Voting Rights

Kathryn Blume (actor), Mary Beth McNulty (writer) and Sandra Dooley (producer) give a preview of The Suffragist Reenactment Society.

The Vermont Suffrage Centennial Alliance (VSCA) presents the inaugural production of The Suffragist Reenactment Society in ten venues across the state.

Covering the period 1848-1920, the play is a fast-paced journey through the history of how women fought for and won the right to vote in the United States. The three dynamic stars of VSCA’s production are Vermont’s own Kathryn Blume of Charlotte (The Roommate, Three Days of Rain, The Seagull), Sarah Mell of Winooski (Popcorn Falls, Taming of the Shrew, “Blackberry Winter,”) and Julia Sioss of Colchester (Sense and Sensibility, The Wolves, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.)

Blume, Mell, and Sioss embody the determination of suffragists from Susan B. Anthony to Ida B. Wells while addressing the complex interplay of race and gender in the suffrage movement and its continuing impact today. Full of facts, fun, and historical figures, the play asks audiences to consider the stories we hear and, more importantly, those we don’t, when we teach and learn about the history of social movements. The Suffragist Reenactment Society is written by Mary Beth McNulty and directed by Laura Roald.

The Suffrage Reenactment Society is proudly presented by VSCA as part of its mission to commemorate the centennial of women winning the vote via the 19th Amendment. 

Rep. Peter Welch (VT-AL) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20) host a virtual town hall event to discuss the fight to protect voting rights, the rise of voter suppression legislation across the country, and what people can do to help the effort to combat these laws.

Since January 2021, state legislators in 48 states have introduced over 390 proposed laws to make it harder to vote. To date, 28 of these bills have been signed into law in 17 states. These voter suppression measures include, restricting early voting and mail in balloting, limiting or eliminating ballot drop box sites, closing precincts in communities of color, politicizing the election certification process, and prohibiting poll workers and volunteers from providing people waiting in line to vote food or water.

Reps. Welch and Castro have made the protection of voting rights a top priority in Congress.

“These voter suppression laws are deliberate attempts by Republican leaders across the country to strip Americans of their right to vote and consolidate power with corporations and special interests,” Welch said. “Donald Trump and Republican leaders have been peddling the Big Lie to justify suppressing the vote for their benefit in the next election at the expense of the people and democracy. The right to vote is the bedrock of American democracy. No matter what party you belong to or who you vote for, your voice matters. You have a fundamental right as an American to cast your ballot. This is a fight that requires all of us to stand up and stop this attack on the right to vote and our democracy.”

Rep. Joaquin Castro represents Texas’ 20th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Castro has been a long-time champion of voting rights for the people of Texas. Texas has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country. Rep. Castro is currently supporting Democratic members of the Texas legislature, who left the state to prevent the passage of an extreme voter suppression bill that would impose criminal penalties for poll workers, ban drive through voting, and more.

"We're in a now or never moment for American democracy, particularly in my home state of Texas," said Congressman Castro of San Antonio. "Texans' right to vote is under assault, and the United States Senate must take action by passing the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. I appreciate my colleague Congressman Peter Welch for taking a stand and supporting federal action to protect voting rights."