Next year marks a special milestone in our state’s history: the 100th anniversary of when women gained the right to vote in Washington.

During a ceremony today at the Old Capitol Building in Olympia, a special plaque was unveiled and dedicated in honor of this pivotal moment in Washington history. Among the speakers at the noontime program were State Supreme Court Justice Debra Stephens, 22nd District State Senator Karen Fraser, Shanna Stevenson of the Women’s History Consortium, and Secretary of State Sam Reed.  The event was organized by the Washington State Society Daughters of the American Colonists.   

Last month, the state Medal of Merit was presented posthumously to Emma Smith DeVoe and May Arkwright Hutton, who led the effort in 1910 to amend the Washington State Constitution so women could have the right to vote in Washington. DeVoe and Hutton succeeded in getting the Washington Legislature in February 1909 to authorize an amendment to the state constitution, setting the stage for male voters to approve the amendment on November 8, 1910.