Women celebrate100 years of making progress at polls

Photo By Chuck Cannon | Angie Thorne, Guardian staff writer  

FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, UNITED STATES

08.21.2020

Story by Angie Thorne 

Fort Johnson Public Affairs Office

FORT POLK, La. — It sometimes seems like the year 2020 is trying to see just how much we can take. Personally, I was ready to yell “uncle” months ago, but that would be the easy way out, and my parents didn’t raise a quitter. So I have continued to navigate COVID-19, a tanking economy, protests, politics, masks, murder hornets and more. I’ve tried to keep my spirits up, but it’s been a challenge.
Thankfully, there have been small good news stories that have made me smile. Those tiny victories keep me going.
One such celebratory moment is the fact that 2020 also marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment was passed by Congress on June 4, 1919 and ratified (to make it officially valid) Aug. 18, 1920, granting women the Constitutional right to vote.
The fight for that right took decades. Women called suffragettes utilized protests, marches, lobbying and civil disobedience to make it happen. I can’t help but admire these women who never gave up and passed their passion for change to their daughters and following generations. Their efforts allow women like you and me to vote, serve as mayors, state representatives, U.S. Senators and, possibly this year, vice president.
The fight for the right to vote began in the early 1800s. The movement evolved from small groups scattered all over the country to a more unified organization that fell under the banner of the women’s suffrage movement. Suffrage literally means the right to vote in political elections.
Along the way, men who ridiculed them opposed their efforts, going so far as to create their own national association to oppose women’s suffrage. Believe it or not, they weren’t alone. The Women’s Suffrage movement also had to fight their own gender to be heard and taken seriously. Like men of the time, these anti-suffrage groups believed a woman’s place was in the home — taking care of the kids and being submissive to their husband’s needs.
They even questioned the mental capabilities and intelligence of women who wanted to vote and have their voices heard. Wow, it’s amazing that people are still trying to do that today. Some things don’t change and history does repeat itself.
A pivotal leader in the women’s suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony, worked for 50 years traveling the country, giving speeches and demanding that women should be given the right to vote. Sadly, she died in 1906, before accomplishing her goal of having the 19th amendment ratified.
On the 100th anniversary of the amendment’s ratification, we have to continue celebrating that accomplishment for her.
Since women have fought for and won the right to vote, we have continued to grow and strive for equality, but it sometimes seems the further we get from the accomplishment of gaining that right, the more it appears we take it for granted by not using it.
But it’s not just women who fall into that trap. Across the board, only 60% of registered voters tend to vote during presidential elections. That number goes down to about 40% during midterm elections.
Those numbers frustrate me. Though, since 1980, women have had slightly higher voter turnout rates than men, according to the Pew Research website.
I want to shake people that sit at home when they can’t bother themselves to cast a ballot and tell them that voting is fundamental to a healthy democracy, according to the Fair Vote website. They also mention on their website that voter turnout in the U.S. is much lower than most established democracies. That makes me think, one of the greatest democracies in the world — that’s the U.S. if you weren’t keeping track — seems to feel like, “meh, maybe I’ll vote and maybe I won’t.” What?
Where has that sense of wonder and the goal that all those suffragettes fought for gone? The U.S. seems to have lost it somewhere along the long years of toil. You would think voting to implement change might make people eager to be heard via a check on the ballot box, but it seems that’s not so.
From what I’ve seen myself, many Americans tend to believe that the right to vote will always be there, but that’s not necessarily the case. A democracy, in my opinion is a living thing; if it is neglected it can die. Instead, people must continue to fight and care for it while believing in its purpose.
I know several people who don’t vote for various reasons such as they don’t care, it doesn’t really affect them and, the one I hear the most, their vote won’t change anything.
I want to somehow help them understand they are throwing away the best and most important tool they were ever given as free and independent citizens of this great nation. In a way, they turn their backs on a responsibility to continue making sure the inalienable rights (we have enjoyed for more than 200 years) won’t be torn away. It’s a person’s best chance to make a difference; it’s a chance to make their lives and those of their neighbor’s lives better.
However, if you do vote, I would encourage you to take the time to make an informed decision, regaurdless of the issue or candidate. Going to the polling site and checking boxes without any real understanding of the choices you are making could be just as harmful as not voting at all.
This brings us to a potentially historic 2020 presidential election Nov. 3.
Do I have an opinion about which candidate to vote for? Of course I do, as do many of you. I’ve done my research; and I’m thankful I’m allowed to have that opinion, as well as the right to vote — thanks again Susan!
Now, though I might not agree with your choices, thanks to the good fortune of living in America, we are able to agree to disagree. I try my best to respect others ideals and choices as long as they do the same for me.
Even with the added obstacles COVID-19 has put in our way this election year, we can’t let it stop us from performing this sacred duty to democracy.
If you are a woman of voting age, do your research, make your decision and get out there and make those suffragettes proud by validating everything they worked and fought for 100 years ago.
Just think, you can celebrate the anniversary of their success by metaphorically pulling that lever on their behalf.
However, it’s not just about women voting. It’s about all Americans — no matter their gender or race — standing up for what they believe in.
We should all take seriously the right to state our beliefs in the form of casting a vote. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a grave duty afforded to all too few in the world and one that our military service members (including the Soldiers right here at Fort Polk’s Home of Heroes) fight for every day.
Regardless of how you plan to vote, just make sure that you do:
• Registration — if you aren’t registered, it’s a pretty simple process to complete. The deadline to register in Louisiana is Oct. 13. You can register to vote online at the Louisiana Secretary of State website. Be sure to confirm your registration for the upcoming presidential election by checking your registration status on the same website.
• Mail-in ballots — you can vote by mail for specific reasons, but not for fear of coronavirus. The deadline to request a mail ballot is 4:30 p.m. Oct. 30, and the deadline for it to reach the registrar is 4:30 p.m. Nov. 2. Waiting that long to vote cuts it a little close in these uncertain times. So, if you need to request a mail ballot, do so as soon as possible. Once you receive it, complete the form and mail it right back. You want your vote to count.
• Early voting — this is a great option and one that I have used myself. It tends to reduce long lines and masses of people standing inside a building less than 6 feet apart. Early voting for the presidential election in Louisiana takes place at the Registrar of Voters office from Oct. 20-27. The DeRidder Registrar of Voters office is located at 204 South Stewart St; its phone number is [phone]. The Leesville Registrar of Voters office is located at 301 East Courthouse St; its phone number is [phone].
• Vote on Election Day — In person voting takes place Nov. 3. Including today, that is 75 days away. Polls are open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. An ID may be requested. Due to COVID-19, nobody is sure how long you will have to wait or how safe you may be, but in order to vote, I’ll wrap myself in protective gear from head to toe and wait in line for hours.
This brings us back to the importance of the 19th amendment and its impact on history. The consequences have been profound and, in my humble opinion, I believe its ripple effect continues to spread and grow.
But you must understand, I’ve taken almost a 100 years of history and compressed it into a few paragraphs to give you the crux of the struggles that took place, but there’s no doubt I’ve left much out. I encourage you to check out the websites I’ve listed below to learn more about this essential and profound piece of history.
Editor’s note: Information for this story was found at www.crusadeforthevote.org, www.ourdocuments.gov, www.history.com, www.fairvote.org and www.sos.la.gov.

• Date Taken: 08.21.2020
• Date Posted: 08.24.2020 15:39
• Story ID: 376694
• Location: FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US