Women's Voices. Women Vote. - WVWV Press Releases

Explanation of Robo Calls and Voter Registration Efforts

2008-05-06T05:42:00Z

Responding to questions raised over robo-calls and voter registration forms received by North Carolina residents, Page Gardner, President of Women's Voices. Women Vote, issued the following statement:

"Founded in 2004, the non-partisan Women's Voices, Women Vote (WVWV) pioneered the use of direct marketing techniques (direct mail and automatic phone calls) to register voter."

Statement from Page Gardner, President and CEO,
Women's Voices. Women Vote

"Founded in 2004, the non-partisan Women's Voices, Women Vote (WVWV) pioneered the use of direct marketing techniques (direct mail and automatic phone calls) to register voters. As its name suggests, the organization's focus is the large group of unregistered voters among the nation's 53 million unmarried women. It has registered 600,000 voters since 2004.

"In February, March and early April of this year, WVWV registered 26,000 voters in North Carolina, approximately 57% of whom are African American. No organization that would spend resources to register these voters would then turn around and attempt to disenfranchise them in May. We address this issue in two parts: first, what we did in North Carolina, and second, the history and achievements of the organization which add important context for understanding the way direct marketing to register voters is a welcome addition to more traditional approaches.

"OUR WORK IN NORTH CAROLINA

"In February, March and early April, 2008, WVWV and its project, the Voter Participation Center, registered 26,000 voters in North Carolina who are eligible to vote in Tuesday's primary election. Our phone calls and mailings went not only to African American voters but to all unmarried women -- white, African American and Latinas -- as well as to African American men and married African American and Latina women. WVWV used the same man's and woman's voices and the same script for automatic ("robo") calls to unregistered voters in North Carolina and every other state in which we operate this year. Our calls are designed to bring attention to our mailing which contains not only directions for registering to vote but also who we are and how to contact us, as well as how to opt out of receiving future mailings.

"Before initiating our programs, WVWV always notifies state election officials. For our April program in North Carolina we also informed broadcast and print media. Our April mailing package highlighted instructions suggested to us by North Carolina's election officials and others, explaining to recipients who might already have been registered how to opt out of our program. The timing of our mail and phone program, right before a primary, is one of the most productive moments to register voters. Apparently, news coverage of the primary election reminds people that they don't want to miss subsequent opportunities to vote and makes this one of the most efficient times to register them.

"Some have wrongly concluded that our timing in the hotly contested North Carolina primary was calculated to sow confusion, thereby suppressing African American turnout. One can argue, reasonably, that we should have anticipated this possibility and postponed our mail and phone program, but the notion that after registering 26,000 voters this year in North Carolina for the primary, the majority of whom are African Americans, we would then, the very next month, intentionally attempt to disenfranchise them is, at best, unfounded. Like many other voter registration groups, we continue our voter registration work without a pause up until the registration deadline for the general election. We don't pause for primaries.

"Because the second round of our voter registration effort in North Carolina this year coincided with the upcoming May primary election, we issued a press release to all media outlets in the state that addressed a possible source of misunderstanding:

"North Carolinians can complete the application they receive in the mail to conveniently register to vote for the general election on November 4. The application cannot be used to register to vote in the May 6 primary.

"Residents who are eligible to register for the primary but missed the deadline may still register and vote through the state's One-Stop Absentee Sites. Qualified residents may register and vote at the country designated One-Stop site from 19 to 3 days before Election Day. More information on North Carolina One-Stop Absentee voting is available on the State Board of Elections website at http://www.sboe.state.nc.us/content.aspx?ID=32.

"While our mailings fully identified the organization and provided our contact information, regretably our robo calls that preceded them did not, nor did they mention the information about One-Stop Absentee voting sites.

"We understand that efforts to suppress voter turnout have been all too prevalent all over the country in recent years so that voting rights advocates are appropriately vigilant. WVWV will be especially sensitive to these concerns as it proceeds toward its goal of registering over a million voters for the general election in November.

"THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS OF OUR PROGRAM

"Direct marketing in order to register voters was an important innovation because it expanded the reach of voter registration efforts which had, up to 2004, been done primarily at shopping centers and other locations where targeted constituencies congregated. Direct marketing made it possible to contact people wherever they live, thereby dramatically expanding the potential universe of unregistered voters who could be contacted.

"In developing and refining our voter registration techniques, we tested a variety of phone and mail programs, timing and scripts and settled upon the approach we used in North Carolina and all of the other states in which we've carried out our efforts. Since 2004 we have registered over 600,000 voters, the overwhelming majority of whom are unmarried women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. WVWV is among the top two or three voter registration organizations in the country measured by actual voters registered.

"After demonstrating the effectiveness of its direct marketing approach with unmarried women in 2004-05, WVWV began experimenting, in 2006, with the registration of African American men and married African American women. We decided in 2007, to do this in every state where our resources ensured that our focus on unmarried women would not be diluted. WVWV created the Voter Participation Center for this purpose and since 2007, has been sending mailings and making automatic phone calls to this expanded group of unregistered voters in every state it has targeted.

"While we deeply regret our error of omission in North Carolina, we are proud of our record that includes tight management and rigorous controlled experimentation with a wide variety of direct marketing approaches to registering voters. We track the results of each mailing and constantly evaluate our work, resulting in one of the most cost-effective voter registration and turnout programs in the country."

William McNary Speaks Out in Support of WVWV

2008-05-01T11:30:00Z

Statement of William McNary, President of USAction, Co-Executive Director Citizen Action/Illinois and Board Member of Women’s Voices, Women Vote

During five election cycles, I have worked with the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition where I co-directed targeted voter registration campaigns and ‘get out the vote’ efforts to the African American community. I have also had the great privelege of serving on the Board of Directors of Women’s Voices, Women Vote â€“ a non profit, non partisan organization whose mission is registering underrepresented Americans, primarily, unmarried women.

I am also a voter. And in this election, I am supporting Barack Obama, whom I’ve known and worked with for years. I am also an elected delegate to the Democratic Convention for Barack Obama.

Given my candidate preference and my background and associations in voter registration efforts, I can say with great conviction, there was no effort to suppress or confuse African American voters, or any other voters in the state of North Carolina by Women’s Voices, Women Vote.

