“You Count. Be Counted!” Campaign Will Be Biggest Ever Mail-In Registration Drive,
Focusing on Group Long Underrepresented in Voting Booth

The voter registration drive, “You Count. Be Counted!,” will begin next week, targeting over approximately 7 million unmarried women in 24 states. The drive is being run by the national organization Women’s Voices Women Vote, which expects to register close to 1 million women nationwide between now and Election Day.

According to the most recent census data, unmarried women – women who are single, separated, divorced, or widowed – make up a growing percent of the population. Approximately 26 percent of eligible voters are unmarred women, or 53 million people.

“For the first time in history, unmarried women are equal in number to married women, yet they register and vote less,” said Page Gardner, President of Women’s Voices. Women Vote. “Although single women are the fastest growing large group in our country they remain underrepresented in our democracy,” Gardner said.

Unmarried women are 9 percentage points less likely to be registered than married women, and those who are registered are 13 percentage points less likely to actually vote.

Nonetheless, so far in this election season, unmarried women have been increasingly engaged in the process and have been a decisive force in several primaries. Similarly, so far this year, WVWV has gotten record high response rates on its voter registration mailings, successfully generating more than 550,000 registration applications nationally.

“In 2004, there were 20 million unmarried women who did not vote in the national election who could have; 15 million were unregistered. That is why we are committed to conducting a robust voter registration effort to make sure their voices are heard,” said Gardner.

Registration forms for the “You Count. Be Counted!” campaign will be arriving in waves. Between August 8th and 15th, forms should arrive at the homes of women in Arkansas, Illinois Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Between August 26th and September 2nd, the mailing will arrive in Colorado, Nevada, and Washington.

Between September 12th and September 19th, the mailing will arrive in Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Women’s Voices Women Vote has contacted election officials in each state where the campaign will be active to notify them of the mailing, let them know to expect an increased number of registration forms that will need to be processed, and ensure the registration materials meet state standards. WVWV will continue to work with election officials and do everything it can to ensure unmarried women are able to exercise their right to vote in this historic election.

For an interactive map containing state-specific information, please visit www.wvwv.org.