Take Action: Ensure Women's right to vote

One of the most fought for rights in the past two centuries by women was for the right to vote in the United States. Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations of woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change of the Constitution.

In 1920 the 19th amendment was passed enshrining the right. Ratification did not ensure everyone equally the right though. African Americans and other minority women was not granted until the Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed in by President Lyndon B Johnson, that fully forbade any tactics that might suppress the right to vote. Today we see cracks in those hard fought rights for all women by legislatures putting forth bills that would go around the 19th Amendment and Voting Rights Act.

The SAVE Act https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8281/text passed the US House of Representatives in July 2024. This bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections. It also requires anyone showing proof of citizenship to have their current ID match their birth certificate. This is a barrier for many individuals, especially women who change their last names when getting married.

The Center for American Progress Action Fund, added that the extra documentation would hinder the democratic processes. "Because documentation would need to be presented in person, the legislation would, in practice, prevent Americans from being able to register to vote by mail; end voter registration drives nationwide; and eliminate online voter registration overnight — a service 42 states rely on," the group said.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice "This would be the worst voting bill to be passed by Congress in memory, probably ever....More than 21 million eligible voters just don’t have these documents readily available. Most Americans simply don’t have a passport. Millions have a birth certificate but don’t know where it is or have easy access to it.

Some Americans are more likely than others to lack easy access to these documents, including younger voters, voters of color, and the millions of married women who have changed their last names (so their documents don’t match). The proposed law would upend the most popular methods of voter registration, such as mail-in registration under a previous federal law (the 1993 National Voter Registration Act) or registering online through state government websites. It would be a federal government power grab, all to restrict the vote.

Together we must ensure the right to vote is not impeded. By supporting this organization, individuals can help make a difference in the lives of women. Take action today and support women's initiatives with Right to Stand. Together, we can make a difference and create a world where women's right to vote are prioritized and protected.