Module Five

Despite Governor Percival Wood Clements refusal to hold a special session of the legislature that would make Vermont the final state to ratify the 19th Amendment, it was Tennessee, the Victory State, that made the 19th Amendment law, finally winning women the right to vote.

In November of 1920, Vermont women voted for the first time in a national election and elected the first female to the Vermont Legislature, Edna Louise Beard. Women legislators, while never a majority, would impact Vermont with a focus on schools, healthcare, and welfare of families.

The 2020 election, once again, witnessed an increase in female representation in the Vermont Legislature. Kesha Ram was the first woman of color elected to the State Senate and Tyler Small, the first openly transgender female, elected to the House of Representatives. However, Vermont has a long way to go in electing women to high-level positions with only one woman governor and no national legislators. Vermont is currently the ONLY state to have never elected a woman to Congress. The fight continues.......