I have seen up close the work of Women’s Voices. Women Vote and know well the commitment, passion and leadership our organization has shown in helping make the voices of unmarried women and other underrepresented voters heard. There may have been mistakes made in this particular registration drive in North Carolina, but Women’s Voices, Women Vote’s motives were not malicious or intended in any way to confuse voters. Ironically, just the opposite. I know the staff is making every effort to right the situation.

Read the original column at Huffington Post

I am also a voter. And in this election, I am supporting Barack Obama, whom I’ve known and worked with for years. I am also an elected delegate to the Democratic Convention for Barack Obama.

Read the original column at Huffington Post

Voter Registration Drive Encourages Participation of Under-Represented in November Election

2008-04-28T15:18:00Z

Mail Registration Brings More Voices to Vote in November Election

Women's Voices. Women Vote Encourages North Carolina's Unmarried Women to Register to Vote for the General Election

WASHINGTON, DC -- Continuing their campaign to register unmarried women to vote, and encourage this under-represented group to engage in democracy, Women's Voices Women Vote is mailing more than 3 million voter registration applications in 24 states. In North Carolina alone, more than 276,000 citizens will be mailed the voter registration application, allowing them to register for the November general election. The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming primary was April 11.

North Carolinians can complete the application they receive in the mail to conveniently register to vote for the general election on November 4. The application cannot be used to register to vote in the May 6 primary.

"Although North Carolinians cannot use this application to register to vote in the up-coming primary on May 6, residents can complete the form and drop it in their mailbox to register to vote in the general election this November," said Page Gardner, President of Women's Voices. Women Vote.

Women's Voices Women Vote, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing the number of unmarried women participating in our democracy, is mailing voter registration forms to more than 3 million homes in 24 states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

"We're in the midst of a sea change in our country, as we're seeing a new America emerge right before our eyes," said Gardner. "For the first time in our country's history, there are as many unmarried women as there are married, yet women on their own are still registering and voting less than their married sisters, leaving their voice absent from our democracy," said Gardner.

Unmarried women - those single, separated, divorced or widowed - are 53 million of the voting-age population. Although they are potentially 26 percent of the electorate, they are 9 percentage points less likely to register and 13 percentage points less likely to vote than married women. In the last presidential election in 2004, 20 million unmarried women were absent from the polls.

According to 2006 U.S. Census data, more than 570,000 unmarried women in North Carolina were not registered and more than 502,000 unmarried women were registered, but did not vote.

"A majority of households in our country are headed by an unmarried person," said Gardner. "Unmarried women are economically stretched, and their time is so valuable since they must provide for themselves and their families on their own. Making it as easy as possible to register to vote will ensure their voices are heard in our democracy."

Residents who are eligible to register for the primary but missed the deadline may still register and vote through the state's One-Stop Absentee Sites. Qualified residents may register and vote at their county designated One-Stop Site from 19 to 3 days before Election Day. More information on North Carolina One-Stop Absentee voting is available on the State Board of Elections website at www.sboe.state.nc.us.

To identify voter registration application recipients, Women's Voices Women Vote uses a sophisticated matching process that compares a consumer data list with the North Carolina file of registered voters. The National Voter Registration Application was created by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, an independent, bipartisan commission created from the Help America Vote Act of 2002, and is accepted in 48 states.

For more information on the voter registration applications, visit www.voterparticipationcenter.org.

PSA's at Tribeca Film Festival Urge Women: Go Vote!

2008-04-25T23:35:00Z

Barbra Streisand, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Christine Lahti, Sarah Paulson, Jurnee Smollett, and Amber Tamblyn have collaborated with Women's Voices. Women Vote on an ad urging unmarried women to vote that is being shown before each film screening at the Tribeca Film Festival. Streisand recorded the music for the public service announcement; "regular" women -- from a cop to a magician -- are featured alongside the actresses.

Public Service Ads Running Before Each Film;
Part of Campaign by Women's Voices. Women Vote

Barbra Streisand, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Christine Lahti, Sarah Paulson, Jurnee Smollett, and Amber Tamblyn have collaborated with Women's Voices. Women Vote on an ad urging unmarried women to vote that is being shown before each film screening at the Tribeca Film Festival. Streisand recorded the music for the public service announcement; "regular" women - from a cop to a magician - are eatured alongside the actresses.

The ad is one of several in a campaign sponsored by the non-partisan organization Women's Voices. Women Vote. The campaign is aimed at registering and turning out the vote of unmarried women, who now make up more than a quarter of the electorate but are less likely than men or married women to register and vote. In the PSAs, which are set in the Oval Office, Streisand performs a rendition of "America the Beautiful."

"There are 20 million American women who are on their own - single, separated, divorced and widowed - who didn't vote in the last presidential election. Our goal is to convince them to register and go to the polls in 2008," said Page Gardner, founder and President of WVWV, of the ad campaign. "The economic, social and political implications reflected in the power of this important new voting bloc are profound. We want their voices to be heard in our democracy."

Women on their own make up the largest bloc of non-voters in the nation, and are the fastest growing large demographic. Setting the PSAs in the Oval Office is intended to evoke the importance of having women's voices heard and their power felt in electing candidates to every office.

The ad showing at the festival is online at www.wvwv.org.

To view the other public service announcements in the campaign, go to www.wvwv.org/media-room/video-public-service-announcements.

The PSA campaign was created by Producer Julie Bergman Sender and Academy Award nominated director Stuart Sender. Their production firm, Balcony Films, specializes in creating and distributing visual content and large-scale campaigns for television, the internet, radio, and theaters.

Unmarried women represent 26 percent of all eligible voters and half of all women in this country. While 27 million single women did vote in 2004, 20 million single women did not vote. Compared to their married sisters, single women are 9 percentage points less likely to register and 13 percentage points less likely to vote.

"There is a marriage gap in this country. The difference is between how married and unmarried women live, work, and participate in our democracy. Women's Voices. Women Vote is dedicated to one proposition --- that the voices of women on their own are heard, that their lives and their concerns are addressed by candidates and that their voices are heard in our democracy. America loses when the voices of these women are not included," said Gardner.

