Women's Voices. Women Vote. - Press Releases and Media Advisories

Phyllis Schlafly (Accidentally) Gets Something Right: Everyone Should Recognize the Growing Power of Unmarried Women Voters

2010-07-28T00:02:00Z

For Immediate Release: Contact:
Wednesday, July 27, 2010 Kelly Landis, 202-659-0990/klandis@wvwv.org

Phyllis Schlafly (Accidentally) Gets Something Right: Everyone Should Recognize the Growing Power of Unmarried Women Voters

Washington, DC--While stumping for Michigan politician Andrew "Rocky" Raczkowski, Phyllis Schlafly once again dipped into her poisoned well of rhetoric. Her target was unmarried women, and she returned to the tired old trope of welfare abuse. Ms. Schlafly said the only reason these women turned out to vote was because “when you kick your husband out, you gotta have Big Brother Government to be your provider.” Her comments are insulting to unmarried women and to the democratic process.

“Rather than denigrating American citizens for exercising their rights and doing their civic duty, we should be celebrating increased participation in our democracy,” said Page Gardner, president of Women’s Voices. Women Vote. “Ms. Schlafly, however, did inadvertently manage to stumble into one truth: the burgeoning political power of unmarried women,” continued Gardner.

Half of all American women are unmarried, and unmarried women are members of the Rising American Electorate, a group that also includes people of color and young voters between the ages of 18-29. Together, the RAE now represents 52% of voting eligible citizens. “Though members of the RAE had record turnout in the 2008 election, they are still underrepresented in both voter registration and turnout,” noted Gardner. “Our democracy functions best when more voices are part of the process; we must work to ensure that this growing segment of American society continues to make itself heard in 2010 and beyond.”

While a democratic system that is representative of the needs of all voters may be anathema to Phyllis Schlafly, our society only benefits when participation in our democracy is robust and our government is responsive to the needs of all of its citizenry. “Harnessing the power of the RAE is the key to advancing these principles and securing our future, rather than stifling participation, clinging to the past and promoting the politics of hate and division,” concluded Gardner.

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For Immediate Release: Contact:
Wednesday, July 27, 2010 Kelly Landis, 202-659-0990/klandis@wvwv.org

Phyllis Schlafly (Accidentally) Gets Something Right: Everyone Should Recognize the Growing Power of Unmarried Women Voters

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Women’s Voices. Women Vote Holds Focus Groups Around the Country

2010-07-21T18:03:00Z

For Immediate Release: Contact:
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 Kelly Landis, 202-659-0990/klandis@wvwv.org

Women’s Voices. Women Vote Holds Focus Groups Around the Country
What Will Motivate the Rising American Electorate to Vote in 2010?

Washington, DC—Women’s Voices. Women Vote (WVWV) has commissioned focus groups around the country in order to discover what issues the Rising American Electorate (RAE) find most critical and what motivates this burgeoning and powerful segment of the electorate to turn out to vote. Unmarried women, along with youth, African Americans, and Hispanics make up the Rising American Electorate, a critical bloc of voters that now comprises 52% of the voting eligible population nationally.

The focus groups, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, are taking place in: Cleveland, Ohio; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania through July 26,, 2010. Files of the focus group discussions will be available on the WVWV website within one business day after the event at http://wvwv.org/research/rising-american-electorate-research.

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Voting in Massachusetts Reveals Continuation of Trends Evident in New Jersey and Virginia

2010-01-20T14:41:00Z

Washington, D.C. -- A post-election poll commissioned by Women’s Voices. Women Vote (WVWV) reveals that while independents proved decisive in the Massachusetts election for the U.S. Senate, there is a disconnect between voting and the desire for change among key constituencies in the electorate that is driving recent elections.

The results of the poll offer clear evidence that the voting in Massachusetts is a continuation of trends that WVWV first reported last November after the elections in New Jersey and Virginia: decreased turnout among Rising American Electorate (RAE) – women, youth, African Americans, and Latinos; Republicans beginning to make inroads with some traditionally Democratic voters; the existence of the “marriage gap,” and a striking disconnect between voters who voted for and still support President Obama and their electoral participation.

