Colorado women granted the right to vote
- When
- 1893
- Where
- Colorado
- Episodes
- 2
Colorado granted women the right to vote in 1893, becoming the first state to do so via voter referendum. The passage of the bill followed earlier legislative attempts and a 1877 defeat. The successful campaign involved organizations like the CESA and CNPESA, with figures such as Elizabeth Piper Ensley mobilizing diverse communities. The referendum was approved on November 7, 1893, marking a significant milestone in state history.
Episodes
- Campaign Activities
In 1893, suffrage organizations mobilized support, with Elizabeth Piper Ensley encouraging African American participation and Carrie Chapman Catt organizing local groups.
- Referendum Approval
Colorado voters approved the women's suffrage initiative on November 7, 1893, following the General Assembly's passage of the bill earlier that year.
Background and detail
Background. Prior to 1893, Colorado's constitution allowed women to vote in school board elections, but full suffrage was not granted. Earlier attempts, including a failed 1877 referendum and an 1881 municipal suffrage bill, did not pass. By 1891, petitions for women's suffrage reached the General Assembly, setting the stage for the successful 1893 campaign.
Campaign. In 1893, a new campaign for women's suffrage emerged. Organizations like the Colorado Equal Suffrage Association (CESA) and the Non-Partisan Equal Suffrage Association of Colorado (CNPESA) were active. Elizabeth Piper Ensley, a founding member of CNPESA, encouraged African American women to join and influenced Black men to support the measure. Carrie Chapman Catt also visited to organize local groups.
Outcome. The General Assembly passed a bill for a voter referendum in 1893. Voters approved the initiative on November 7, 1893, making Colorado the first state to grant women's suffrage by popular vote. This success led to continued advocacy for suffrage in other states and the election of women to the Colorado House in 1894.
People involved
- Elizabeth Piper Ensley · Founding member of CNPESA
- Carrie Chapman Catt · Organizer
- Colorado Equal Suffrage Association · Organization
- Non-Partisan Equal Suffrage Association of Colorado · Organization
Sources
- Women's suffrage in Colorado Wikipedia, revision of 2026-06-30
- Colorado Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-06
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.