There is no serious or widespread legislative movement currently to repeal or restrict women’s right to vote in the U.S. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, constitutionally guarantees that states cannot deny voting rights based on sex .
However, there are growing concerns about indirect threats to women’s voting access. Most notably:
⚠️ Proposed Voting Restrictions That Could Disproportionately Affect Women
The SAVE Act, introduced in 2024 by Representative Chip Roy, seeks to require voters to present federal proof of citizenship in-person when registering to vote. Because many women who marry change their surname, these ID mismatches could disproportionately disenfranchise an estimated 69 million women whose married name differs from their birth certificate
Critics warn that these provisions could suppress valid female voters, even though actual non-citizen voting is extremely rare.
✅ Rhetoric, Not Reality: Symbolic Challenges
Figures associated with Project 2025, including John McEntee, have made provocative jokes about revoking women’s suffrage and questioning the relevance of the 19th Amendment—apparently as satirical or symbolic gestures rather than concrete policy proposals
Christian nationalist commentators, including Pastor Joel Webbon, have argued for repeal of the 19th Amendment on the grounds of restoring “family” or “collective” voting, suggesting women’s suffrage is undermining traditional roles. These views remain fringe and are not reflected in legislative action .
🧱 Historical Context: Why Women’s Voting Rights Are Strongly Protected
The 19th Amendment explicitly states that voting rights “shall not be denied … on account of sex”
While many women, especially women of color, were still prevented from voting through discriminatory practices (e.g. poll taxes, literacy tests, state laws), the amendment laid a federal prohibition on such discrimination. True full access required further civil rights legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965
🧭 So, Is There a Movement to Restrict Women’s Votes?
Not at the legislative or constitutional level. No federal or state bill is currently proposing to remove women’s voting rights.
What exists today are:
Voting rules (like stricter ID or proof-of-citizenship laws) that could negatively impact women—particularly married women whose birth and married names differ.
Provocative rhetoric from far-right and Christian nationalist corners, largely symbolic or extremist in tone rather than realistic proposals.
🔍 What to Watch
Whether the SAVE Act gains traction and how courts respond, particularly regarding its impact on women and other marginalized groups
Monitoring rhetoric within Project 2025 and aligned ideologies—especially if they influence election policy debates.
Efforts to strengthen voting rights through reforms like automatic or same-day registration, secure vote-by-mail, and broader protections against voter suppression—as advocated by groups like the Center for American Progress
Center for American Progress
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✅ Bottom Line
There is no credible movement aiming to legally strip women of voting rights.
However, emerging policy proposals (e.g. the SAVE Act), combined with extremist rhetoric, could indirectly restrict access—especially for married women, women of color, young or elderly women.
The 19th Amendment and existing constitutional protections remain in place, but vigilance against suppression tactics remains important.
