In the 21st Century, On this date 19th of August 1920, Women were given the right to vote by the passing of Amendment 19. HAPPY 93RD BIRTHDAY 19th AMENDMENT!
Up to that point ALL men had the right to vote but not women.......There is a book that i highly recommend for ALL to read :
Founding Sisters and the 19th Amendment


I was inspired by this book and I will in detail share my experience with this book and the right to vote.


 Since finding this book many years ago  I started a tradition to bring this book with me every time I vote.

When Barak Obama was running for the Office of President of The United States of America in 2004, I stood in line to cast my ballot, I had my book open and reading the pages when the poll manager came to me and question what I reading. I showed her the cover of the book and she deemed this book as a Campaign Material. I asked how could this be and she informed me it was of voting, I stated it was of the history of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns and the 19th Amendment. I asked the poll manager if she knew what the 19th Amendment was and she stated she did not, I was astonished. I informed her the 19th Amendment gave the Women of the USA to vote. She then stated if I wanted to vote, I had to put the book away and out of sight of the other voters. I said NO. I stood my ground and explain there is no difference in this book than a newspaper or magazine or any type of reading material that others in line had.
Across the room, a poll watcher, noticed the interchange between myself and the poll manager and interjected himself into the conversation, he asked to see the book and then stated it could be considered campaign material, I said it could not and stayed in line.

The poll manager called her contact at the main voters registration headquarters and informed them of the situations and would they send an investigator to the polling place.
When the investigator arrived, she was brought to me by the poll manager and was told, I was not in compliance with the rules of the polling place. The investigator asked to see the book. She informed the poll manager and the poll watcher, the book was NOT of campaign material and I was in the right.
I requested a public apology from the poll manager and the poll watcher, the investigator asked the poll manager to apologize, she did. The investigator asked the poll watcher to apologize he declined. I asked for the name of the person he was working for and informed them of his infraction, he declined again.
The investigator applauded my actions and for taking a stand. I felt great in my actions and reactions of that day.I did not raise my voice, I did not reaction with anger but with questions and stubbornness.
I did get his information from the investigator and contacted his boss and the candidate wanted to informed me his poll watcher was no longer working for him and the candidate ask for the name of the book.

I felt proud for taking a stand for my right to vote and to read whatever I wanted.

I left the polling place with a HUGE smile on my face knowing I did my part to further the right for women to vote and to enlighten people on the history of the 19th Amendment.
I am not inferring I am as great as Alice Paul and Lucy Burns but I am glad I did my part on that day.

To this day, I take my little book of history and read and smile at anyone in power at the polling place...
I dare them to say any thing to me other than Hello and please take your place in line to vote.