This is atimeline of women's suffrage in Florida.Ella C. Chamberlain beganwomen's suffrage efforts in Florida starting in 1892. However, after Chamberlain leaves the state in 1897, suffrage work largely ceases until the next century. More women's suffrage groups are organized, with the first in the twentieth century being the Equal Franchise League inJacksonville, Florida in 1912. Additional groups are created around Florida, including aMen's Equal Suffrage League of Florida. Suffragists lobby theFlorida Legislature for equal suffrage, hold conventions, and educate voters. Several cities in Florida pass laws allowing women to vote in municipal elections, withFellsmere being the first in 1915.Zena Dreier becomes the first woman to legally cast a vote in theSouth on June 19, 1915. On May 26, 1919, women inOrlando vote for the first time. After the passage of theNineteenth Amendment,Helen Hunt West becomes the first woman in Florida to register to vote under equal franchise rules on September 7, 1920. Florida does not ratify the Nineteenth Amendment until May 13, 1969.
April: Equal Franchise League of Jacksonville asks theFlorida Legislature to pass a women's suffrage amendment for the state constitution.[7] The bill does not pass.[7]
October: Several women inOrlando attempt to register to vote.[8][4]
November: State suffrage convention takes place at the same time as the Florida Federation of Woman's Clubs meeting.[9] The Florida Equal Suffrage Association (FESA) is formed.[4]
November 20: Women's suffrage convention held in Tampa.[13][16] Jacobs speaks again at this convention.[14]
1918
November: Special legislative session considers drafting a resolution in support of theUnited States Congress to pass a federal suffrage amendment.[22] It does not pass.[22] Bills providing municipal suffrage for women inAurantia,Daytona, Daytona Beach,DeLand, andOrange City pass.[22]
November 19: State suffrage convention held in Daytona.[13]
1919
Demonstration probably against women's suffrage in De Leon Springs, Florida, March 17, 1917
January: James L. Giles, mayor of Orlando, requests an amendment to the city charter to allow women to vote and it is passed by City Council.[23]
January: Shaw visits Florida and raises money for the suffrage effort.[24]
