TOPEKA – On Friday, June 21 the Women’s Foundation joined Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and the League of Women Voters of Kansas to declare June 16th Kansas Women’s Voting Day, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the day that Kansas ratified the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote in nationwide elections.
“As an organization dedicated to promoting women’s civic engagement, we commend Governor Laura Kelly for commemorating the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and for her steadfast commitment to making sure all voters can make their voices heard,” said Wendy Doyle, Women’s Foundation President & CEO. “One hundred years after winning the right to vote, women are still underrepresented in public office, while women of color continue to face systemic barriers to the ballot box. We are proud to stand arm-in-arm with the Governor Kelly and the League of Women Voters to continue the march towards a stronger and more equitable democracy.”
After becoming the first state in the Midwest to grant women the right to vote in 1912, Kansas ratified the 19th Amendment in support of women’s suffrage nationwide on June 16, 1919. The proclamation also recognizes that Kansas was the first state in the nation to hold a referendum on women’s suffrage in 1867, and Kansas women were leaders in the suffrage movement.
“The signing by Governor Kelly of the Proclamation recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment as well as the League of Women Voters is momentous but in no way marks the end of an era,” said Teresa Briggs and Cille King, Co-Presidents of the League of Women Voters of Kansas. “The League today is even more engaged, diverse and focused on being a leader in protecting voters’ rights and defending our Democracy into the future.”
In 2014, the Women’s Foundation established the Appointments Project® to empower women and strengthen communities by increasing the gender diversity of public boards and commissions.
Based on a landmark study that identified the barriers causing women to be underrepresented on public boards and commissions, the Appointments Project serves as a nonpartisan resource, talent bank, advisor and advocate for women interested in serving on civic boards and commissions.
A link to the proclamation is available here.
More information about the Appointments Project is available at www.AppointmentsProject.org