The national anniversary of women’s suffrage will be celebrated in August of 2020. Did you know that women in the state of California voted on state matters eight years earlier than they were able to do nationally?
California suffragists were successful in lobbying the Republican Party to include support for women’s suffrage in its 1911 platform. The Suffrage Proposition became the Fourth Amendment adopted by the state Legislature and approved by voters in a referendum election in October 1911. California women joined Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Washington in gaining the right to vote on state matters. Eight years later, California had the opportunity to vote in favor of the 19th Amendment to the federal Constitution, which granted women national suffrage. This year and next, California women can celebrate the anniversary of our right to vote—once in November for state suffrage and again next August to celebrate the 100th year of the national women’s right to vote! Hooray!
It’s hard to believe, but in some countries, women still do not have this right. We, in the United States must honor that right and protect it.
Recently, a Santa Maria Suffrage Centennial Celebration Coalition was formed. The coalition is made up of women representing several women’s and civic organizations and organized by the League of Women Voters Santa Maria Valley. The committee’s goal is to gather all ideas for the coming 12 months to commemorate the right to vote, encourage one another, and celebrate women’s equal rights and the success of our fore-mother’s work!
Any like-minded individuals are invited to join in.
Find the group on Facebook @SMSuffrageCelebration for a list of activities, calendar of events, and upcoming meeting dates.
Virginia Souza
Suffrage Centennial Celebration Coalition Committee member
Santa Maria
This article appears in Nov 14-21, 2019.
