Collection
Voting Rights
The 19th Amendment ushered in the right to vote for many women — and left many more out. Attaining access to the ballot remains a work in progress, with women, particularly women of color, and the LGBTQ+ community often at the forefront of the battle.
In This Collection
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Ranked-choice voting is gaining momentum. So are efforts to stop it.
Advocates of ranked-choice voting say it helps women and people of color candidates participate in a more democratic election system. It’s part of why they see efforts to squash it as so alarming.
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Connecticut voters approved early voting. Here’s how their new secretary of state wants to make it happen.
Stephanie Thomas, the first Black woman to be Connecticut’s secretary of state, has several priorities this year, including sorting out the specifics of how voters can get to the ballot box before Election Day.
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Women lawmakers in Minnesota are in the vanguard of the democracy movement
A new “democracy caucus” aims to expand access to voting, part of a movement in statehouses to counter election deniers.
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Election workers believe in our system — and want everyone else to, too
Since the 2020 election, our voting systems have been the subject of conspiracy theories. But the people who make it function say they want everyone to see the guardrails and have faith.
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Voter ID laws stand between transgender people, women and the ballot box
The full impact of voter ID laws on trans people and others remains difficult to measure. But voting rights advocates say potential voters across the country face an uneven patchwork of policies — and obstacles.
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Emily’s List expands focus on diverse candidates and voting rights ahead of midterm elections
Veteran organizer Laphonza Butler became the organization’s first Black president just under a year ago. She spoke to The 19th about Emily’s List’s rebranding.
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‘There are a lot of people who don’t want to know the truth’: Why an Arizona election official is leaving her job
Leslie Hoffman is a Republican who helps run elections in an Arizona county. She has seen momentum grow for lies about 2020.
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Abortion is directly on the ballot in at least five states this year
Michigan is expected to join that list after abortion rights activists submitted signatures to enshrine access in the state constitution.
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States add early voting, and women could benefit — but it’s complicated
Some states are expanding early voting options that can be helpful for caregivers and hourly workers — roles often occupied by women. But other restrictions on vote-by-mail could complicate the long-term benefits.
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Women secretaries of state face threats and harassment for battling election lies
As discussion of falsehoods about the 2020 election and their deadly consequences are televised from Capitol Hill, states’ top election officials are grappling with inaccurate information — which can make them targets.