The West Virginia Democratic Party released the following statement from Chairwoman Belinda Biafore on Women’s Equality Day:

“On this day in 1920 women were granted the right to vote, but we have so much more work to do. Today in 2019 women are still fighting for a seat at the table, fighting to be heard, and fighting to overcome obstacles at the ballot box. 

Today we recognize the right to vote cannot be denied on the ‘basis of sex’, but sadly obstacles are still placed on non-binary folks, transgender folks, and others. Until we all are able to make it to the ballot box without obstacle we still have a lot of work to do. 

Something as easy for some of us as obtaining an I.D. isn’t easy for all of us. Finding a ride to the polls, registering to vote, or updating information isn’t easy for everyone. We have to recognize all of the ways that Republican leaders and those at the top try to keep us from exercising our right and we have to fight together to overcome those.

Women make up over 50% of the population in West Virginia and yet, we are incredibly underrepresented in positions of leadership and elected office. With more women elected to office, we will be able to continue fighting forward for equal pay, paid parental leave, our right to make our own healthcare decisions, nondiscrimination laws, and more. 

In the West Virginia Legislature, we only have 8 Democratic women elected to office and they are all in the House of Delegates. They fight hard, but they can’t do it alone on one side of the statehouse. 

The best thing we can do today is to make sure as many women are registered to vote as possible and we need to make sure our friends are too. The more women that are voting and running for office, the more we can move forward to equality. 

When we vote, we win.”

You can visit the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office to check your registration or register to vote today.