Ready to help fight for full equality?
There are many ways to join the fight for full equality for women. The most important is to vote. To do that, make sure you are registered. Double check your registration. Links to vote information for Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky are available below by kicking on the appropriate image.
Then you can be involved by running for office. One of the first places to start is to serve on a government board. There is a crying need for people to serve. See the options in Vanderburgh County below. Next work for a candidate or campaign that resonates with you.
Join organizations which work with women and lobby governments to provide services and equality for women.
Consider working for a candidate or campaign.
Tell your story. Join the Stepping Up video project either by signing up to be included or taking a self video telling your story in your own voice.
VOTE
Elections can be decided by even one vote so your vote is crucial.
Register: Check with your state or county election office to make sure your registration is still in effect. This can be done online by clicking on the image for your state below.
Absentee: If you are unable to go to the polls on election day request an absentee ballot at the same online source. Absentee ballots in Indiana must meet strict rules; you may request a mail in ballot for any reason in Illinois and Kentucky but there are deadlines.
Click on the images below to go to your state and confirm information for your county.
Deadlines for registration, requesting an absentee ballot and early voting locations are available for each state.
Join a board
Every city, town and county has boards. They range in focus from disabilities, to public safety, parks, police, Greenway etc. They hold public hearings and advise the Mayor, City Council, County Council and County Commissioners.
Each government body makes appointments to the boards and they each say they have difficulty in finding candidates willing to put in the time needed. The list, on the right, shows the Vanderburgh County list of boards, who makes appointments and when you can apply. Click on the image to go to the website.
Join a campaign
Find a candidate with positions that you can support. Contact the office and offer your services.
Join an organization
Click on logos below to be taken to a website with more information about how to join the organization.
Tell your story / training
Stepping Up celebrates women in the Tri-State of every race, class and ethnic background who have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our community in countless recorded and unrecorded ways. The role of local women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued. Women Stepping Up is resolved to join nationwide efforts to celebrate women and join national efforts and write women back into history.
Email SteppingUpEvv@gmail.com
Annual celebration
Each year the Women's Equality Day Committee organizing an event or luncheon on or around August 26, to celebrate the ratification of the 19th Amendment which guarantees women the right to vote.
In 2020, a panel discussion is planned to address "What's Next" in the fight for equality.
The 2021 luncheon will feature Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison.
Pay equity / housing
YWCA Evansville is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Evansville YWCA serves hundreds of individuals annually through residential housing programs, Live Y’ers after-school and mentoring program, and our outreach efforts.
Voting / Redistricting
The League of Women Voters of Southwestern Indiana encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Women4Change
This Indianapolis based organization works to educate, equip, and mobilize Hoosiers to create positive change for women. An annual event looks at the "State of Women in Indiana".
Equal Rights Amendment
Without the ERA, the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly guarantee that the rights it protects are held equally by all citizens without regard to sex. The first — and still the only — right that the U.S. Constitution specifically affirms and applies equally to women and men is the right to vote.
The equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment was first applied to sex discrimination only in 1971, and it has never been interpreted to grant equal rights on the basis of sex in the uniform and inclusive way that the ERA would.
In the first battle for the ERA betweens 1972 and 1983m the Amendment wasn't ratified by enough states (38) to become a law. Just this year the 38th state (Virginia) ratified the amendment, however, the time frame for ratification has passed. Groups are pursuing several avenues through Congress and the courts to make the ratification complete.
Run for Office
Every state and each county have elections offices which can provide information about offices up for election in each term. Select candidate information and you will see a calendar of when and how to make a declaration of candidacy and the petitions and financial forms you will need. Usually guides are provided . Indiana Elections