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Rep. Herseth Recognizes 85th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote

Herseth’s Statement on Women’s Equality Day

August 26, 2005, Washington, D.C. - In 1971, the United States Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.” The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This event was the result of a peaceful 72-year civil rights movement by women and men who saw universal suffrage as essential to achieving the goal of liberty and justice for all.

“This is an incredibly important day for women as well as men in the United States,” Herseth said. “Liberty and equality are fundamental American values, and today we honor the achievements and sacrifices of those who fought to expand our democracy for women.”

Herseth noted that her grandmother, Lorna Herseth, who served as Superintendent of Brown County Schools in the 1930s and as South Dakota’s Secretary of State in the 1970s is a personal role model and example of the importance of women’s involvement in electoral politics. Herseth said, “It was her perspective and her advice that was among the most meaningful and inspirational to me. The women’s suffrage movement gave her the ability to serve her community and her state, and to pave the way for future generations of leaders in South Dakota and across the country.”

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