SR673: SR673 League of Women Voters of Georgia; recognize

26 LC 129 0864 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.1 WHEREAS, on April 3, 1920, the League of Women Voters of Georgia (LWVGA) was born2 out of the women's suffrage movement during a meeting held in t he home of Emily C.3 MacDougald, a prominent Atlanta suffragist and former president of the Equal Suffrage4 Party of Georgia; and5 WHEREAS, the LWVGA has played a significant role in advancing v oting rights, civic6 education, and election integrity from the early suffrage era through modern advocacy and7 litigation efforts; and 8 WHEREAS, the League's first president was Annie G. Wright of Augusta, Georgia, a major9 figure in the state's suffrage movement; and10 WHEREAS, under her leadership, the LWVGA supported legislation designed to protect11 women and children, such as the Sheppard-Towner bill, and was i nstrumental in making12 voting more accessible to women by allowing them to register to vote in department stores;13 and14 S. R. 673 - 1 - 26 LC 129 0864 WHEREAS, after securing women's voting rights, suffragists dedicated their time and energy15 to educating women about the political process to ensure that t hey used their new rights16 properly, made informed decisions when voting, and could advocate for their own political17 beliefs; and18 WHEREAS, the LWVGA began lobbying in the 1920s, beginning its long history of fighting19 for labor laws, prison reform, election reform, public education, and civil rights; and 20 WHEREAS, in 1952, led by President Frances Pauley, the LWVGA wa s victorious in its21 attempt to defeat an amendment that would have institutionalized the county unit system in22 Georgia, an election system that disproportionately gave power to rural, less populated23 counties; and24 WHEREAS, the LWVGA continued to fight discrimination, working to ensure equal access25 to public accommodations by advocating for all Georgia students to receive an equal26 opportunity, free education and supporting the national Voting Rights Act of 1965; and27 WHEREAS, the LWVGA would go on to support efforts to ratify the Equal Rights28 Amendment, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, and the Help America Vote Act29 of 2002; and30 WHEREAS, in 2026, the LWVGA continues to focus its attention on issues of equality31 surrounding access to healthcare, quality public education, env ironmental protection, and32 election reform for safe, fair elections; and33 WHEREAS, the LWVGA also works to provide voters with the resources necessary to make34 educated decisions by publishing Georgia Government, Citizen’s Handbook and by reporting35 S. R. 673 - 2 - 26 LC 129 0864 on current legislative news, lobbying for issues it deems important to all Georgia voters, and36 advocating for open and responsible government and smart spending.37 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body38 recognize the League of Women Voters of Georgia for its historic and ongoing contributions39 to voter education, civic engagement, and the protection of democratic participation in the40 State of Georgia.41 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed42 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to the League of43 Women Voters of Georgia.44 S. R. 673 - 3 -