League of Women Voters Day 2024: History, Facts and Importance

League of Women Voters Day 2024: February 14 is designated as League of Women Voters Day, honoring the founding anniversary of one of the most influential voices in the American campaign for voters’ rights and women’s suffrage. We honor the accomplishments and influence of the League of Women Voters on this day, commemorating the organization’s centennial.

The League of Women Voters has greatly increased general voter access and education for women in the United States, despite its original goals being to advocate for women’s suffrage, teach women about the electoral process, and fight for laws impacting women. A conversation on American political history would be incomplete without addressing League of Women Voters Day.

The History of League of Women Voters Day

On February 14, 1920, the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and the National Council of Women Voters (N.C.W.V.) merged to form the League of Women Voters. Emma Smith DeVoe, dubbed “the mother of women’s suffrage,” suggested in 1909 that a distinct organization be established from NAWSA to inform women about women’s issues and the electoral process. After her suggestion was rejected, she founded the National Council of Women Voters in 1911.

The NAWSA president at the time, Carrie Chapman Catt, suggested merging the two groups out of concern that some of DeVoe’s viewpoints would deter conservative women from joining the movement. A proposal in this direction was made at the NAWSA conference in 1919, and the merger was finalized on January 6, 1920.

Before a formal organization of the league being formed at the 1920 NAWSA convention, the National League of Women Voters only functioned as a committee of NAWSA. The organization was among the first to be granted N.G.O. recognition by the UN.

The league’s charter was changed in 1973 to allow males to join, after it had previously only been open to women. The league has fought against voter suppression, increased voter access, and educated voters over the years. They are the owners of VOTE411.org, a bilingual website that provides voters with localized information about candidates and elections.

Currently, the league boasts more than 700 state and local leagues around the US and more than 500,000 members and supporters. The league established National Voter Registration Day in 2012 and has previously sponsored presidential debates.

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Ways to Discover the League of Women Voters Day

Give your time

The League of Women Voters is fighting for the right to vote, and there are lots of ways you can help. You can support and carry on the fight for voting rights by signing any of their petitions or by volunteering on National Voter Registration Day.

Sign up to cast a ballot

Honoring their work is a fitting way to commemorate League of Women Voters Day. More individuals registering to vote and actively participating in the political process and public governance is the first step in the fight for voting rights.

Give a financial donation.

On League of Women Voters Day, it’s ideal to pull out your credit card. To support the league in its efforts to defend our democratic rights, you can choose to donate once or every month.

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Five Facts the League of Women Voters Day

• With support from the Equal Rights Party, Victoria Woodhull ran for president of the United States in 1872—more than 50 years before the 19th Amendment was ratified.
• Elizabeth Smith Miller introduced a bold new style in 1851 known as the “bloomer,” which came to represent the women’s rights movement.
• Several women, notably Susan B. Anthony, cast illicit ballots between 1868 and 1872.
• The original New Jersey constitution guaranteed the right to vote to anyone with £50 or more. Married women could only vote until 1807 because their husbands were legally in charge of their property.
• Male friends were crucial, particularly in Colorado, New York, and Oklahoma, as only men had the actual ability to vote on whether or not women should be allowed the right to vote.

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The significance of League of Women Voters Day

Anyone is welcome to take part.

You can celebrate League of Women Voters Day as a Democrat or Republican, male or female, young or elderly. Regardless of our differences, the fight for real democracy continues. League of Women Voters Day is for you if you think that elections should be accessible, fair, and free.

We adore democracy.

Our preferred form of government is unquestionably democracy, among the others. We adore the notion that individuals should be free to select their leaders and decision-makers. Justice in the future is based on democracy.

Voting is something that more people should do.

In the 2020 presidential election, only 66.1% of eligible voters in the United States cast ballots. In light of the situation, this indicates that 82 million Americans did not exercise their right to democracy. Access to voting must be improved, and more people must learn the value of actively participating in the political process.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS DAY DATES