OTTUMWA, IOWA -- If the 19th amendment had a birthday cake, today it would have 90 candles glowing on top.
Today, 90 years ago, after a hard-fight, women obtained their right to vote.
The Ottumwa League of Women Voters has a few requests for you on this anniversary.
“Remember the sacrifices of the men and women who worked to get the right for women to vote,” said League President Sarah Sels. “Realize it's important for all people to be educated before they vote, [to know] all of the candidates, all of the issues, so [you’re] making a choice, not voting on emotion.”
She also asks that we not only look back and remember, but look forward and remain active.
“History is important, [but] we want to keep growing as an organization and look forward, instead of focusing totally on when the league got started,” she said. “We are working on how to better educate voters by having voter registrations. Right now, our project is aimed at getting more people interested in being poll workers.”
The League will host a booth at Indian Hills Community College’s Activities Showcase, Monday, Aug. 30, in order to encourage young people, particularly ages 18 – 22, to get involved as poll workers.
In Wapello County, poll workers earn $115 for working six a.m. – 10 p.m. on Election Day. You may contact Wapello County Auditor Kelly Spurgeon at 641-683-0020 for more information. All counties pay poll workers; however, each county sets its own rate of pay. To find your county auditor, you may click here.
Interested individuals must be registered voters for the county in which they wish to participate. They must also attend a one-hour, paid poll worker training session Oct. 30, at either 10:30 a.m. or one p.m., in the Wapello County Court House. (Not registered to vote? You may register here.)
As the first line of defense against election fraud, poll workers assure the electorate that every registered voter will be able to exercise their right to vote, the process will be fair and impartial, and each person’s vote will count.
The League is also working on Public Advocacy Protection, in order to prevent the disenfranchisement of eligible citizens. For more information, go to this website.
What would League President Sarah Sels like to see in the next 90 years?
“Well, I certainly hope to have a woman as president,” she smiles, and then laughs. [Also], a governor in Iowa and perhaps a U.S. Senator from Iowa. I think Mississippi is the only other state that has not had a woman governor. So, we need to catch up! We also need everyone to be educated and make good decisions when voting.”
For those who do not take advantage of their right to vote, Sels has some advice.
“It's a very precious right and as I used to say, as a teacher, to remind the kids' parents to vote, 'If you don't vote, you don't get to complain.' There's no sense complaining about government and the things that government does unless you're willing to be a part of it by becoming educated and then voting.”
The Ottumwa League of Women Voters is open for anyone interested in politics, both men and women, and is always looking for more members. For more information, visit The League of Women Voters' website.
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