The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. (Ratified and Certified August 1920)
The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote. The passage marked the largest expansion of democracy in the history of our country. This historic centennial offers an unparalleled opportunity to commemorate a milestone of democracy and to explore its relevance to the issues of equal rights today. In the coming weeks and months, the ABA will be providing a range of resources to state and local bars, other legal organizations, partners, schools, and civic organizations interested in celebrating the story of women’s suffrage. We will provide public education materials on modern voting and gender equality issues, and advocacy resources to ensure allAmericans are fully enfranchised. Featured on the website will be a short professionally produced “call to action” video that bar associations and others can use for programming. The short film will be launched during the ABA Annual Meeting in early August 2019. We are pleased to announce that the 19th Amendment will inform the 2020 Law Day theme. If your bar association or organization is planning 19th Amendment commemoration activities, we would like to know about them so we can share information with others looking for ideas. We hope you will complete a brief survey to let us know what you are planning. Some states have ratification dates starting as early as June 2019 so your state’s centennial anniversary may be fast approaching. If you aren’t familiar with your state’s ratification date, you can find this information at the bottom of our 19th Amendment homepage. If you are interested in receiving updates as key resources are added to the website, please visit here. The ABA is excited to join you in celebrating this historic milestone and using it as an opportunity to educate the public about the women’s suffrage movement and the state of enfranchisement in the United States today. Sincerely, Judy Perry Martinez
President, American Bar Association