Summarizing these trends,

• Turnout is an important factor driving the results in these elections. Voters in the Rising American Electorate are disengaged and their share of the electorate has dropped.

• Changes in the margin of voting by RAE groups are also a factor. Progressive candidates are not gaining the share of votes among RAE voters that they have in 2008 and 2006. Coakley won the RAE vote but by a smaller margin than in the past, and the RAE represented a smaller vote share than in recent elections.

• The “marriage gap” -- differences in the voting rates and preferences between unmarried and married women – continues to drive electoral outcomes. There was a 17point marriage gap in terms of partisanship; however, the impact of the unmarried women’s vote was somewhat muted due to their decreased participation.

• Voters have divided emotions about the pace of change and the direction of the country, but generally support the policies advocated by President Obama and Democrats.

Responding to these trends, Page Gardner, President of WVWV, said: “Following what we observed in the elections in New Jersey and Virginia the voting in Massachusetts now establishes a clear trend of voter drop-off among Rising American Electorate and the existence of a marriage gap that is being shaped by declining participation by unmarried women.”

Gardner continued: “In Massachusetts, RAE voters represent just under half of all eligible voters, yet they continue to underperform that share at the ballot box. Last night, the RAE was roughly 27 percent of all voters – a decline of 9 points compared to 2008 and 18 points lower than their overall share of eligible voters.”

Other findings of note:

Independents were key. As nearly all publicly available polling demonstrated over the last few weeks, independents played a large role in this election and that role was magnified due to voter drop-off and voting patterns among key segments of the RAE. Democrats enjoy a large registration advantage in Massachusetts, but that registration advantage was not large enough to offset huge losses among independents and smaller losses among some of the RAE.

Issue divisions were also important. While Coakley won health care voters, Brown won among jobs and economy voters and tax and spend voters.

A complete polling memo, top-line results from the poll, and a PowerPoint presentation of our analysis are included as attachment and available on our Website at www.WVWV.org.

Press Call: Women’s Voices Women Vote to release results from only post-election poll of U.S. Senate vote in Massachusetts

2010-01-19T19:26:00Z

Washington, DC – Women’s Voices. Women Vote (WVWV) has commissioned the only post-election poll of the vote for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, a bi-partisan survey conducted by the polling firms Lake Partners Research and American Viewpoint.

The survey examines all turnout patterns with a particular look at those voters in the Rising American Electorate (RAE) – unmarried women, youth, African Americans, and Latinos. These voters make up 52% of the voting eligible population nationally, and comprise 44% of all eligible voters in Massachusetts. Unmarried women represent the largest marital status group in Massachusetts.

The survey will also explore the strength and the dimensions of the “marriage gap,” the differences in the voting rates and preferences between unmarried women and their married counterparts.

WVWV is dedicated to education and research regarding unmarried women and other historically under-represented groups in the electorate and is at the forefront of analyzing voter drop-off and who will vote in the 2010 elections.

Please join us to discuss the results and our analysis following the election on Wednesday morning.

Time: 10:30am, Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

Call information: Dial-in Number: 1-270-400-1500. Participant Access Code: 535066.

For more information, please contact:
John Delicath
Women’s Voices. Women Vote
202-271-4896
jdelicath@wvwv.org
http://www.wvwv.org

Women’s Voices. Women Vote (WVWV) Announces New Executive Director

2009-11-17T15:33:00Z

Washington, D.C. -- Women’s Voices Women Vote (WVWV) is pleased to announce the appointment of Amy C. Young as the organization’s Executive Director. She will be responsible for managing the organization’s programs and overseeing its daily operations.
Ms. Young comes to WVWV with extensive experience in the non-profit and for-profit sectors, specializing in organizational development, strategic planning, fundraising, and grassroots organizing. In her nearly 20 years of experience, Amy has developed a particular expertise in mobilizing citizens to participate in elections and public policy debates.

