Women & The Vote: Franchise Struggles, 100 Years and Counting

As we mark the 100-year anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the University of Michigan will explore the rich history and complex legacy of suffrage in America. Despite the tremendous accomplishment of women who fought for the right to vote, the promise of universal suffrage remains unfulfilled for far too many people. The 19th Amendment initially only enfranchised white women, and black women faced challenges to their right to vote until the 1960s. Women today are still active participants in the full extension of the franchise, both for themselves and others. Some current limits on universal suffrage include voting rights restrictions, as well as policies that make it more difficult or impossible for minoritized, impoverished, or incarcerated people to vote. Suffrage 2020 will explore what has been done, what needs to be done, and the prospects for a future of universal suffrage–in Michigan, America, and beyond. The University of Michigan will host speakers, exhibits, and classes investigating the rich history of the pursuit of universal suffrage.