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Celebrating Women’s History Month Women and the Vote HerStory JoAnn Maruoka The League of Women Voters of Hawaii 8

Celebrating Women’s History Month Women and the Vote HerStory JoAnn Maruoka The League of Women Voters of Hawaii 8 March 2012. Our Agenda. Foremothers, Suffrage & 19th Amendment “The Descendants”: LWV Why the Electoral Process Matters… to YOU Some Hot Issues in 2012

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Celebrating Women’s History Month Women and the Vote HerStory JoAnn Maruoka The League of Women Voters of Hawaii 8

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  1. Celebrating Women’s History Month Women and the Vote HerStory JoAnn Maruoka The League of Women Voters of Hawaii 8 March 2012

  2. Our Agenda • Foremothers, Suffrage & 19th Amendment • “The Descendants”: LWV • Why the Electoral Process Matters… to YOU • Some Hot Issues in 2012 • and… ACTION! • Q & A

  3. A Glimpse Back in Time Where are the Women? • The Constitution and Voting, 1776-1920 • 1848 – Seneca Falls, NY Convention • Before Women Had the Vote • ‘Not eligible’ didn’t stop these women • “The Woman Question”

  4. A Glimpse Back in Time Where are the Women? • The Constitution and Voting, 1776-1920 • 1848 – Seneca Falls, NY Convention • Before Women Had the Vote • ‘Not eligible’ didn’t stop these women • “The Woman Question”

  5. A Glimpse Back in Time Where are the Women? • The Constitution and Voting, 1776-1920 • 1848 – Seneca Falls, NY Convention • Before Women Had the Vote • ‘Not eligible’ didn’t stop these women • “The Woman Question”

  6. National American Woman Suffrage Association NAWSA • Formed in 1890 from: • National Woman Suffrage Association (1869) • American Woman Suffrage Association (1869) • Most mainstream and nationally visible • Pushed for suffrage at the state level • Presidents: Stanton, Anthony, Catt

  7. State Presidents & Officers of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) 1892

  8. “The women of the 1918 Women's Suffrage movement fight for future generations’ right to vote and run for office. “Sacrificing their health, marriages and the limited amount of freedom they had, women were imprisoned and force fed after picketing and hunger-striking against war-time president, Woodrow Wilson.” But they survived to see the results of their efforts.

  9. The 19th Amendment “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.”

  10. The 19th Amendment • May 21, 1919 passed byHouse of Representatives, 2 wks later by Senate of 66th Congress • Jun 4, 1919 proposed to State Legislatures (passage requires 3/4 (36) of 48 states to ratify) • Aug 18, 1920 TN is 36th state to ratify • Aug 26, 1920 US Secty of State certifies ratification

  11. The League of Women Voters (LWV) Proud Descendants of the Suffragists • Formed Feb 14, 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt 6 months prior to 19th Amendment passage • “A Mighty Political Experiment" to help educate women to become informed voters • Carrie (1859-1947) served as honorary League president for the rest of her life

  12. The League of Women Voters (LWV) MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK • National + 800 state & local Leagues, in all 50 states & Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Hong Kong • > 140,000 members & supporters • Original grassroots citizen network, consensus of women & men members

  13. LWV: Our Work • Registering Voters • Educating Voters • Improving Elections • Improving Government • Other Climate, Energy & Natural Resources; Global Democracy; Health Care Defense; International Misc

  14. LWVTaking A Stand • 1920s: Child Labor Laws, a Minimum Wage, Equal Opportunity for Women in Govt & Industry • 1930s: Anti-corruption, Merit System for Civil Service, Environmental issues • 1960s & 70s: Civil & Human Rights Issues • 1980s: Individuals’ Constitutional Right to Make Reproductive Choices • 1990s: Civic Education of Women in Emerging Democracies, National Voter Registration Act • 2000s: Campaign Finance Reform, Health Care Reform, Effective Gun Control