Most recently, Amy was president of the consulting firm Progressive Solutions Group. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Voices for Working Families. Prior to that Amy served as Midwest and Deputy Political Director for the Democratic National Committee. She also served two years as the Executive Director of the Ohio Democratic Party. Amy has also worked for the ACLU, AFL-CIO, and SEIU. She began her career as a legislative aide to Ohio State Senator, Neal Zimmers.

A native of Ohio, Amy graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Dayton with Bachelor of the Arts degrees in History and Political Science.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act Helps Unmarried Women

2009-11-12T15:41:00Z

Washington, D.C. – A new article published at the Center for American Progress outlines several provisions in the Affordable Health Care for America Act that will address existing health insurance obstacles facing unmarried women and serve to expand quality, affordable health insurance coverage for them.

Unmarried women -- single, divorced, and widowed -- face unique challenges in obtaining and maintaining health insurance. With less income, jobs that often do not offer health insurance plans, and without access to coverage provided by the policy of a spouse, these women often face nearly insurmountable challenges to obtaining health insurance. One quarter of unmarried women between the ages of 18 and 64 are currently without health insurance.

"The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a major step forward in addressing the health insurance disparities that affect unmarried women across all income levels,” said Page Gardner, Founder and President of Women’s Voices Women Vote (WVWV).

“While it is our hope that the Senate will address the unnecessary and discriminatory Stupak amendment -- which goes beyond existing restrictions on abortion and effectively denies abortion coverage within the insurance exchange program -- the Affordable Health Care for America Act undoubtedly will help millions of women currently without health insurance.” Gardner added, “Nevertheless, the Senate ought to ensure, at the very least, that women are afforded the right to spend their own money on insurance plans that meet all their health care needs.”

Many Unmarried Women Face Financial Peril

2009-11-12T15:39:00Z

Wide Variety of Economic Indicators Show Unmarried Women
Struggling to Make Ends Meet in Current Economy

Washington, D.C. -- A new report from the Center for American Progress (CAP) finds troubling unemployment numbers and a bleak economic picture for unmarried women.

According to the latest unemployment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10.3 percent of unmarried women age 20 and over are unemployed; that’s 3.3 million women. Moreover, for unmarried women who head families, the unemployment rate is 12.6 percent, 2.4 points above the national average. Of all unemployed women workers, 61 percent are unmarried.

“While the nation’s economic turmoil has affected all Americans, the impact on unmarried women has been truly devastating,” said Page Gardner, president and founder of Women’s Voices Women Vote. “With this report, we have now seen a steady stream of research showing that across nearly every economic indicator, from unemployment and poverty to foreclosures and health insurance, unmarried women, and especially single heads of households, are under crushing financial pressures.”

From the report:

Due to unemployment, 276,000 children of single mothers have lost health insurance they received through their mother’s employer-sponsored plan.

Foreclosures have risen for single women, and homeless shelters have seen an increase in the number of families, mostly headed by women.

Poverty rates for unmarried women are usually much higher than for married women (20.8 percent versus 6.2 percent of women 18 and over in 2008, the most recent data available), and poverty rates are likely even higher in 2009 due to growing unemployment.

Unmarried women also have few financial resources: They usually rely on a single income and, as women earn, on average, only 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. Their lower household incomes and less savings compared to married couples makes it harder to prepare for a financial emergency like unemployment.

Click here to read the full report. And for more of CAP’s research on the economic conditions that unmarried women face today, please click here.

The Untold Story of the New Jersey and Virginia Elections: Who Voted, Who Didn't, and Why

2009-11-06T15:38:00Z

Washington, DC – While much has been made about what the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia portend for 2010, a post election survey of voters and non-voters commissioned by Women’s Voices. Women Vote (WVWV) explains who voted, who didn’t, and why – and identifies trends missed by most pundits and analysts.
WVWV’s survey offers an in-depth look at the difference between the Rising American Electorate (RAE) ---unmarried women, youth (18-29), African Americans, Latinos, and other non-white races--- and the rest of the voters and non-voters in New Jersey and Virginia.
“Looking at the results of this survey, it is clear that WVWV and other civic engagement groups will have to develop methods and messages for engaging the Rising American Electorate so that the gains achieved in voter engagement and participation during the 2008 elections can be sustained,” said Page Gardner, founder and president of Women’s Voices Women Vote. “Such efforts are crucial to our ensuring that our public policy debates and future elections reflect the greatest number of citizens and broadest range of voices.”

