House passes Macer’s proposal to celebrate 100th anniversary of a woman’s right to vote

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana House members today passed a proposal from Rep. Karlee Macer (D-Speedway) that would commemorate the 100th anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement.

House Bill 1394 would establish a commission to commemorate the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on August 18, 1920.

“As one of the leaders of a caucus that is—for the first time—made up of a majority of women, I am proud to be a co-author of this important legislation,” Macer said.

“The women’s suffrage movement was not just about giving women the right to vote, it was a step toward equality,” she added. “We must continue to follow in those footsteps every day to work toward a society that gives equal opportunity to all.”

Indiana was the 26th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment in January 1920. The amendment prohibits state and federal governments from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex. Before the amendment’s adoption, women were prohibited from voting in local, state or federal elections.

The bill would establish a 17-member Indiana Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission responsible for creating a legacy that recognizes the contributions of women and men with a connection to Indiana who were instrumental in the process of ratifying the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.