Senate Resolution 673
By: Senators Wicks of the 34th, Mangham of the 55th, Kemp of the 38th, Anderson of the
43rd, Parent of the 44th and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the League of Women Voters of Georgia; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, on April 3, 1920, the League of Women Voters of Georgia (LWVGA) was born
out of the women's suffrage movement during a meeting held in the home of Emily C.
MacDougald, a prominent Atlanta suffragist and former president of the Equal Suffrage
Party of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the LWVGA has played a significant role in advancing voting rights, civic
education, and election integrity from the early suffrage era through modern advocacy and
litigation efforts; and
WHEREAS, the League's first president was Annie G. Wright of Augusta, Georgia, a major
figure in the state's suffrage movement; and
WHEREAS, under her leadership, the LWVGA supported legislation designed to protect
women and children, such as the Sheppard-Towner bill, and was instrumental in making
voting more accessible to women by allowing them to register to vote in department stores;
and
WHEREAS, after securing women's voting rights, suffragists dedicated their time and energy
to educating women about the political process to ensure that they used their new rights
properly, made informed decisions when voting, and could advocate for their own political
beliefs; and
WHEREAS, the LWVGA began lobbying in the 1920s, beginning its long history of fighting
for labor laws, prison reform, election reform, public education, and civil rights; and
WHEREAS, in 1952, led by President Frances Pauley, the LWVGA was victorious in its
attempt to defeat an amendment that would have institutionalized the county unit system in
Georgia, an election system that disproportionately gave power to rural, less populated
counties; and
WHEREAS, the LWVGA continued to fight discrimination, working to ensure equal access
to public accommodations by advocating for all Georgia students to receive an equal
opportunity, free education and supporting the national Voting Rights Act of 1965; and
WHEREAS, the LWVGA would go on to support efforts to ratify the Equal Rights
Amendment, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, and the Help America Vote Act
of 2002; and
WHEREAS, in 2026, the LWVGA continues to focus its attention on issues of equality
surrounding access to healthcare, quality public education, environmental protection, and
election reform for safe, fair elections; and
WHEREAS, the LWVGA also works to provide voters with the resources necessary to make
educated decisions by publishing Georgia Government, Citizen’s Handbook and by reporting
on current legislative news, lobbying for issues it deems important to all Georgia voters, and
advocating for open and responsible government and smart spending.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
recognize the League of Women Voters of Georgia for its historic and ongoing contributions
to voter education, civic engagement, and the protection of democratic participation in the
State of Georgia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the League of
Women Voters of Georgia.