Key findings from the survey include:

• Marital Status Played a Definitive Role in Voter Choice. The “marriage gap” -- the difference in voting behavior between married and unmarried women – was a significant factor in these elections. While much was made of the gubernatorial candidates’ efforts in both states to reach out to women voters, our research once again confirms that there is no such thing as “women voters,” as married and unmarried women women have very different lives, views, and voting patterns.

• Turnout declined among RAE voters between 2008 and 2009. While the decline in turnout is not unusual, the fact that independents broke so heavily for the Republican candidates made the effect more pronounced than in 2005, when Corzine and Kaine won their seats.

• Politics is Still Local -- These elections primarily turned on judgments of events in Richmond and Trenton and the specific candidates in these states; the elections were not a referendum on Obama’s performance or even the pace of change in the country.

Please find a memo with analysis of the poll and a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the key findings attached with this release.

Shriver Report Highlights Role of Unmarried Women in One of the Greatest Social Transformations of Our Time

2009-10-16T19:23:00Z

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:

October 16, 2009 John Delicath

202-271-4896

jdelicath@wvwv.org

Shriver Report Highlights Role of Unmarried Women in One of the Greatest Social Transformations of Our Time

Washington, DC—The Center for American Progress (CAP), in partnership with Maria Shriver, has broken new ground with the publication of “The Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything.” The report takes a hard look at how women’s changing roles are affecting our major societal institutions, from government and businesses to our faith communities, and examines how our society is responding to one of the greatest social transformations of our time.

One of the dynamics highlighted in the report is how unmarried women are affecting and being affected by this social transformation. There are currently more than 51 million single, separated, divorced, or widowed women in the United States. There are almost as many unmarried women as there are married women, and unmarried women are one of the fastest growing demographic groups. Unmarried women are also increasing their participation in electoral politics, but are still under-represented in relation to their share of the population.

“The book discusses the challenges that unmarried women workers face, especially single moms and female-headed households. Unmarried women need good jobs to support themselves and their families, and they need a system that supports them in taking care of their families,” said Page Gardner, founder and President of Women’s Voices. Women Vote (WVWV). “At WVWV, we are finding ways to both engage and inform women on issues that matter most in their lives. Theirs is an important voice to be heard in the national conversation about modernizing public policies and business practices to better meet their circumstances.”

Gardner’s essay in the report, “Single in a Married-Centered World,” explores the unique challenges facing unmarried women in these times. You can read the essay here.

In conjunction with the report, WVWV also released a video with Gardner and Heather Boushey, a CAP senior economist and co-editor of the report, discussing how unmarried women are faring in the economy and the workplace. You can see the video of the interview here at WVWV’s website.

Women’s Voices. Women Vote is a 501©3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that does not endorse political candidates. WVWV is dedicated to increasing the share of unmarried women and other historically under-represented groups in the electorate.

Women’s Voices Women Vote Congratulates Lifetime

2009-10-13T13:46:00Z

Network Nominated for Golden Beacon Award for its
“Every Woman Counts” Campaign

Washington, DC --- Women’s Voices Women Vote congratulates Lifetime Networks for being nominated by the Association of Cable Communicators (ACC) for its Golden Beacon Award. Lifetime received the nomination for its “Every Woman Counts” campaign, the entertainment industry's only ongoing public advocacy campaign dedicated to amplifying women's voices in the political process, encouraging them to register to vote, and to run for political office.

The Golden Beacon award is the ACC’s highest honor and recognizes a communications and public affairs campaign for making an impact on the cable industry and enhancing the image of cable television.

Women’s Voices Women Vote was proud to be a partner in the Every Woman Counts Coalition and applauds the ACC for recognizing Lifetime’s contributions toward inspiring women nationwide to make their voices heard in the 2008 elections.

