The Lake County Women’s Coalition is an alliance of business, professional, and civic women’s organizations in Lake County Illinois. Organized in 1995 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of women’s right to vote, the LCWC continues to bring these groups together to focus on the efforts and accomplishments of women.
The Coalition addresses community issues and concerns, particularly those that impact women, and functions as a springboard to communicate information linking member organizations.
The Coalition holds an annual recognition tea to bring women together to celebrate the accomplishments of women. They commemorate Women’s History Month to promote awareness of the national theme and to honor women in their member organizations.
Under the Coalition’s umbrella, member groups participate in Voter Registration campaigns in conjunction with the county clerk’s office.
The Coalition endows a scholarship* at the College of Lake County to encourage women who are returning to school to further their education and careers.
For more information about our scholarship,
click here.
Information about Women's History and Voting
Early women’s rights activists believed advocacy to be the most effective means to change an unjust system. In 1920, the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote that in turn afforded women advancement in property rights, employment and educational opportunities, divorce and child custody laws, and increased social freedoms. The early 1900s saw a successful push for the vote through a coalition of suffragists, temperance groups, reform-minded politicians, and women's social welfare organizations.
If you think a woman’s vote doesn’t have power, think again! Women’s votes decide elections. Take a look at these statistics from www.shevotes.org, an online women’s advocacy group.
- When compared to married men, married women, and unmarried men, single women are the largest demographic group that under registers and under votes in this country. There were almost 22 million unmarried women who were eligible to vote in 2000 but did not.
- Single women are more likely to describe themselves as “progressive” and are more often pro-choice. Furthermore, the tide is turning: single women are aggressively seeking change in this country and believe the country is “going in the wrong direction.”
- If single women participated in the electoral process at the same rates as either average voters or their married sisters, they would dramatically change the outcomes of elections and the course of this country.
Women working together can create a powerful community of voters that can change this country for the better. There are a number of organizations that can help you register to vote online. For more information on how to register to vote or to submit an absentee ballot, contact the Illinois Board of Elections at (217) 782-4141 or www.sos.state.il.us, or visit any of these great online resources below.
The most important role in any democracy is that of citizen. REGISTER to vote. EDUCATE yourself on the people and issues. And, most importantly, EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT by voting in all elections.
Click here to see our Resource Links!