• Press Release

EMILYs List Statement on the Anniversary of the Ratification of the 19th Amendment

August 18, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today marks the 103rd anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the amendment which granted women the right to vote. EMILYs List President Laphonza Butler released the following statement celebrating this momentous day:

“Today we celebrate the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, a historic moment when many women finally received their long overdue constitutional right to vote. Although women of color remained disenfranchised for decades following its passage—Black and Native women continued being denied their ballot until the passage of the Voting Rights Act—the 19th Amendment marked an important time in our nation’s history enabling some women to exercise one of our most cherished rights. 

“While we celebrate the ratification of the 19th Amendment, there is still much to be done. Our rights remain at risk due to continued attempts by Republicans to disenfranchise voters. Let this anniversary be a reminder that the most fundamental freedom – the right to vote, is the bedrock on which our democracy rests. This anniversary only highlights the need for further action to finally achieve true gender equality and enshrine the right to vote for future generations.”