“Lifetime is truly deserving of this nomination,” said Page Gardner, President of Women’s Voices Women Vote. “Lifetime’s Every Woman Counts Coalition was an unprecedented effort to bring women into the political process and to make their voices heard in our democracy. It was also a tremendous success, reaching out to millions of women across the United States.”

Report Finds Declining Economy Disproportionately Impacts Unmarried Women

2009-04-28T22:00:00Z

Washington, D.C. – With unmarried Americans bearing a disproportionate share of the nation’s economic hard times, Women’s Voices. Women Vote (WVWV) today released a report titled, “The Economics of Unmarried America” aimed at drawing a clear and nonpartisan picture of the lives of unmarried Americans. The report’s findings were compiled by Lake Research Partners of Washington, D.C.

Women’s Voices. Women Vote, Releases Economic Findings On Unmarried Women On Pay Equality Day

“While the country’s economic decline has touched all Americans, its effect on unmarried women has been devastating,” said Page Gardner, president and founder of WVWV, a national nonpartisan organization focused on the increased participation of unmarried women in the civic process.

Gardner continued: “With the report released today, on Equal Pay Day, we hope to spotlight their struggle, outlining for lawmakers that this is a population in need — a population of single mothers and fathers struggling daily just to keep their families fed and safe.”

Among the report’s key findings:

The unemployment rate for unmarried men (15.7%) is nearly double the overall national rate (8.5%), and unmarried women are unemployed at a higher rate as well at 9.6%. [Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2009]
Unmarried women make just 57 cents on the dollar compared to married men. [U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2008]
Of all American adults who live in poverty, unmarried women account for half. [U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey , 2007]
In the last year, 21 out of every 1,000 single mothers have filed for bankruptcy — in comparison, married couples with children filed at a rate of 15 out of every 1,000. [MSN Money, “7 Ways to Fight Off Bankruptcy”]
18.6 million unmarried Americans are uninsured. [National Health Interview Survey, 2007]

In many cases, unmarried women and men are trying to support not only themselves but children, too, and stimulus legislation and programs like SCHIP can help ease their economic burden.

“Unmarried women earn less, pay more toward housing, are more likely to live in poverty … this is not about politics,” said Gardner. “It’s about millions of women finding some relief from the ever-burgeoning struggle they attend to daily — for themselves and for their children.”

The full report of “The Economics of Unmarried America” may be found at: http://www.wvwv.org/research-items/the-impact-of-a-declining-economy-on-unmarried-women.

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Women's Voices, Women Vote, is a national nonpartisan organization that promotes the participation of the nation's 53 million unmarried women in the democratic process. For more information, please visit our Web site: www.wvwv.org.

For Many, Tremendous Obstacles Remain in Accessing Democracy

2009-04-16T09:04:00Z

Washington, D.C.– Seeking to focus the attention of lawmakers and election reform groups on the obstacles to full participation of the American electorate and the path to election reform, Women’s Voices. Women Vote (WVWV) today released a comprehensive report titled, “Access to Democracy: Identifying Obstacles Hindering the Right to Vote.” Consolidating a variety of studies from expert sources into one document, the findings confirm the most significant obstacles to voter participation and outline those election reforms which would yield the most positive results.

While the study discusses obstacles to voter participation in general, it focuses on the unique impact it has on traditionally under-represented groups who comprise the majority (52%) of the population — African Americans, Latinos, unmarried women and young voters — it is unmarried women who drive this majority and the mission of Women’s Voices Women Vote.

“Unmarried women are the fastest growing large demographic in the population, comprising 25% of the voting age population,” said Page Gardner, president and founder of WVWV, a national nonpartisan organization focused on the increased participation of unmarried women in the civic process.

“Challenges that affect unmarried women most particularly, include greater mobility and access to less economic resources — they have the highest poverty rate of any cross-section of the adult population,” said Gardner. “Yet it is exactly this portion of the population for whom we make voter registration most difficult in this country.”

According to the report, laws posing the most significant obstacles to voter participation fall into five key areas:

1. Voter Registration: controversies over voter registration produced more litigation than any other election issue in 2008, primarily due to outdated and problematic voter registration systems. By allowing reforms such as universal registration and greater uniformity of registration standards, many registration issues could be resolved.

