On August 26, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment’s adoption was certified, a victory for women’s equality and the start of a new chapter for American women. For decades, suffragettes such as New Jersey political strategist Alice Paul, dedicated their lives to protesting and lobbying for this fundamental right.
Both the labor movement and the suffrage movement shared common goals of promoting equality and increasing the political power of the marginalized. As working women sought out autonomy within their lives by joining labor unions, holding strikes for higher pay, and protesting for better working conditions, the lack of the right to vote remained a barrier to progress and equality.
Today, let the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment remind us all that the right to vote and our democracy should never be taken for granted.
Are you registered to vote? You can check your voter registration status by going to https://app.ballotready.org/check_registration. You can also use this link to register to vote. The voter registration deadline is October 13, 2026.