"The extraordinary women from all walks of life who gave their efforts to our PSA's -- an exercise in democracy to make sure women on their own participate "are performing a uniquely American act in volunteering to help make our country stronger through greater democratic participation," said Gardner.

The women in the public service ads include:

* Barbra Streisand, singer, actress, composer, and film producer and director. Streisand has enjoyed critical and commercial success, winning multiple Oscars, Emmys, Grammy and Golden Globe awards, among many other accolades.

* Tina Gainsbrough and her daughter Sandy Price. Tina is 87, and first voted during the Great Depression. Tina's mother was pregnant with her when she marched for women's suffrage.

* Julia Louis Dreyfus, actress and environmental activist. Julia is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning actress and comedian. She starred in NBC's Seinfeld and was a member of the Saturday Night Live cast for two seasons. She currently stars in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine.

* Rachel Pusak, young nurse practitioner. After Hurricane Katrina, she raised money to go to New Orleans and help victims of Katrina.

* Christine Lahti, Oscar winner, political activist and mother of three. She won an Emmy and two Golden Globes for her role in Chicago Hope.

* Jasmine Segura, single mom of a young son and fights fires for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

* Amber Tamblyn, actress. She starred in the CBS series Joan of Arcadia and the film The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants. She has been an active voice for voter registration.

* Candice Clark, artist and apartment manager, raising her 15 month old daughter Thace on her own.

* Jurnee Smollett, young actress co starring in the soon to be released film The Great Debaters with Denzel Washington.

* Farrah Siegel, 18 year old magician who will be voting for the first time.

* Sarah Paulson, actress best known for her work on NBC's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and HBO's acclaimed series Deadwood.

The PSAs are part of a broader campaign by Women's Voices. Women Vote to register and encourage single women to vote on November 4, 2008. The organization plans reg istration programs in 26 states with a goal of registering over 1 million women. WVWV also partners with other nonprofit organizations and shares its resources to increase the effectiveness and impact of voter mobilization programs.

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 Hardest Hit by Pay Inequity

2008-04-22T05:56:00Z

Study Finds Income Disparities Leave Unmarried Women Behind

WASHINGTON, DC -- As Equal Pay Day approaches, a new study from Women's Voices Women Vote finds unmarried women are most vulnerable to pay inequity when compared to unmarried men, married men or married women.

Examination of Census Data finds unmarried women earn less than men, and married women, in terms of family, household and personal earnings. The average household income of unmarried women is almost $12,000 less than that of unmarried men.

"On Tuesday, our nation recognizes Equal Pay Day, and takes a look at how far into the year a woman would have to work to earn as much as a man earned the previous year," said Page Gardner, President of Women's Voices Women Vote. "Income disparities hit unmarried women the hardest, resulting in a women on her own having to work until September 27 of the following year to earn as much money as a typical man makes."

The Lake Research Partners study, commissioned by Women's Voices Women Vote, found unmarried women earn only 56 cents for every dollar a married man earns. In terms of personal earnings, unmarried women live on only $37,264 per year, which is nearly $6,000 less than unmarried men ($42,843) and nearly $30,000 less than married men ($66,646) earn.

"Unmarried women are 53 million strong in this country, and they work hard every day to provide for their families and create better futures for themselves," said Gardner. "These women are making it on their own, and deserve to be compensated equally to men and married women for the work they do," Gardner said.

Unmarried women not only earn less than unmarried men, and married men and women, but they are the sole provider of basic household costs. Unmarried women spend 37 percent of their household income on basic household costs, while married women report spending only 32 percent of their household income on these expenses. The study finds unmarried women have nearly $225 less to spend per month than unmarried men do.

"Our research finds unmarried women are interested in the general election, and they have been participating in the 2008 primaries at historic rates," said Gardner. "Our latest poll found unmarried women are profoundly concerned with economic issues, and placed strong emphasis on Pay Equity. Unmarried women not only deserve equal pay for equal work, but they need paycheck fairness to survive in our world today."

The full report on unmarried women and income disparity is available at http://www.wvwv.org/assets/2008/4/18/memo.income.pdf.

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.

Women's Voices Women Vote recently released a policy agenda outlining concerns of unmarried women. The agenda finds the policy issue concerns of unmarried women are driven by the effect of the economy and income disparity on their daily lives. The full policy agenda of unmarried women is available at www.wvwv.org.

Unmarried Women Prove Powerful Spenders, Critical Sector of American Economy

2008-03-14T17:17:00Z

The steadily growing number of unmarried women has catapulted this demographic to a potent force in American economic society. Despite earning considerably less than unmarried men (56 cents for every dollar), single women are incredibly active consumers.

Report finds great influence of unmarried women in the marketplace

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The steadily growing number of unmarried women has catapulted this demographic to a potent force in American economic society. Despite earning considerably less than unmarried men (56 cents for every dollar), single women are incredibly active consumers.

A new study, Unmarried Women in the Marketplace, finds that although the spending power of a typical unmarried woman is more limited, their growing numbers and lifestyle clearly indicate they are a critical market for American businesses.

Unmarried women comprise 53 million Americans, and outnumber unmarried men by 25 percent. As a group, unmarried women are the fastest growing large demographic in America, and are frequently the fastest growing group conducting new purchases.

"Our country is made-up of more unmarried women than men," said Page Gardner, president of Women's Voices Women Vote. "Today's single woman is increasingly more likely to own her own home and take on the role of head of household, ultimately making her a powerhouse in our economy," Gardner said.

Unmarried women are the second largest group of homebuyers in the country. Compared to unmarried men, single women are 10 percentage points less likely to live with their parents, making them second only to married couples in home purchases.

Close to 60 percent of unmarried women assume head household roles in the country, making them primarily responsible for their households' major purchasing decisions. In fact, recent major purchasers of large home furnishings and clothing are unmarried women. As unmarried women are much more likely than unmarried men to be the primary heads of their own households (44% of unmarried men are heads of households), single women are competitive with single men for recent large home purchases.