2.Absentee and Early Voting: the rate of voters casting ballots via absentee or early voting methods is on the rise (38 million Americans in 2008). However, the rules surrounding these methods vary significantly from state to state. Given the increased flexibility of these voting methods, relaxing the requirements would increase participation of underrepresented populations, such as hourly workers who cannot afford to take time off from work.

3.Voter Identification Requirements: lack of consistency across state lines in relation to the types of ID required (e.g., driver’s license, proof of citizenship) as well as whether ID is required at all, make it confusing and cumbersome to register and/or cast a ballot.

4.Provisional Ballots: among the top five complaints logged by the Election Protection Coalition’s hotline during the 2004 election were problems with provisional ballots. While the Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires that voters not on the registration list or lacking proper ID be given a provisional ballot, the regulations surrounding this practice vary from state to state.

5.Voter Lists: state regulations are notably inconsistent when it comes to the maintenance of voter registration lists — from who updates them to how the state maintains them, whether state or local election officials allow for name variations, and how and when the lists are purged.

The full report, “Access to Democracy: Identifying Obstacles Hindering the Right to Vote” may be accessed at the Women’s Voices Women Vote Web site by clicking here.

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS NUMBERS REINFORCE: UNMARRIED WOMEN MUCH HARDER HIT BY SHARP DOWNTURN

2009-03-06T19:21:00Z

Washington, D.C. – February’s unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), released today, reinforces what one advocacy group has been emphasizing for years: Unmarried women are among the hardest hit during an economic crisis. The current overall unemployment rate is 8.1% and for unmarried women, 9.5% is not only higher than the national average, but is also essentially double that of married women (5.1%).

Unmarried women’s unemployment rate higher than national average at 9.5%

These statistics come as no surprise to the president of Women’s Voices, Women Vote (WVWV).

“While dramatic and significant, the unemployment statistics released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics come as no surprise,” said Page Gardner, president of Women’s Voices, Women Vote, a national nonpartisan organization that promotes the participation of the nation's 53 million unmarried women in the democratic process.

Unmarried women also struggle with:

a tremendous pay gap – earning 56 cents for every dollar married men earn [Center for American Progress, 4/25/08];
insufficient savings – the median net worth of unmarried women is $12,900 – less than half that of unmarried men at $26,850 [Majority Staff of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, 4/18/08];
lack of retirement security – more than one-third of single women report that they have saved less than $25,000 for retirement [Ninth Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, 9/17/08];
an increased rate of bankruptcy – single women are the demographic group most likely to file for bankruptcy and comprise 40% of all bankruptcy filings [MSN Money]; and
the highest poverty rate of any cross-section of the adult population –80% of all poor adult women are unmarried. [Center for American Progress, 10/08].

“Eighty-four percent of unmarried women stated, during the 2008 election, that they were ‘hopeful that we will see real change in the direction of this country.’ Right now, 83 percent of these women still hold out this hope,” said Gardner. “It is my hope that the numbers released today further inspire President Obama and Congress to enact legislation targeting the issues faced by unmarried women struggling to survive on their own in an uncertain economy.”

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Unmarried Women Prove Decisive Political Force in Minnesota U.S. Senatorial Race

2008-11-06T16:04:00Z

WASHINGTON, DC – According to an election survey, unmarried women of Minnesota were more likely to support Democrat Al Franken over incumbent Republican Norm Coleman by 38 point margin. In the Presidential election, Minnesota unmarried women were more likely to support Barack Obama by 47 points.

The Lake Research Partners election survey, commissioned by Women’s Voices. Women Vote, was conducted in Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Minnesota. The survey found unmarried women offered critical support for progressive candidates in all of the states.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

Unmarried Women Prove Decisive Political Force in Minnesota U.S. Senatorial Race

Record Marriage Gap Across the Country and in Minnesota – Unmarried Women Key Pillar of Support for Franken

“Unmarried women in Minnesota were the critical difference in the Senate race that is still too close to call,” said Page Gardner, Founder and President of Women’s Voices. Women Vote.

