Women’s Equality Day: #JazzHandsTheVote
Graphics by Desiree Nasim
Lettering by Olivia Cook
August 26th, 2016
Today is Women’s Equality Day, which celebrates the 19th Amendment being signed into law in 1920. You may not have heard of this holiday because it only gets 70% of the attention that holidays about men doing stuff get. No, we’re kidding—it actually only gets about 20% of the coverage. Since this is an election year, we decided to celebrate Women’s Equality Day by asking women of theatre to finish the sentence, “Voting is important to me because…” At the end of this post we’ve also included voting resources, like links to register to vote in every state and how you can find out more information about your rights as a voter. So, Step 1: Get inspired by women you admire, Step 2: Register to vote, and Step 3: #JazzHandsTheVote this November.
“Voting, to me, is essential, because it is the right that comes before all others; with my right to vote, I have a say in ensuring that we, as Americans, follow through on the promise of our country now and for generations to come.” – Dori Berinstein
“Voting is important to me because I want to add my voice to the ideas and policies that will shape the world my daughter will inherit.” – Stephanie J. Block
“Voting is important to me because people died for my right to vote.” – Danielle Brooks
“Voting is important to me because the fight for equal pay and gender equality across the board is not over. It is my right and responsibility to be active in this change.” – Carmen Cusack
“Voting is important to me because even in a flawed system progress can be made.” – Eisa Davis
“Voting is important to me because a lot of people fought for my right to go to the polls. If we don’t vote, our leaders are determined by a handful of people and that’s not a democracy.” – Celia Keenan-Bolger
“Voting is important to me because everyone should have a say in a fair and democratic society. ” – Chilina Kennedy
“Voting is important to me because I believe in the strength of our civil liberties. I am exercising mine; in doing do, hopefully my vote for the first female president of the United States will uphold the civil liberties of others. Here’s to letting our daughters see it as a possibility.” – Lorin Latarro
“Voting is important to me because it’s a way I can feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself. It’s a way to not just voice my own opinion, but think long and hard about the future we’re trying to build as a nation. Voting is an opportunity for us to think about how we can do the most good for the largest number of people, and put people into office who we think are up to the task. A representative democracy is never going to be perfect, but it’s what we have, and it’s our responsibility as citizens to stand together, stand up for each other, and stand up for the people who can’t vote yet, but whose lives are affected by those we vote into office.” – Nikka Graff Lanzarone
“Voting is important to me because it pays tribute to all of the women who sacrificed everything to give me that right.” – Lisa McNulty
“Voting is important to me because I want to say to my daughter, “A woman is your president, and I helped put her there.” – Kelli O’Hara
“Voting is important to me because I want my representatives to truly represent me.” – Rachel Karpf Reidy
“Voting is important to me because I am so grateful for the ability to exercise this right. So many people all over the world are without this privilege, and not so long ago women in our country were without this right. I want a say in our future and my children’s future.” – Kimberly Senior
“Voting is important to me because it gives me the power to make our world better for our children and future.” – Megan Sikora
“Voting is important to me because it is the quietest, easiest, most dignified, and least conspicuous way of influencing public affairs. Because I care about my rights and freedoms and those of all others—even, if not especially, those I disagree with. Because the ballot is a universal educator. Because the carnality and fecundity of my body is not my greatest possible glory—my mind and heart are, and the ballot is blind to all but the decisions of the latter.” – Alexandra Silber
“Voting is important to me because I believe we, as citizens, have a responsibility to actively make our voices heard and do our part to leave this world better than we found it. As a proud lady, I also think that by voting we honor our ancestors, the suffragists who fought tirelessly to grant us this fundamental human right less than 100 years ago. This November, we have the very real possibility of electing the first female president of the United States—it’s more important now than ever for women (and frankly every American) to exercise their right to vote.” – Rachel Sussman
“Voting is important to me because it’s a chance for me to have my voice heard and have my opinions represented. Voting allows me to let my elected officials know what I stand for and help them fight for equality and progress every day. Whether in national presidential elections or local elections here in New York, I would never give up that opportunity to fight for the things that matter to me most.” – Barbara Whitman
To find out general information about registering to vote and voting absentee, visit Rock the Vote. For a list of state-by-state voter registration and absentee ballot deadlines, click here. To find out about your rights as a voter and what to do if you or someone you know is denied the right to vote, visit the ACLU.
State-by-State voter registration forms: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota (you don’t have to register in North Dakota), Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.