Turner, Ruby

Ruby Turner was a Democratic candidate in the primary races for County Register of Deeds, Woodward County, Oklahoma in 1910. Turner lost the race to fellow Democrat Laura C. Houston. When Turner and two other female candidates announced their candidacies, the Woodward County Board of Elections refused to place the women on the ballot ruling that they were not eligible for the office, due to their gender. Turner brought suit for a writ of manadamus to the district court.  The judge ruled that the board of election was only administrative, not judicial and couldn't refuse to list the women. The board took the case to the state supreme court, but that body did not rule before the primary races.