"We have found that unmarried women heavily rely on word-of-mouth as a source of information. This type of communication is also highly influential in their decisions regarding politics, and purchases," said Gardner. "We're seeing women on their own impact the marketplace even more than their available income would suggest due to their strong ties to their community and large participation in groups," said Gardner.

Unmarried women are more likely than unmarried men to participate in organized groups, allowing them to also influence the shopping habits of others. The economic influence of unmarried women is enhanced by their greater participation in organized groups, providing an outlet for them to shape the opinions of millions of other consumers through their interactions with friends and family members in these groups.

The Lake Research memo, Unmarried Women in the Marketplace, was commissioned by Women's Voices Women Vote, and may be viewed on their website.

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. With a goal of registering over 1 million unmarried women to vote, WVWV is currently conducting an aggressive mail registration program, and sponsoring the "20 Million Reasons to Vote" Public Service Announcements.

Unmarried Women Vote in Potomac Primary in Record Numbers

2008-02-13T20:43:00Z

Network exit polls reveal unmarried women continued their historically high participation in the 2008 primaries in today's Maryland and Virginia Democratic primaries, and were a powerful component of the dramatic young (under 30) and female turnout.

Unmarrieds influential voters of Youth and Females

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- “ Network exit polls reveal unmarried women continued their historically high participation in the 2008 primaries in today's Maryland and Virginia Democratic primaries, and were a powerful component of the dramatic young (under 30) and female turnout.

In an historic election based on the dramatic increase in total turnout, the significant increase in turnout of under 30 year olds, and the clear majority turnout of all women, unmarried women not only contributed to these three historic points, they were significantly drivers of these powerful trends.

"Just as they have in all of the other elections, unmarried women in Maryland and Virginia are making their voices heard," said Page Gardner, President of Women's Voices Women Vote. "In the 2008 elections, we've not only seen unmarried women participate in high numbers, but also represent a large percentage of the youth vote as well, nearly half so far this year." said Gardner. In sixteen Super Tuesday races, unmarried women were 46 percent of all Democratic voters under 30 years old, and comprised 45 percent of all women voters.

Unmarried women were a considerably larger share of the electorate than the youth vote in both states Maryland voters under 29 years old were 14 percent of the electorate; half that of the proportion of unmarried women voters. In Virginia, unmarried women participated at 150 percent the rate of the 14 percent of voters under the age of 29.

Exit polls in the Virginia and Maryland Republican primaries did not include the marital status question.

"The incredible turnout of women on their own in these early contests is a clear sign that unmarried women are the key group that is participating, and their high rates of voting span age and gender," said Gardner. "Unmarried women are playing a critical role in the 2008 elections, and demanding the attention of the Presidential candidates," said Gardner.

For the first time in history, nationally there are as many unmarried women -- single, separated, divorced, widowed -- as there are married women. There are 53 million unmarried women in the country, and they are 26 percent of eligible voters. However, compared to their married sisters, unmarried women historically are 9 percentage points less likely to register, and 13 percentage points less likely to vote. Marital status has been one of the top four determinants of whether an individual will vote.

"Ninety percent of unmarried women agreed they must speak up and make their presence felt in the national conversation, if they are not satisfied with the direction our country is headed in" said Gardner, referencing WVWV's latest research. "Our research tells us that unmarried women are proud that they're making it on their own, and feel it's time for the decision-makers in Washington to understand the societal contributions of single women, and create public policies reflective of their every-day life," said Gardner.

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. With a goal of registering over 1 million unmarried women to vote, WVWV is currently conducting an aggressive mail registration program, and sponsoring the "20 Million Reasons to Vote" Public Service Announcements. The PSAs feature stars such as Julia Louis Dreyfus, Jurnee Smollett, and Christine Lahti and are set in the Oval Office, evoking the importance of having women's voices heard and their power felt in electing candidates to every office. The PSAs are visible at wvwv.org.

WOMEN'S VOICES WOMEN VOTE LAUNCHES NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE

2008-02-08T08:13:00Z

WASHINGTON, DC -- “An unprecedented voter registration drive aimed at the 15 million unmarried women who are not registered to vote will hit mailboxes in 22 states beginning today, as Women's Voices Women Vote launches its largest voter registration drive ever aimed at the nation's largest group of unregistered citizens. In Virginia alone, more than 228,441 citizens will receive voter registration forms in the mail.

Reaching Unmarried Women in Virginia

WOMEN'S VOICES WOMEN VOTE LAUNCHES NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE

Unprecedented mailing aims at Unmarried Women

20 million now unregistered, not voting

With the power to decide elections

Women's Voices Women Vote, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing the number of unmarried women participating in our democracy, is mailing voter registration forms to more than 4.1 million homes in 22 states: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington state, and Wisconsin.

"In 2008, a new America will be going to the polls. For the first time in history, a majority of households are headed by an unmarried person, and the number of women who are single, separated divorced or widowed is equal to the number of married women,â€ said Page Gardner, President of Women's Voices Women Vote. "But the voices of 20 million unmarried women are not being heard because they are not registered and not voting. Yet, they have enormous power in every election this year."

U.S. Census data shows unmarried women now represent more than 26 percent of the eligible voting age population. In the last presidential election in 2004, of the 20 million who did not participate, nearly 15 million were not registered and another 5 million were registered but did not vote. Compared to married women, single women are 9 percentage points less likely to register and 13 percentage points less likely to vote.

"These are our grandmothers, our mothers, our aunts; our sisters and our friends -- across all ages, all races and income levels. These are women facing real challenges in their lives, whether making ends meet, managing a health care crisis without insurance, or worrying about the cost of war," said Gardner. "Unmarried women have already had a profound impact and high participation rates in the 2008 primaries and caucuses. Making it as easy as possible to register to vote will ensure more single women make their voices are heard in our democracy."

From 1960 to 2006, the percentage of the voting age population which is unmarried grew from 27 to 47 percent, according to U.S. Census data. Between the 2002 and 2006 election, the growth rate of unmarried Americans doubled that of married Americans, a trend, that if it continues, means unmarried people will be the majority of the U.S. population within 15 years.

