WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE CELEBRATES 104TH ANNIVERSARY

  By Sydna Arbuckle

On August 16, the United States will celebrate the 104th year that women attained the right to vote in government elections. After years of struggle, voting became a reality for women with the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. 

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.

For decades before 1920, women across the nation organized study clubs with projects to improve their communities. Women’s suffrage became an item to support. This occurred from the nation’s capital to the homes in Elgin, Texas. The women of Elgin organized a club called the New Century Club in 1897. By 1918, the New Century Club was responsible for the creation of a downtown city park and the first library in Elgin. These women began to push for political and social participation, supporting prohibition of liquor and women’s suffrage.

Women’s clubs around the nation advocated participation in civic affairs. Elgin’s New Century Club was organized in 1897 and pushed for women being allowed to vote.

Governor James E. Ferguson of Texas opposed women voting. When he was impeached and removed from office in 1917, the Lieutenant Governor William P. Hobby took office. Governor Hobby was a champion of women’s rights, and in early 1919, he proposed an amendment to the Texas Constitution to allow full suffrage to women. It passed the Texas Legislature without a single dissenting vote and then had to be ratified by the voters of Texas. A statewide election was held on May 24, and the amendment failed by 25,000 votes. Elgin and Bastrop County voted against the proposition. The May 29, 1919, edition of the Elgin Courier gives the Elgin and Bastrop County votes as follows:  

East Elgin 

Woman Suffrage    

For: 60  Against: 95

West Elgin 

Woman Suffrage

 For: 95  Against: 84 

Bastrop County (totals for the entire county)

Woman Suffrage

For: 766  Against: 1183

On June 4, 1919, ten days after the amendment to the Texas Constitution failed, the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution passed Congress. It required ratification by two-thirds of the 48 state legislatures. Governor Hobby immediately called a special session of the Texas Legislature and was successful in ratifying the amendment on June 25, 1919. Texas was the ninth state to approve the amendment even though the matter had failed in a general election one month earlier. By August 16, 1920, enough state legislatures approved the constitutional amendment, and women’s right to vote was secured in our country.

The work of local organizations and state legislatures guaranteed this important constitutional right. Even though an amendment to the Texas Constitution was not successful with voters in 1919, the Texas Legislature succeeded in ensuring women’s right to vote. Groups, like the Elgin New Century Club, were instrumental in achieving women’s suffrage and representation in governmental affairs.