  15. LWV Taking A Stand • Health Care Reform • Global Climate Change • Money in Politics • Ethics and Lobbying Reform • D.C. Voting Rights

  16. LWV Taking A Stand 1/1/12 ACTION ALERT: Fight Back Against Citizens United, urge President to clean house at the Federal Elections Commission 2/27/12 ACTION ALERT: It's Discrimination Against Women and We Won't Stand for It

  17. 1.   Send your Senators a message now!  Tell them to vote against the Blunt-Rubio amendment because it will block contraceptive services and discriminate against women. Tell them not to limit access to health care based on ill-defined “religious or moral objections.” 2.   Send this alert to other concerned citizens -- your grassroots network, your friends and coworkers -- encourage them to contact their Senators.

  18. LWV in Hawaii strictlyNon-Partisan wholeheartedlyPolitical • LWV-HI is statewide, comprised of county Leagues: Honolulu (1948), Hawaii Island (1960s), Kauai (1969) & Maui Members-at-Lg • Grassroots citizen network, works by • consensus of women & men members, • each League autonomous (State, Local) • All-Volunteer

  19. LWV in Hawaii: Our Work • Register Voters • Educate & Inform Voters: put on topical forums, many televised; speak to groups • Improve Elections: Advisory Council, observe • Improve Government: educate policymakers, testify at state Leg, City Councils; meet with news editorial boards; op-eds, ads, interviews; work with other good govt orgns • Conduct studies: Drug Policy; Judicial Indep

  20. LWV in Hawaii • Open, Transparent Government • Citizen Rights,Voter Protection • Campaign Fin Reform, Clean Elections • Reapportionment / Redistricting • Anti-Legalized Gambling • Election Laws & Procedures • Women’s Issues • Ethics & Lobbying

  21. LWV in Hawaii The League of Women Voters is where hands-on work to safeguard democracy leads to community improvement A great resource with links to other relevant sites is our League website www.lwv-hawaii.com

  22. Understanding Why The Electoral Process Matters… To You, to All of Us

  23. Elected officials make decisions about things that are important to YOU, including YOUR job, YOUR health care, YOUR environment & YOUR security • Voting is YOUR chance to choose the decision makers who represent YOU & to tell them what YOU want So What? Why Should I Care?

  24. THE PLAYERS Constitutional Election Rights 15th AMENDMENT, Section 1.The right of US citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any State onaccount of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. (Ratified in 1870) 19th AMENDMENT, Section 1. The right of US citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any State onaccount of sex. (Ratified in 1920)

  25. THE PLAYERS (cont’d) Constitutional Election Rights 24th AMENDMENT, Section 1. The right of US citizens to vote in any primary or other election for President or VP, for electors for President or VP, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall notbe denied or abridged by the US or any Stateby reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.(Ratified in 1964) 26th AMENDMENT, Section 1.The right of US citizens, who are18 years of age or older, to voteshall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any Stateon account of age. (Ratified in 1971)

  26. An election revolves around beliefs & actions of American votersCome Election Day, no one else’s opinions matter, & no one else has control over the outcome but the votersVoting = The Great Equalizer In American Society WE THE PEOPLE

  27. You Have 1 Vote = Everyone ElseWith that 1 vote, you have the power to influence decisions that will affect your lifeYour job, your taxes, your health care, your Social Security, whether the nation goes to war, you name it — they are all at stake WE THE PEOPLE

  28. Voter turnout= or >men voter turnoutCast4-7 million morevotes than menIn every presidential election since 1980,proportionof eligible females who voted>proportionof males who voted. Prior to 1980, voter turnout rate for women<for menIn every presidential election since 1964,numberfemale voters> numbermale votersSource: Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University WOMEN & PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

