Rep. Horn Celebrates 100th Anniversary of 19th Amendment

Press Release

Tuesday, August 18, marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women's suffrage. In recognition of the anniversary, Congresswoman Kendra Horn (OK-5) will host a special 19th Amendment Town Hall on Wednesday, August 19, at 12PM. The event will be streamed live on Facebook at fb.com/RepKendraHorn and on Zoom using meeting ID 926 4503 1102. Congresswoman Horn will also join a local Girl Scout troop tonight to discuss the 19th amendment and the fight for women's suffrage.

"Today's historic anniversary is a celebration of women's voices in our democracy. It is a chance for us to remember those who marched, protested, and dedicated their lives to securing the vote for women," said Congresswoman Kendra Horn. "We must also remember that while the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, Black women and women of color still faced barriers to casting a ballot for decades. While we celebrate women's suffrage, it's important we recognize the work we have left to do securing and protecting the right to vote for all Americans. Congress must restore the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and ensure that the U.S. Postal Service has the resources needed to deliver ballots cast by mail this fall. One hundred years after ratification of the 19th Amendment, our fight for voting rights is not over."

Joining Congresswoman Horn for the 19th Amendment Town Hall are:

Sarah Brown, Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women
Bailey Perkins, Vice Chair, Oklahoma Women's Coalition
The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits denying the right to vote on the basis of sex. Oklahoma ratified the 19th Amendment on February 28, 1920. On August 18, 1920, Tennessee was the last of the necessary 36 states ratify the amendment. The amendment's adoption was certified on August 26, 1920, the result of decades of activism by women's suffrage groups.

"As we commemorate the centennial of the 19th amendment's ratification, we must also reconcile the exclusion of Black and brown women in suffrage rights and the barriers that still remain for women of color today," said Bailey Perkins, Vice Chair of the Oklahoma Women's Coalition. "The Oklahoma Women's Coalition commends Congresswoman Horn for hosting an important and nuanced conversation as well as creating the space to reflect on ways that we can build a more equitable and inclusive future for all women in our voting and election processes."

Last year, Congresswoman Horn voted to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA), a bill to restore and update key protections for American voters. The VRAA would restore Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) to provide areas that have a history of voter discrimination with additional oversight. The bill also requires judicial review of suspect election practices and increases transparency in elections by requiring public notice of voting changes.

On Tuesday evening, Congresswoman Horn will be joining Girl Scouts Troop 670 (Western Oklahoma) to discuss the history of the 19th Amendment and women's suffrage. Congresswoman Horn is a 4th generation Girl Scout, having earned the Girl Scout's highest award, the Gold Award.

Source