On this date in 1917, men across the state entered the polls and voted to give women in New York the same right. Nearly 70 years after the movement began in Seneca Falls in 1848, voters approved the New York suffrage amendment by 100 thousand votes; in Broome County the measure carried 9,156 to 6,554. To honor the women who helped lead the movement locally, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo visited the graves of two local suffragists at Floral Park Cemetery in Johnson City Monday.

“Broome County played a critical role in the statewide suffrage movement,” said Assemblywoman Lupardo. “Placing flowers on these women’s graves is a small gesture of appreciation. To really honor their dedication to this cause, everyone should exercise their right to vote tomorrow and in every election every year.”

Ida Gitchell was a member of the local Votes for Women Club and was instrumental in bringing the 1913 NYS Woman Suffrage Association Convention to Binghamton. Lillian Huffcut was a lead organizer of the Broome County Woman Suffrage Party and also held executive positions in the NYS Women’s Suffrage Party and was a Director of the League of Women Voters; the latter group formed out of the Votes for Women Club after suffrage was won.

Lupardo is the Co-Chair of the Broome-Tioga Suffrage Anniversary Committee and a member of the New York State Suffrage Anniversary Commission. She has also arranged for the Security Mutual building in Binghamton to be lit in purple and gold, the colors of suffrage, Monday and Tuesday evenings. On Tuesday, all voters in Broome County will receive a commemorative ‘I Voted’ sticker depicting a New York State suffragist in honor of the historic vote.