Illinois Ratifies the 19th Amendment, June 10/17, 1919

The suffrage movement in Illinois began in 1869 with the founding of the Illinois Equal Suffrage Association. In 1912 Grace Wilbur Trout and Jane Addams took over leadership of the Association and lobbied for the right to vote within Illinois. The following year, in 1913, Illinois women earned the right to vote in presidential and municipal elections. When Congress passed the 19th Amendment on June 4, 1919 there was a race to be the first state to ratify it. Illinois was the first to vote to ratify the Amendment on June 10, beating Wisconsin by one hour. The vote was unanimous in the state Senate and only three opposing votes were cast in the House. Unfortunately, in the rush to vote on the amendment the Illinois legislature voted on the wrong wording, and they had to do another vote on June 17, 1919. In some places Illinois is listed as the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment and in others it is listed as the 7th because of the necessity of revoting. 

"Illinois and the 19th Amendment." National Park Service. August 1, 2020. Accessed June 25, 2021. https://www.nps.gov/articles/illinois-and-the-19th-amendment.htm.

Suffrage 2020 Illinois: The Fight for the Vote in Illinois. Accessed June 25, 2021. https://suffrage2020illinois.org/.