  29. Amongyoungercitizens (18-44), higherproportionof women than men voted in 2008, 2004, 2000, & 1996; patternreversedamongolder voters(75+)AmongAsian/Pac, Blacks, Hispanics, Whites, numberfemale voters>numbermale votersIn last 5 presidential elections, women votedat higher ratesthan men among Blacks, Hispanics, WhitesSource: Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University WOMEN & PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

  30. Voter Turnout in Non-Presidential Elections:Since 1986,proportion of eligible females who voted> proportionof eligible males,reversingthe historical pattern of higher turnout rates for men than for womenVoter Registration: Womenoutnumbermen amongregisteredvotersSource: Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University WOMEN & RECENT ELECTIONS

  31. HAWAII: ELECTED WOMEN U.S. Congress (2 Sen, 2 Reps) Colleen Hanabusa (D) U.S. Rep. 2011-present Mazie Hirono (D) U.S. Rep. 2007-present Patsy T. Mink (D) U.S. Rep. 1990-2002; 1965-1977 Patricia Saiki (R) U.S. Rep. 1987-1991 Mary Farrington (R) Del. (pre-statehood) 1954-1957

  32. HAWAII: ELECTED WOMEN Statewide Elective Executives (Total 2) Linda Lingle (R) Governor 2003-2011 Mazie K. Hirono (D) Lt. Governor 1994-2003 Jean S. King (D) Lt. Governor 1979-1982

  33. HAWAII: ELECTED WOMEN State Legislature State Tot Women/ Tot Women/ Tot Women/ % Tot YearRankTot SenateTot HouseTotal LegisWomen 2012 4 9 / 25 17 / 51 26 / 76 34.2 2011 4 9 / 25 17 / 51 26 / 76 34.2 2010 5 7 / 25 18 / 51 25 / 76 32.9

  34. In Nov 2012, Hawaii Votes on: • U.S. President • One of 2 U.S. Senators • Both U.S. Representatives • Approx half of 25 State Senators • All 51 State Representatives • 4 of 9 OHA Trustees • HNL & HI Mayors, some Council all counties

  35. PRIMARY ElectionSat, Aug 11 • Last Day to Register Thu, Jul 12 • Early Voting: - Last Day to Request an Absentee Ballot Sat, Aug 4 - Absentee Walk-in Voting TBA Walk-in polling places still to be determined Important 2012 Dates

  36. GENERAL ElectionTue, Nov 6 • Last Day to Register Mon, Oct 8 • Early Voting: - Last Day to Request an Absentee Ballot Tue, Oct 30 - Absentee Walk-in Voting TBA Walk-in polling places still to be determined Important 2012 Dates

  37. REAPPORTIONMENT / REDISTRICTING • MONEY IN ELECTIONS CITIZENS UNITED VS FEC; Super-PACs; FEC Commissioners; DISCLOSE Act • VOTER PROTECTION • WOMEN’S HEALTHISSUES Hot Issues in 2012

  38. Actions YOU Can Take • REGISTER to vote & help others register • TALK to people about candidates & issues • & why you feel it’s important to vote • FIND OUT if your family, friends, neighbors have what they need to make informed decisions & get to the polls… maybe all they need is a ride • DON’T GO ALONE to the polling place … • take a friend or neighbor with you

  39. Actions YOU Can Take • GET INVOLVED: Election Day volunteer; join orgns such as LWV-HI, CCH, ADA, Kanu-HI • FIND OUT MORE, but use trusted, vetted sources • Get to know your legislators, council member, ask ?’s • DEMOCRACY UNDER THE INFLUENCE Sunshine Workshop Wed, Mar 14, 5:30PM, Laniakea YWCA • ADD YOUR VOICE: testify, email et al, phone, op-ed, letters to editor, blog • DISCUSS with friends, colleagues

  40. Actions YOU Can Take • YOUR IDEAS:

  41. Make YOUR voice heard on Election Day! Get Registered! Get Informed! Get Out & Vote!

  42. HerStory… Is YOUR Story Is OUR Story But What’s Important Is What WE Do Here & Now

  43. Questions?

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