In addition to mailing voter registration forms, WVWV is also encouraging unmarried women to register and vote through innovative online efforts, and is sponsoring the Public Service Announcement campaign, "20 Million Reasons to Vote." The PSAs feature stars such as Christine Lahti and Julia Louis Dreyfus, and are set in the Oval Office, evoking the importance of having women's voices heard and their power felt in electing candidates to every office. The PSAs are visible at wvwv.org.

Early State Elections Identify Importance of Unmarried Women in Electorate

2008-02-01T19:27:00Z

As candidates look forward to the 22 states holding primaries and caucuses on February 5, Womenâ€™s Voices Women Vote releases a report detailing the strong turnout of unmarried women in the early state contests, as well as identifying their significance as vital swing voters.

Unmarried women vote in record number; possess great potential as swing voters

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As candidates look forward to the 22 states holding primaries and caucuses on February 5, Womenâ€™s Voices Women Vote releases a report detailing the strong turnout of unmarried women in the early state contests, as well as identifying their significance as vital swing voters.

WVWVâ€™s and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Researchâ€™s latest report, Unmarried Women Active in Early Contests, examines exit polls from 2008 primaries and caucuses that asked marital status of voters. The report identifies the elevated level of participation of unmarried women, and examines the impact of their vote.

â€œThe incredible turnout of women on their own in these early contests is a clear sign that unmarried women will play a critical role in the national discussion, and demand the attention of the Presidential candidates,â€ said Page Gardner, President of Womenâ€™s Voices Women Vote. â€œThe impressive measure of unmarried women in these early races is an encouraging sign that the 20 million unmarried women absent on Election Day in 2004, will make their voices heard in 2008,â€ said Gardner.

In the early nominating contests participation rates of unmarried women has equaled, or exceeded their over-all share of the population. Unmarried women comprise 20 percent of all registered Iowa voters, and were a stunning 26 percent of all voters in the Democratic caucus. In New Hampshire, unmarried women are 19 percent of the stateâ€™s registered voters, and were 22 percent of Democratic primary voters. Unmarried women were 30 percent of Democratic voters in South Carolina, while they make up 23 percent of registered voters in the state.

â€œIn these early contests, unmarried women have shown up and voted at a higher share than their proportion of registered voters,â€ said Gardner. â€œIt is clear --- unmarried women are making their voices heard. All of the early elections have seen women on their own are paying attention, participating, and making the difference,â€ said Gardner.

In the three Democratic contests where marital status was asked, unmarried women have made up more than one in five of all voters in each contest and more than one in four voters twice. Unmarried women have not only participated in record number, but have also emerged as the decisive voters. Compared to other demographics, unmarried women have proven their vote is not guaranteed for any one candidate, as they have emerged as one the true swing groups in early primaries and caucuses.

â€œMost groups, like young voters, have consistently come out in support of the same candidate in each of the races,â€ noted Gardner. â€œUnmarried women, regardless of their age or race, have greatly impacted political outcomes, and have shown us their vote is up for grabs. Single women have an agenda, and they will support whichever candidate speaks to the issues they care about,â€ said Gardner.

Senator Obama won the Iowa caucus and the votes of unmarried women by 13 points over Senator Clinton. In New Hampshire, Senator Clinton won the support of more than half (51%) of all single women voters, and subsequently the primary. In the largest swing of any demographic, unmarried women offered a 32 point difference from Iowa to New Hampshire. Comparing results from New Hampshire to the South Carolina primary, the swing vote of unmarried women was 46 points, as Obama won 57 percent of single womenâ€™s votes.

Marital status has not been asked in all of the 2008 primary and caucus exit polls. On the Democratic side, the marital status question was included in every contest except Nevada. On the Republican side, marital status was only asked in New Hampshire.

For the first time in history, nationally there are as many unmarried women â€“ single, separated, divorced, widowed â€“ as there are married women. There are 53 million unmarried women in the country, and they account for 26% of eligible voters. However, compared to their married sisters, unmarried women in recent history are 9 percentage points less likely to register, and 13 percentage points less likely to vote. Marital status is one of the top four determinants of whether an individual will vote.

Although unmarried women historically register and vote at lower rates than married women, WVWVâ€™s recent research indicates unmarried women will improve their participation in the electorate in 2008. In an example of their eagerness to participate, among single women in New Hampshire, one in nine Democratic primary voters, and one in fourteen Republican primary voters registered on Election Day.

â€œNinety percent of unmarried women agreed they must speak up and make their presence felt in the national conversation, if they are not satisfied with the direction our country is headed inâ€ said Gardner, referencing WVWVâ€™s latest research. â€œOur research tells us that unmarried women are proud that theyâ€™re making it on their own, and feel itâ€™s time for the decision-makers in Washington to understand the societal contributions of single women, and create public policies reflective of their every-day life,â€ said Gardner.

WVWV polling shows unmarried women think this country is on the wrong track by greater margins than most voters, yet they are also overwhelmingly hopeful the election can substantially change the country. According to polling data, 75% of unmarried women surveyed said they were â€œabsolutely certainâ€ they would vote in the 2008 election.

The full report may be viewed at: http://www.wvwv.org/assets/2008/2/1/ep.pdf

Womenâ€™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. With a goal of registering over 1 million unmarried women to vote, WVWV is currently conducting an aggressive mail registration program, and sponsoring the â€œ20 Million Reasons to Voteâ€ Public Service Announcements. The PSAs feature stars such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jurnee Smollett, and Christine Lahti, and they are set in the Oval Office, evoking the importance of having womenâ€™s voices heard and their power felt in electing candidates to every office. The PSAs are visible at wvwv.org.

Some memo data was derived from the National Election Pool Survey conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International, a cooperative arrangement among ABC News, The Associated Press, CBS News, Cable News Network, FOX News and NBC News.

New Report Identifies Importance of Unmarried African American Women in 2008 Elections

2008-01-23T15:50:00Z

On the cusp of the South Carolina Democratic primary, Womenâ€™s Voices Women Vote releases new research detailing the impact of unmarried African American women in the 2008 elections.

New Report Identifies Importance of Unmarried African American Women in 2008 Elections

Womenâ€™s Voices Women Vote report highlights impact of Unmarried African American Women in upcoming elections

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ On the cusp of the South Carolina Democratic primary, Womenâ€™s Voices Women Vote releases new research detailing the impact of unmarried African American women in the 2008 elections.

