11/05/2024
In 1892, the first presidential election after WSU had come into existence, you had to be both male and 21 to be eligible to vote. Grover Cleveland beat incumbent Benjamin Harrison in that election.
While women had been able to vote in Washington territory from 1883 to 1887, when Washington became a state in 1889 that right was voted down. The state constitution was amended in 1910, allowing women to vote, though it would not happen until 1920 nationally. WSU female students’ first presidential election was then 1912, in which Woodrow Wilson beat incumbent William Taft and third party candidate Teddy Roosevelt.
Though in theory voting was open to any eligible person regardless of race, in reality election officials in parts of the country could put in place practices to inhibit minority voting. In 1965 the U.S. Voting Rights Act was put in place to allow the federal government to step in and protect minority voters’ rights. In 1968, Richard Nixon earned his first term, defeating Hubert Humphrey.
In 1970, Washington voters turned down a proposition to lower the voting age to 19, but the following year the 26th amendment was passed, lowering the voting age to 18 nationally. So, 1972 was the first year most Cougar freshmen could vote, with Richard Nixon earning a second term by defeating George McGovern.
Though it would evolve from there, in 1991 regular absentee ballots (e.g. vote by mail) became legal in Washington, allowing WSU students to vote in their home counties without traveling back to vote in person or registering at their school addresses. In 1992, Bill Clinton defeated the incumbent president, George Bush.
U.S. elections do evolve, but unless you’re 21+, male, white, and live close enough to home to go back and vote in person, well, the past may have been less than fair to you. If you’ve not already done so, take advantage of the rights gained over the history of this school, and vote today!
Washington State University Libraries Pullman
Helping students register to vote, stay aware of upcoming voter deadlines, and become more informed and involved with issues they're passionate about.
