Thread by @19thnews

A century ago today, on Aug. 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, making voting a right regardless of sex.

While this was a watershed moment in our democracy, it excluded millions of people, including women of color, from the ballot box for generations.

The 19th Amendment remains unfinished business, a fact we acknowledge in our logo with an asterisk — a visible reminder of those who have been omitted from our democracy.

So today we commemorate the #19thCentennial — but with an asterisk as well.

As the expansion of the voting franchise continues today, The 19th is here to capture this ongoing American story. And it's more important than ever.

Women make up more than half of the American electorate.

➡️ 73.7 MILLION women voted in 2016 — nearly 10 million MORE than men.

Although we see women running for elected office in record numbers, they still remain underrepresented in government.

➡️ In 2020, women only hold 23.7% of the seats in Congress.

*️⃣ 2020 Democratic VP candidate Sen. @KamalaHarris is the only Black woman in the Senate.

Women are also underrepresented in statehouses across the United States.

➡️ Women represent just under 30% of lawmakers in statehouses.

➡️ And only 7.4% of all state legislators are women of color.

And the reality is suffrage remains a work in progress for many in this country, including those living in states where voter suppression exists, and tens of thousands of transgender Americans who face barriers to voting.

So on this #19thCentennial, our mission is imperative — we're here to provide the information, resources and community needed so that ALL women and gender diverse people can participate equally in our democracy.

For us, it's lift one, lift all.

#The19thLiftOneLiftAll: In August 1920, the Tennessee Legislature became the final statehouse needed to ratify the #19thAmendment.

A century later, three Black women involved in state politics talk about the unfinished business behind the anniversary. 19thnews.org/2020/08/tennes…

#The19thLiftOneLiftAll: Two women in Florida are plaintiffs in the only felony disenfranchisement suit alleging a violation of the #19thAmendment, the 100-year old victory that scantily gave women the right to vote. 19thnews.org/2020/08/suffra…

Women have experienced about 54 percent of all job losses since February.

Now they're eyeing the November election in much the same way women looked to the #19thAmendment one hundred years ago: As an opportunity to play a role in the process. 19thnews.org/2020/08/womens…

For trans Americans, meeting voter ID requirements was an already burdensome process. The pandemic has made it even more complicated.

And the stakes have never been higher. LGBTQ+ advocates say the November election is a matter of life and death for many. 19thnews.org/2020/08/trans-…

The #19thAmendment, ratified this month a century ago, granted White women the right to vote. It took nearly 50 more years for that to extend to Black women.

What the two groups have done at the ballot box since then could not be more different. 19thnews.org/2020/08/suffra…