Right to Vote

Tomorrow, ladies, is a very important day in our history. A mere 91 years ago, we attained the right to vote through a ratified Constitutional Amendment, the 19th to be in fact.

It only took about 80 years to finally get the amendment brought to a vote by the individual states. My home state of Tennessee cast the two-thirds majority of the state’s vote to get the amendment made into law.

It took Georgia a while longer to realize that women should be able to vote.

Twenty-four year-old Tennessee legislator, Harry Burns cast the deciding vote. The vote was 50-49 in favor of the amendment. But why did he vote yea? His mama told him to do it. His mother told him to do what was right and vote yes, she said, “Don’t forget to be a good boy and vote for suffrage.”

Georgia legislators on the other hand took some time to ponder whether we women should have the right to cast our ballots.

Yes, March 2, 1970, the Georgia legislators finally got around to ratifying the 19th amendment. Never fear, Georgia was not the last, it took Mississippi until 1984 to vote for the amendment.

So, ladies, don’t forget about your right to vote in November when we will have an election. See you at the polls.