Commemorating the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote

1919 was a historic year when it came to ensuring women’s right to vote. On May 21, 1919, the House of Representatives passed what would become the 19th amendment, and two weeks later, the Senate followed sending the proposed amendment to the states for ratification. In just over a year’s time, three-fourths of the states ratified the amendment and the Secretary of State certified the ratification, forever ensuring women would have the right to vote.

Fast forward 100 years as we honor the significance of that historic amendment ratification. This year, Delegate Kathy Byron introduced a budget amendment to support efforts to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the women’s right to vote.

The amendment allocated $395,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year from the general fund to provide funds, to be matched at 50% by the Virginia Historical Society, to support this commemoration. The funding was included in the final conference report approved by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor.

Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote is another one of the 51 accomplishments by the 51 members of the Republican-led House of Delegates.