08/26/2026
On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment officially became part of the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote nationwide.
Although the amendment had been ratified days earlier, it was not officially recognized until U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the final certification on August 26. That signature marked the culmination of more than 70 years of organized advocacy by suffragists who fought tirelessly to expand voting rights for women.
The road to ratification was anything but straightforward. By the summer of 1920, 35 states had approved the amendment, leaving just one more state needed for ratification. Tennessee became the decisive battleground, where a dramatic last-minute vote secured the amendment's passage and forever changed the course of American history.
More than 50 years later, in 1971, Congress designated August 26 as Women's Equality Day to commemorate this landmark achievement and honor the generations of women who worked to secure equal rights and opportunities.
Today, we reflect on the persistence, courage, and determination of those who fought for progress and recognize the ongoing work to advance equality for all.
