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

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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WVWV Applauds Passage of American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan Signed today by President Obama

2009-02-17T19:43:00Z

Statement by Page S. Gardner, President, Women’s Voices. Women Vote:

“Today’s signing of the historic American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan by President Barack Obama is a much needed boost for not only the American economy generally, but for those who are among the hardest hit by this economic crisis.

“Unmarried women are suffering from the effects of this recession – the January 2009 Bureau of Labor Statistic numbers tell the story of the marriage gap. The current national unemployment figures show that, while married women were experiencing an unemployment rate of 4.9%, unmarried women had an unemployment rate of 9.3%—in other words, unmarried women had an unemployment rate that is almost double of married women.

"The economic downturn has had a catastrophic impact on the country and this economic recovery and reinvestment package comes at a critical time. This package will create much needed jobs and stability for families struggling to make ends meet,” Gardner concluded.

Statement by Page S. Gardner, President, Women's Voices. Women Vote:

Women's Voices. Women Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization created to educate unmarried women about participating in their government and in our democracy.

Women's Voices. Women Vote Urge Senate Passage of American Recovery & Reinvestment Plan as Critical for Unmarried Women

2009-02-06T22:48:00Z

Statement by Page S. Gardner, President, Women's Voices. Women Vote (www.wvwv.org):

"The U.S. Senate’s upcoming vote on the historic American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is a much needed boost for not only the American economy generally, but for those who are among the hardest hit by this economic crisis.”

New Poll by WVWV shows overwhelming approval for the package

Statement by Page S. Gardner, President, Women's Voices. Women Vote (www.wvwv.org):

“Despite reports of sagging support for the stimulus, a new Women’s Voices. Women’s Vote. survey, shows broad approval for the package and the President. 66 percent of voters support the bill, just 29 percent oppose:

Question language: “As you may have heard, the Obama Administration and the Congress introduced e a major recovery package to create four million new jobs and jump start the economy. The plan would invest in infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, schools and invest new energy, cut taxes and extend unemployment and health care benefits for workers who have lost their jobs. It is likely that this package will cost as much as 850 billion dollars over two years. From what you have heard, do you favor or oppose this plan?”

“This package is supported by a huge majority of Democrats (90 percent), Independents (60 percent) and surprising number of Republicans (40 percent).

“This survey, conducted between January 22nd and February 3, 2009, by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, interviewed 1,659, 2008 voters on the stimulus package and other issues. The total margin of error for this survey is +/- 2.41 points at a 95 percent confidence level.

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.

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Statement by Page S. Gardner, President, Women’s Voices. Women Vote, on today’s unemployment numbers and the impact on unmarried women

2009-02-06T21:55:00Z

“Today’s unemployment numbers issued by the Labor Department, the worst unemployment numbers since 1974, paint a bleak story for the American economy, 7.6% unemployment overall. Unmarried women are unemployed at an even higher rate than the overall national average – Unmarried women’s’ unemployed rate is 9.3% while married women’s unemployed rate is below the national average at 4.9%.

“Today’s unemployment numbers issued by the Labor Department, the worst unemployment numbers since 1974, paint a bleak story for the American economy, 7.6% unemployment overall. Unmarried women are unemployed at an even higher rate than the overall national average – Unmarried women’s unemployed rate is 9.3% while married women’s’ unemployed rate is below the national average at 4.9%.

“By comparison, single women – widowed, divorced, separated – had an unemployment rate of 6.9% in December 2008.

“These staggering numbers prove, once again, why the President’s Reinvestment & Recovery Plan is so important and why it must be passed now.

“This is a critical time for this sector of the population – a sector whose voices were heard loud and clear this past election cycle. Since 2004, Women’s Voices Women Vote has worked to register unmarried women – an historically underrepresented demographic – and has generated over one million voter registration applications to date, including over 900,000 in 2008 alone.”

WVWV has worked to ensure unmarried women get out and vote through efforts including mailing approximately one million vote-by-mail applications to unmarried women in Colorado, Ohio, Iowa, Montana, and Nevada; calling over one million women asking them to “Promise” to vote; mailing voter information packets to unmarried women in 18 states; sending same-day registration packets to women in Wisconsin and Iowa; and placing a Public Service Announcement on national talk radio, in which Barbra Streisand urges women, particularly unmarried women, to vote.

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Statement by Page S. Gardner, President,Women’s Voices. Women Vote, on the passage of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Legislation

2009-02-04T23:01:00Z

“For the millions of unmarried women across American worrying about how to provide health care for their children, President Obama’s actions today reauthorizing and expanding SCHIP sends the message that change has come to Washington and help is on the way. Women’s Voices. Women’s Vote applauds the President for signing this critical piece of legislation that will preserve access to healthcare of low-income families.

“I commend the Senators and House Members, as well as President Obama who supported this legislation, which provides health care services critical to women who are struggling to provide for their families in these stressed economic times.

“Women on their own are the fastest growing large demographic in our country and nearly a fifth of whom are single moms, with children living at home.

“Unmarried women are 53 million strong, making them half of all women in our country. SCHIP is vital to this growing demographic, as 22 percent of these women on their own live below the poverty line. One in five unmarried women in our country does not have private health insurance and 28 percent of unmarried women rely on Medicare, compared to just 20 percent of married Americans.

“At a time when half of all children under six years old are living in a household with a single mother and are living in poverty, the signing of SCHIP into law today will strengthen American by keeping our most vulnerable mothers and children healthy.”