â€œUnmarried women are the fastest growing, large demographic, and African American women are eighteen percent of all single women in our country,â€ said Page Gardner, President of Womenâ€™s Voices Women Vote. â€œAfrican American women have an agenda and they will take that agenda into the voting booth,â€ said Gardner.

WVWVâ€™s latest research notes unmarried African American women are highly motivated to vote, and economic issues dominate their agenda. â€œUnmarried African American women are asserting their political power like never before,â€ according to the analysis conducted by Lake Research Partners. The study identified that unmarried African American women typically have a less formal education, earn less money, and are more likely to be raising a child.

â€œAfrican American unmarried women struggle to make ends meet and they will listen to candidates who have something to say about their lives and their hopes for the future,â€ said Gardner. â€œAll of the primaries and caucuses so far have seen high numbers of unmarried women coming to the polls. African Americans vote more than any other group of unmarried women, and will be a vital bloc of voters in upcoming race in South Carolina, Florida and other states on February 5.â€

In New Hampshire, unmarried women voted in historic numbers, accounting for 22 percent Democratic primary votersâ€”equal to their overall share in the population as a whole. Significantly more unmarried women in New Hampshire voted in the primary than voted in the 2006 general elections. In Iowa, unmarried women accounted for 28 percent of all Democratic caucus goers â€“ a considerably larger proportion than their share of the overall state (22 percent).

â€œUnmarried women have historically been the countryâ€™s largest group of non-voters, yet they are highly motivated to make their voices heard in 2008,â€ noted Gardner.

Unmarried women are also proving to be the pivotal voters. Exit surveys show a 32-point difference between Iowa and New Hampshire among unmarried women, one of the highest swings of any major demographic subgroups. In Iowa, Senator Obama captured the single womenâ€™s vote by 13 points (40 percent for Obama to 27 percent for Clinton), while in New Hampshire, Clinton won single women by 19 points (51 percent for Clinton to 32 percent for Obama). Unmarried women were 12 percent of the Republican electorate, and were half of John McCain's margin of victory in New Hampshire. Marital status has not been asked in all of the primaries and caucuses.

â€œOur research shows us, and the first races have confirmed unmarried women are extremely motivated to participate in the 2008 elections, and make their voices heard in the 2008 races,â€ said Gardner. â€œAfrican American unmarried women will support the candidate who addresses their economic concerns and will help them provide a strong community for their families.

For the first time in history, nationally there are as many unmarried women â€“ single, separated, divorced, widowed â€“ as there are married women. There are 53 million unmarried women in the country, and they account for 26% of eligible voters. However, compared to their married sisters, unmarried women are 9 percentage points less likely to register, and 13 percentage points less likely to vote. Marital status is one of the top four determinants of whether an individual will vote.

Womenâ€™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. With a goal of registering over 1 million unmarried women to vote, WVWV is currently conducting an aggressive mail registration program, and sponsoring the â€œ20 Million Reasons to Voteâ€ Public Service Announcements. The PSAs feature stars such as Jurnee Smollett, Christine Lahti and Julia Louis Dreyfus, and are set in the Oval Office, evoking the importance of having womenâ€™s voices heard and their power felt in electing candidates to every office. The PSAs are visible at wvwv.org.

Unmarried Women Prove Vital to Primary Victories

2008-01-10T17:19:00Z

New Hampshire Primary Indicative of Unmarried Women’s Influence in Elections

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ Network exit polls reveal unmarried women in New Hampshire accounted for 22 percent of all Democratic primary voters, and proved pivotal to Senator Clinton’s victory, as they were to Senator Obama’s win in Iowa.

New Hampshire Primary Indicative of Unmarried Women’s Influence in Elections

“Unmarried women were extremely influential in Clinton capturing New Hampshire’s primary,” said Page Gardner, founder and President of Women’s Voices. Women Vote. “Single women gave a majority of their votes to Senator Clinton,” said Gardner.

In New Hampshire, Clinton carried single women by 17 points, with 50 percent voting for Clinton, 33 percent for Obama and 11 percent for Edwards.

Exit surveys suggest nearly a 30-point swing between Iowa and New Hampshire among unmarried women, one of the highest swings of any major demographic subgroups.

“These results compared to what we saw in Iowa last week show that the votes of unmarried women are up for grabs,” said Gardner, noting that Obama captured the single women’s vote in Iowa by 13 points (40 percent for Obama to 27 percent for Clinton). “Clearly women on their own are motivated to participate, and can be the deciding vote for the candidate who speaks to their issues and concerns,” said Gardner.

In New Hampshire, unmarried women once again voted in historic numbers. They were 22 percent of the Democratic primary votersâ€”equal to their overall share in the population as a whole. Unmarried Iowan women voted at a larger proportion of their share of their overall state. Last week, unmarried women accounted for 28 percent of all Democratic caucusgoers, while they comprise 22 percent of all eligible voters in the state. Unmarried women constitute 12 percent of the Republican electorate. They gave Senator McCain a six point margin.

â€œUnmarried women have historically been the country’s largest group of non-voters, yet they are highly motivated to make their voices heard in 2008,â€ said Page Gardner.

For the first time in history, nationally there are as many unmarried women â€“ single, separated, divorced, widowed â€“ as there are married women. There are 53 million unmarried women in the country, and they account for 26% of eligible voters. However, compared to their married sisters, unmarried women are 9 percentage points less likely to register, and 13 percentage points less likely to vote. Marital status is one of the top four determinants of whether an individual will vote.

â€œThe incredible turnout of New Hampshire women on their own who voted, along with their overwhelming participation in Iowa, it is clear that unmarried women will play a critical role in the national discussion, and demand the attention of the Presidential candidates,” said Gardner. â€œThe impressive measure of unmarried women in New Hampshire and Iowa are encouraging signs that the 20 million unmarried women absent on Election Day in 2004, will make their voices heard in 2008.â€

Although unmarried women historically register and vote at lower rates than married women, experts predict, and research indicates unmarried women could not only register in record numbers, but also vote and be influential in determining the next president. WVWV’s latest research indicates unmarried women will improve their participation in the electorate in 2008.