Unmarried women backed Democrat Al Franken by 62 percent to 24 percent over incumbent Republican Norm Coleman, and provided Barack Obama an overwhelming 47 point margin over John McCain (72 percent Obama, 25 percent McCain).

Nationally, unmarried women anchored Obama’s victory over McCain last night, splitting 70 to 29 for the Democratic ticket. Obama’s margin among unmarried women exceeded his margin among both young voters and Latino voters. Meanwhile, married women actually preferred McCain, 47 to 50 – an overwhelming 44 percent marriage gap. All numbers come from calculations based on the CNN National Election Pool conducted by Edison/Mitofsky.

“Throughout this election season, we’ve seen unmarried women paying attention to the candidates, and last night we saw them turn out to make their voices heard,” said Gardner. “Unmarried women are the fastest-growing large demographic in the country, and during this election, we’ve seen them register and vote in record numbers,” said Gardner.

The economy was the driving issue agenda impacting the vote of women in Minnesota. Rising health care costs were the most important economic issue determining their votes (24 percent), followed by the federal budget deficit and national debt (15 percent), higher taxes (14 percent), a secure retirement (9 percent), lack of jobs that pay a family-supporting wage (9 percent), daily expenses like food or child care (5 percent), the possibility of losing one’s job (5 percent), and the rising cost of gasoline and fuel (4 percent).

Since 2004, Women’s Voices. Women Vote has generated more than 34,000 registration applications in Minnesota, of which, more than 24,300 were from this cycle alone. Women's Voices. Women Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization created to activate unmarried women to participate in their government and in our democracy.

Unmarried Women Propel Jim Martin to a Runoff Prove Decisive Political Force in Georgia U.S. Senatorial Race

2008-11-06T15:58:00Z

WASHINGTON, DC – According to an election survey, unmarried Georgia women played a key role in a race that was considered safe for Republicans but has resulted in a runoff between Jim Martin and Saxby Chambliss.

In the Presidential election unmarried women in Georgia supported Democrat Jim Martin by 49 points (71% to 22%). They also supported Barack Obama by 42 points.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

Unmarried Women Propel Jim Martin to a Runoff Prove Decisive Political Force in Georgia U.S. Senatorial Race

Record Marriage Gap Across the Country and in Georgia

In the Presidential election unmarried women in Georgia supported Democrat Jim Martin by 49 points (71% to 22%). They also supported Barack Obama by 42 points.

“Georgia prepares for a runoff election because of the support Martin received from unmarried women,” said Page Gardner, Founder and President of Women’s Voices. Women Vote. “For Martin, getting unmarried women out to vote in the runoff election is the key to winning this seat,” said Gardner.

Married women voters supported Chambliss by 7 points, giving the incumbent 52 percent to 45 percent for Martin. Similarly in the Presidential election, married women supported McCain by 10 points, 55 percent to 45 percent over Obama.

Unmarried women backed Democrat Jim Martin by 71 percent to 22 percent over long-term incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss, and helped bring Barack Obama within striking distance of John McCain (28 percent McCain, 70 percent Obama). In Georgia, unmarried women who voted early supported Obama by 37 points, (60 percent to 23 percent) compared to a 23-point margin on Election Day (58 percent to 35 percent).

Nationally, unmarried women anchored Obama’s victory over McCain, splitting 70 to 29 for the Democratic ticket. Obama’s margin among unmarried women exceeded his margin among both young voters and Latino voters. Meanwhile, married women actually preferred McCain, 47 to 50 – an overwhelming 44 percent marriage gap. All numbers come from calculations based on the CNN National Election Pool conducted by Edison/Mitofsky.

Economic concerns greatly influenced women’s vote in Georgia, including rising health care costs (16 percent), the federal budget deficit and national debt (13 percent), job loss (11 percent), the availability of family-supporting jobs (10 percent), higher taxes (10 percent), and daily expenses like food or child care (10 percent).

Since 2006, Women’s Voices. Women Vote has generated more than 1,100 registration applications in Georgia. Women's Voices. Women Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization created to activate unmarried women to participate in their government and in our democracy.