~ from the League of Women Voters Tennessee

To celebrate the League of Women Voters 100th anniversary on Feb. 14, 2020, the League of Women Voters of Tennessee is joining other Leagues across the country for a “Women Power the Vote” day of action.

The League was founded by suffrage leaders to help American women exercise their new right to vote. As Tennesseans, we should be proud of our state’s role as the 36th and final state to approve the 19th amendment.  Appropriately, there are and have been many events celebrating Tennessee’s role including the League sponsored “72 Steps” by the Nashville Ballet and the upcoming reenactment of the 1920 address by African American pioneering social activist J. Frankie Pierce’s to the newly formed League of Women Voters.

Tennessee’s pivotal role

It is particularly fitting in Tennessee, that we join Leagues across the country in demonstrating the power of women to achieve a more perfect democracy. “Women Power the Vote” celebrates the League’s 100-year milestone by bringing together Leagues in more than 750 communities across the country with one unified day of action.  Across Tennessee, Leagues will celebrate the 100th year milestone by registering voters and encouraging voter engagement – just as they have been doing for 100 years.

Increasing civic participation

While we enjoy celebrating, the League is focused on making civic participation easier. Through voter registration and unbiased candidate information, we encourage active participation in the election process. We also encourage all Tennesseans to participate in the Census. An accurate census ensures appropriate representation during legislative redistricting that will shape our democracy for at least the next decade.

To support participative government, LWV of Tennessee is part of the 50-state “People Powered Fair Maps” effort. This initiative focuses on the following activities:

• supporting transparent and accountable legislative redistricting at all levels of government;
• encouraging Congress to pass The Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR4), which would improve transparency for voters when election parameters—like polling places and districts — are changed;
• requesting the Tennessee General Assembly’s redistricting committees do their work in the “sunshine” with open committee meetings and meaningful opportunity for public input.

We’re celebrating our history by acting for our future. Our founders achieved the impossible by getting the 19th Amendment passed 100 years ago. Today, we honor their fight by continuing to push our democracy forward so that every voter can play a critical role in shaping our country.