The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-21
ALABAMA WOMEN CAST THE BALLOT
 FOR FIRST TIME
Vote In Municipal Elections Held In Communities of Jef- ferson County Yesterday.
 New Record Made
By ETHEL GILLEN

Fly ETHEL GlLLEN
 Women of Alabama were allowed to cast their first bal lot in the history of the state yesterday.
 Municipal elections were held in Bessemer, Brighton, Boyles, Inglenook, Fairfield and Tarrant City, and it is esti- mated that approximately ev- cry women in these municipall- ties who qualified before the registration books closed on September 3 voted.
 At the polling places in Bessemer there were women clerks and they seemed very much pleased with their Inew responsibility. During the morn- ing hours the number of women regis tering was small, although the after noon brought out very many who were anxious to cast their first ballot. When asked by the election man. agers if they had brought their regis tration certificates, they usually sup piled this article after searching in their pocketbooks for a few seconds. When this necessary document was produced they were given a ticket and the manager told them if they expect ed to vote a straight democratic ick- ct just to put a circle in the ring at the top.
 Although some had appeared very nervous over the prospects of having to mark a ticket for the first time, 4-1 la he, haN wanted to vote a straight ticket as there was no opposition at this cleo ton. they quickly regained their poise ALL SMILES
 After the ballot had been cast the | women left the voting places all smiles and apparently were as pleased over the privilege bestowed on them as a | child with new toy.
 l There was no age limit, for both young and old were on hand to vote. Many mothers brought their children with them and many women accom- panied their husbans. In some ln- stances it was noted that the family l had recently moved and the woman cid not vote at the same polling place as \ her husband did. In several of these cases the husbands accompanied their wives, but remained in front of the | NOIlIS pidCS Wlln lnt DdUiSS Nillie their wives went in to cast their first ballot.
 1 Voting of women marks a new era | in the history of Alabama. With the deception of the joy of the women in being given the ballot after a fight of seventy years, little interest was man | ifested in this election, as the nomin ses had been elected at a primary election held in May and the result of it was assured, as there was no opposition. | Voting was reported brisk in all six towns contiguous to Birmingham and the heaviest vote in a municipal cleo
 tion was boiled yesterday.
 FIRST TO VOTE
 1 Women were the first to cast a bal lot at both Boyles and Bessemer as Ifullfledged participators in the right
 of suffrage, according to reports re-
 ceived from those towns. Mrs. H. E. Pearce, the first woman in Jefferson
 county to register and pay her poll tax, was the first to vote at Boyles Miss Berney Gillen was the first to lvote at Bessemer. Both women were
 on hand when the polls in their pre- cincts opened and their ballots were No. 1 on the respective lists.
 Although 7,604 women registered during the week the registration lbooks were open following the ratifi- cation of the suffrage amendment, tt is Iexpected that this number will be ltripled when the books are opened lagain by special legislation of the Ala jbama legislature at it's extra session
 It is pointed out that the books vii be opened again and the election com. missioner will visit every precinct il the county for the purpose of regis ter ing the women in order that they may
 vote in the general election in No Ivember.