“Ninety percent of unmarried women agreed they must speak up and make their presence felt in the national conversation, if they are not satisfied with the direction our country is headed in” said Gardner, referencing WVWV’s latest research. “Our most recent research tells us that unmarried women are proud that they’re making it on their own, and feel it’s time for the decision-makers in Washington to understand the societal contributions of single women, and create public policies reflective of their every-day life,” said Gardner.

Research indicates unmarried women think this country is on the wrong track by greater margins than any other group of voters, yet are also overwhelmingly hopeful the election can substantially change the country. According to polling data, 75% of unmarried women surveyed said they were “absolutely certain” they would vote in the 2008 election.

In New Hampshire, Women’s Voices. Women Vote worked with USAction and New Hampshire Citizen Alliance to register unmarried women on election day in Manchester. 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 Caucus in Record Numbers

2008-01-09T22:05:00Z

In the first contest for the White House, unmarried women of Iowa accounted for 28 percent of all Democratic caucus goers, trumping their overall share of the state's population.

Iowa Caucus Indicative of Unmarried Women's Influence in Elections

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ In the first contest for the White House, unmarried women of Iowa accounted for 28 percent of all Democratic caucus goers, trumping their overall share of the state's population.

"Unmarried women are the largest bloc of non-voters in the country, yet last night they made up a greater share of the electorate than their overall measure of the entire state population," said Page Gardner, President and founder of Women's Voices. Women Vote. "The high turnout of unmarried women making their voices heard in Iowa suggests that unmarried women across the country will make their presence felt at the polls to vote, demanding attention of the candidates," said Gardner.

While unmarried women are 22 percent of the eligible voting age population in Iowa, network entrance polls report that they were 28 percent of participants in the Democratic caucus. Returns by marital status in the Republican contest have not yet been released. Married women, by contrast, were in-line with their proportion of the overall population, accounting for 29 percent of the eligible population in Iowa, and accounting for 29% of Democratic caucus attendees.

For the first time in history, nationally there are as many unmarried women â€“ single, separated, divorced, widowed â€“ as there are married women (approximately 53 million of each). However, Compared to their married sisters, unmarried women are 9 percentage points less likely to register, and 13 percentage points less likely to vote. Marital status is one of the top four determinants of whether an individual will vote.

Although unmarried women historically register and vote at lower rates than married women, experts predict, and research indicates unmarried women could not only register in record numbers, but also vote and be influential in determining the next president. Recently released Democracy Corps polling data indicates unmarried women will improve their participation in the electorate in 2008. The poll noted specifically that unmarried women expressed elevated levels of interest in the election.

"90% of unmarried women agreed they must speak up and make their presence felt in the national conversation, if they are not satisfied with the direction our country is headed in," said Gardner, referencing WVWV's latest research. "Our most recent research tells us that unmarried women are proud that they're making it on their own, and feel it's time for the decision-makers in Washington to acknowledge their societal contributions, and respect their realities of every-day life," said Gardner.

Research indicates unmarried women are displeased with the direction the country is headed, yet are also overwhelmingly hopeful the election can substantially change the country. According to polling data 75% of unmarried women surveyed said they were "absolutely certain" they would vote in the 2008 election.

"In the last presidential election, over 150,000 unmarried women in Iowa were absent from the voting booth on Election Day. Those women were part of the 20 million unmarried women in the country whose voices were silent in 2004" said Gardner. "The 28% of Iowan women on their own who caucused is the first example of the critical role unmarried women will play in the national discussion, and demanding the attention of the Presidential candidates."

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.

Womenâ€™s Voices. Women Vote Announce Launch â€˜20 MILLION REASONS TO VOTEâ€™ Campaign

2007-11-05T19:47:00Z

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ What do an actress, a magician and a cop have in common?

They are women urging other women to register and vote in a new public service announcement campaign sponsored by the non-partisan organization Women's Voices. Women Vote. Some of Hollywood's leading actresses and women from all walks of life are part of the campaign being launched one year out from the 2008 elections aimed at registering and turning out the vote. The PSAâ€™s are set to a powerful rendition of â€œAmerica the Beautifulâ€ performed by Barbra Streisand.

â€œThe goal is to motivate the 20 million American women on their own - single, separated, divorced and widowed - who didn't vote in the last election to register and go to the polls on November 4, 2008, â€ said Page Gardner, founder and President of WVWV, of the ad campaign. â€œThe economic, social and political implications reflected in the power of this important new voting bloc are profound. We want their voices heard in our democracy.â€

Womenâ€™s Voices. Women Vote Announce Launch â€˜20 MILLION REASONS TO VOTEâ€™ Campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. â€“ What do an actress, a magician and a cop have in common?

Women on their own make up the largest bloc of non-voters in the nation, and are the fastest growing large demographic. The Public Service Announcements are set in the Oval Office, evoking the importance of having the womenâ€™s voices heard and their power felt in electing candidates to every office.

To view the public service announcements, click here.

The PSA campaign is created by Producer Julie Bergman Sender and Academy Award nominated director Stuart Sender. Their Production firm, Balcony Films specializes in creating and distributing visual content and large-scale campaigns for television, the internet, radio, and theaters.

Unmarried women represent 26% of all eligible voters and half of all women in this country. While 27 million single women did vote in 2004, 20 million single women did not vote. Compared to their married sisters, they are 9% less likely to register and 13% less likely to vote.

â€œThere is a marriage gap in this country. The difference is between how married and unmarried women live, work, and participate in our democracy. Womenâ€™s Voices. Women Vote is dedicated to one proposition --- that the voices of women on their own are heard, that their lives and their concerns are addressed by candidates and that their voices are heard in our democracy. America loses when the voices of these women are not included,â€ said Gardner.

â€œThe extraordinary women from all walks of life who gave their efforts to our PSAâ€™s -- an exercise in democracy to make sure women on their own participate â€“ are performing a uniquely American act in volunteering to help make our country stronger through greater democratic participation,â€ said Gardner.

The women in the public service ads include:

* Tina Gainsbrough and her daughter Sandy Price. Tina is 87, and first voted during the Great Depression. Tinaâ€™s mother was pregnant with her when she marched for women's suffrage.

