Nineteen

“On August 18, 1920, Tennessee was the last of the necessary 36 ratifying states to secure adoption. The Nineteenth Amendment’s adoption was certified on August 26, 1920: the culmination of a decades-long movement for women’s suffrage at both state and national levels.” – wikipedia

One hundred years of amendment nineteen to the US Constitution, which states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

I want to say that I think voting should be easier than it is. Maybe attach it to the social security card, giving an instantaneous voting right once you turn 18. No need to register.

That wouldn’t it be wonderful if Election Day in this country was a National Holiday, so that every citizen could partake. Somehow.

Voter turnout in 2018 was the highest recorded in a century for mid-term elections. And that was 49.3% of the voting-eligible population. Hell, in 2016 it was only 60.1%, and that was a presidential election year.

One hundred years ago, people fought and protested to gain rights that we now don’t really appreciate. Voting is one of our primary instruments in the governance of this nation. That so many don’t participate tells me that somewhere along the line a disservice has been committed.

It’s too late to fix this year, and I’m fairly certain that voter turnout will be immense anyway. But it should be something that is considered going forward.

For more information on the celebration of Amendment Nineteen, visit the Library of Congress website.