver's lic. testing then you have no case. Especially considering one can just get a state id.
Aug 27th, 2008 at 9:51am
A great day to remember, but I think you mean the US nearly saw it's first woman as a major-party candidate. Women have run for President and have been on the ballot before - and now. E.g. Cynthia McKinney has the Green Party nomination this year.
Oct 4th, 2008 at 1:41pm
I'm so happy that women were allowed to vote, so they could vote away all of our freedoms.
Oct 8th, 2008 at 10:26am
i love this amendment
Nov 22nd, 2008 at 9:55am
i need help on finding the 19th amendents fpr my report sos
Nov 22nd, 2008 at 9:55am
i am soooooooooooooo bord here go away