* Julia Louis Dreyfus, actress and environmental activist. Julia is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning actress and comedian. She starred in NBCâ€™s Seinfeld and was a member of the Saturday Night Live cast for two seasons. She currently stars in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine.

* Rachel Pusak, young nurse practitioner. After Hurricane Katrina, she raised money to go to New Orleans and help victims of Katrina.

* Christine Lahti, Oscar winner, political activist and mother of three. She won an Emmy and two Golden Globes for her role in Chicago Hope.

* Jasmine Segura, single mom of a young son and fights fires for the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

* Amber Tamblyn, actress. She starred in the CBS series Joan of Arcadia and the film The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants. She has been an active voice for voter registration.

* Candice Clark, artist and apartment manager, raising her 15 month old daughter Thace on her own.

* Jurnee Smollett, young actress co starring in the soon to be released film The Great Debaters with Denzel Washington.

* Farrah Siegel, 18 year old magician who will be voting for the first time.

* Sarah Paulson, actress best known for her work on NBCâ€™s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and HBOâ€™s acclaimed series Deadwood.

The PSAs are part of a broader campaign by Women's Voices. Women Vote to register and encourage single women to vote on November 7, 2008. The organization plans registration programs in 25 states in 2007 and 2008 with a goal of registering over 1 million women. WVWV also partners with other nonprofit organizations and shares its resources to increase the effectiveness and impact of voter mobilization programs.

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.

Hollywood Actresses Dish About Their First Time

2006-10-17T15:01:00Z

LOS ANGELES - Felicity Huffman likes to do it in the morning; Tyne Daly first did it in 1968 - the "Summer of Love"; Angie Harmon researched all the possible positions; and Regina King has done it in other people's houses.

Are these Hollywood actresses really dishing about their first time? You bet - their first time in the voting booth.

October 17, 2006

Felicity Huffman, Regina King and Rosario Dawson and others participate in new PSA Campaign encouraging single women to vote.

Are these Hollywood actresses really dishing about their first time? You bet - their first time in the voting booth.

In a new public service announcement campaign sponsored by the non-partisan organization Women's Voices. Women Vote. some of Hollywood's leading actresses describe the empowerment that came with casting their first ballots. The actresses hope to motivate the 20 million American women on their own - single, divorced and widowed - who didn't vote in the last election to go to the polls on November 7.

To view the public service announcements, click here.

Women on their own make up the largest bloc of non-voters in the nation, and are the largest and fastest growing demographic in America today. In fact, almost half of all women in the country are on their own. A front-page New York Times story last week, based on an analysis of new census figures, confirmed that single households are now the national majority. According to the story, the potential social and economic implications are "profound."

While 27 million single women did vote in 2004, these single women are still among the least likely to register or vote on Election Day. And in mid-term elections, they are much more likely than married women to "drop-off." In fact, 7 million women, or 24% of single women who voted in 2004, are expected to stay home from the polls in 2006.

"With recent elections hinging on little more than half a million votes nationally, single women have more power than they realize - or exercise," said Page Gardner, Founder and President of Women's Voices. Women Vote. "It's time to change that."

Felicity Huffman, Rosario Dawson, Angie Harmon, Marg Helgenberger and Lauren Graham are among the actresses who have contributed their talents to this campaign, speaking passionately about the importance of single women voting.

"The right to vote is a privilege and a strength, and we should use it," said actress Rosario Dawson.

Actress Felicity Huffman echoed that sentiment saying, "I'm so glad and so grateful to be an American. I think one of the essential responsibilities is voting so that our voice is heard; that we actually can make a difference."

The PSAs are part of a broader campaign by Women's Voices. Women Vote. to register and encourage single women to vote on November 7. The organization has registration and mobilization programs in 17 states across the country - including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Ohio and Pennsylvania. WVWV also partners with other nonprofit organizations and shares its resources to increase the effectiveness and impact of voter mobilization programs.

Women's Voices. Women Vote. is a non-partisan organization created to activate unmarried Americans to participate in their government and in our democracy.

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Women's Voices. Women Vote. Names First Executive Director

2006-05-15T11:07:00Z

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to build upon its 2004 election success, Women's Voices. Women Vote. has named former Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research C.O.O. Joe Goode to become its first Executive Director. Goode brings a wealth of management, research and campaign experience to an organization that helped dramatically increase turnout of unmarried women during the 2004 election.

"We have made great progress over the last three years, but we must keep up with our expanded operations for 2006," said Page Gardner, President of Women's Voices. Women Vote. "Joe brings management and political expertise that will be essential to guiding our efforts this year and growing the organization over the long term."

May 15, 2006

Joe Goode brings political, management, research expertise to renowned targeting and turnout organization.

Goode has worked as both a manager and pollster. He comes to WVWV from Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (GQR), where he served as chief operating officer since 1999. Under his management, the company doubled in size and established itself as an international leader in survey research and campaign consulting. Goode also provided polling services and analytic advice to select clients during his tenure as COO.

Goode was the campaign manager for the successful 1996 campaign of North Carolina Congressman David Price. After serving as the congressman's district director, Goode returned to Washington as a vice president at the polling firm of Lake Snell Perry. He worked with firm president Celinda Lake on various U.S. political campaigns and provided research for non-profit organizations and foundations.

Goode began his polling career as director of computing services for Greenberg-Lake, Inc. in 1989. He was the senior analyst on CEO Stan Greenberg's work for the Clinton for President campaign in 1992, assisting in the development and implementation of all polling and focus groups for the primary and general election campaigns. After the election, Goode served as the lead analyst for Greenberg on all research conducted for the White House and Democratic National Committee from 1993 to 1995.

Goode graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in political science.

Women's Voices. Women Vote is a 501(c)3 non-profit that conducts research, develops lists, targets and turns out unmarried women voters. Its groundbreaking research on the marriage gap, as well as demographic and attitudinal research on unmarried women voters and non-voters can be reviewed on its website, at www.wvwv.org.

The marriage gap is one of the most important dynamics of modern politics. According to The Almanac of American Politics, the marriage gap is "far wider than the oft-touted gender gap."

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