“The rights 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.”
SAINT PAUL —Secretary of State Steve Simon today announced the dedication of the 2019-2020 Minnesota Legislative Manual, also known as the "Blue Book," in honor of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. On September 8, 1919, Minnesota became the 15th state to ratify the 19th Amendment.
“Our nation’s Constitution enshrined the franchise as a sacred right at the center of American democracy – but it was only available to land-owning white men,” Secretary Simon wrote in his dedication. “The successful campaign for women’s suffrage was one of many citizen-driven movements that sought to correct injustice by organizing a coalition to change the arc of history. From marches in the streets and public petition, to organizing conventions and legislative lobbying, the movement was successful in changing the attitude of our nation.”
The 2019-2020 Blue Book is a comprehensive guide to Minnesota’s government, including information on the state legislature, state executive offices, state agencies, and state judiciary; local, federal, and tribal governments; as well as 2018 election results. It is published biennially in odd-numbered years under the direction of the Secretary of State.
The new Blue Book, as well as the 2019-2020 Pocket Edition, is now available online and at the Secretary of State’s office for pick-up. For more information, including mail order instructions, click here.
“The coming year will see many events celebrating the women’s suffrage movement and the adoption of the 19th Amendment. Here in Minnesota, the League of Women Voters – which can trace its history back to the early suffrage societies – is holding events throughout 2019 and 2020 commemorating our history while looking to empower voters and defend democracy. I hope readers of the 2019-2020 Blue Book are looking forward, as I am, to these opportunities to reflect on this shared history and what it means for us today.”
The League of Women Voters of Minnesota will be hosting Minnesota Women’s Suffrage Day on September 8, 2019, in Saint Paul. More details are available here.
All eligible Minnesotans can register to voter online here or by going to mnvotes.org.