Offers early voting site
(Boston, MA) – In 1973, the U.S. Congress designated August 26th as Women’s Equality Day, to commemorate women being granted the right to vote in 1920, through the certification of the 19th Amendment which states that, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” In 2022, Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality.
To highlight the importance and relevance of women’s right to vote today. ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott- Chandler cites a Knight Foundation study showing that 53% of non-voters are women, minorities comprise 34% of that group and tend to be lower income.
“In more than 100 years since our foremothers won the right to vote and have a say about their lives in this country, more than 50% of women aren’t voting. That has to change,” Scott-Chandler said. “When you’re struggling to make ends meet, broader political issues can take a back seat. ABCD has always been provided services that empower underserved and under-represented women and communities, and we’ll continue to do so. As a community action agency, we also advocate, educate, and amplify the voices of lower-income and marginalized people. When they become more civically engaged. their votes can have meaningful impact,” she said.
As recent legislation and court decisions have highlighted, legislators vote on wide-ranging issues that substantially impact the lives of women, like maternity leave, universal pre-K, access to contraceptives, abortion and equal pay. As a result, a woman’s right to vote has never been more important.
On Thursday, September 1st, from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. ABCD will host early voting at the Thelma D. Burns Building, 575 Warren Street, Boston 02121, Boston residents’ votes will be tallied as part of the September 6th Massachusetts primary.
Last month, the City of Boston added 20 new voting precincts for the upcoming election to improve access and equity in voting. The voter registration deadline is Saturday, August 27th. Register here. Find your local polling location across the state by visiting sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVoteMA/WhereDoIVote.
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A Massachusetts-based nonprofit human services organization, ABCD provides disadvantaged residents in the Boston and Mystic Valley areas with the tools, support, and resources they need to transition from poverty to stability and from stability to success. Each year, we serve more than 100,000 individuals, elders and families through a broad range of innovative initiatives as well as long-established, proven programs and services. For 60 years, ABCD has been deeply rooted in each neighborhood we serve, empowering individuals and families and supporting them in their quest to live with dignity and achieve their highest potential. For more, please visit bostonabcd.org.