U.S. Senate Passage of State Children's Health Insurance Program Legislation Vital for Unmarried Women

2009-01-30T17:00:00Z

Statement by Page S. Gardner, president, Women’s Voices. Women Vote, on the vote by the U.S. Senate in favor of State Children’s Health Insurance Program legislation:

“Today the U.S. Senate passed State Children’s Health Insurance Program legislation, preserving access to healthcare of low-income families. I commend the Senators who support this legislation, providing services critical to women who are single, separated, divorced or widowed. Women on their own are the fastest growing large demographic in our country and nearly a fifth of whom are single moms, with children living at home.

Statement by Page S. Gardner, president, Women’s Voices. Women Vote, on the vote by the U.S. Senate in favor of State Children’s Health Insurance Program legislation:

“Unmarried women are 53 million strong, making them half of all women in our country. The State Children’s Health Insurance Program is vital to this growing demographic, as 22 percent of these women on their own live below the poverty line. One in five unmarried women in our country does not have private health insurance and 28 percent of unmarried women rely on Medicare, compared to just 20 percent of married Americans. At a time when half of all children under six years old are living in a household with a single mother and are living in poverty, the U.S. Senates passage of SCHIP today is essentially a vote to strengthen American through keeping our mothers and children healthy.

Lilly Ledbetter Act Passage Vital to Fight Discrimination - Especially for Unmarried Women

2009-01-29T18:33:00Z

Statement by Page S. Gardner, president, Women’s Voices. Women Vote, on the vote by the U.S. Senate on the Lilly Ledbetter Act:

“Today’s Senate vote is a great victory in providing equality for our nation’s women, especially those who are single, separated, widowed or divorced. Passage of the Lilly Ledbetter legislation today removes another road-block toward pay equality for unmarried women, who are supporting themselves and often their children on earnings that are only 56 percent of what married men earn. Victims of pay discrimination rarely realize any form of discrimination has occurred until after pay decisions are made. Many employers prohibit employees from discussing their pay with one another, leaving most workers in the dark about what their co-workers earn. Today’s Senate vote makes great stride against discrimination in our country, ensuring that each paycheck from a discriminatory pay decision would be a new violation of employment nondiscrimination law. The Lilly Ledbetter legislation encourages employers to comply with laws and provides victims of discrimination with the tools and information to fight workplace discrimination under the law.

“Today the U.S. Senate sent the message that in America, women should enjoy the same pay for the same work, and provides them the tools to fight against discriminatory actions in the workplace. Passing the Lilly Ledbetter legislation fights discrimination in our country, and is a giant step in paving the way for all women to enjoy the dignity of equality. I commend the Senators who supported this legislation, and I urge all of the Senators to also pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. The Senate must vote to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, and finally give all women a fair chance to be paid what they deserve.”

Women’s Voices. Women’s Vote Hails Passage of Economic Stimulus Package As Critical for Unmarried Women

2009-01-28T17:01:00Z

Statement by Page S. Gardner, President, Women's Voices. Women Vote (www.wvwv.org):

"Tonight’s passage of the historic American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is a much needed boost for not only the American economy generally, but for those who are among the hardest hit by this crisis – unmarried women. This segment of the population turned out to vote in record numbers this past election cycle."

Statement by Page S. Gardner, President, Women's Voices. Women Vote (www.wvwv.org):

"The economic downturn has had a catastrophic impact on this segment of the population and this package comes at a critical time.

"This package is critical for job creation. Single women – never married – had an unemployment rate of 8.5% in December 2008. Single women – widowed, divorced, separated – had an unemployment rate of 6.9% in December 2008. In comparison, married women had an unemployment rate of 4.3% in December 2008.

"About 43 percent of single women were using more than 30 percent of their income each month on housing payments, compared to the 30 percent of unmarried men and 25percent of married couples who were spending more than 30 percent.

"Single women have been among the fastest-growing groups of homeowners in recent years. In Baltimore, single women accounted for 40 percent of home sales in 2006, twice the national average. Nearly half of these mortgages were subprime, according to the National Community Reinvestment.

"When it comes specifically to jobs, single mothers' unemployment rate rose from 6.7 percent in March 2007 to 7.1 percent in March 2008 – eclipsing the national average.

"More than half of all poor adult women - 54 percent - are single with no dependent children. Twenty-six percent of poor adult women are single women with dependent children. These people need this package.

"The facts speak for themselves. We applaud the House in passing this Recovery & Reinvestment package, it comes not a moment too soon."

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.

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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.

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

2008-11-06T15:53:00Z

WASHINGTON, DC – According to an election survey, unmarried women of New Hampshire were more likely to support Democrat Jeanne Shaheen over incumbent Republican John Sununu by 34 points. In the Presidential election, New Hampshire unmarried women were more likely to support Barack Obama by 38 points.

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

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Record Marriage Gap Across the Country and in New Hampshire– Unmarried Women Key Pillar of Support for Shaheen

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“The overwhelming support of unmarried women in New Hampshire provided Shaheen the support and numbers she needed for a victory over Sununu,” said Page Gardner, Founder and President of Women’s Voices. Women Vote.

Unmarried women backed Democrat Jeanne Shaheen by 64 percent to 30 percent over incumbent Republican John Sununu, and provided Barack Obama’s victory over John McCain (68 percent Obama, 30 percent McCain).

The economy was the driving issue agenda impacting the vote of unmarried women in New Hampshire, citing the federal budget deficit and national debt (22 percent), rising health care costs (20 percent), and the lack of family-supporting jobs (10 percent) as the issues that helped determine their vote.

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 Prove Decisive Political Force in North Carolina US Senatorial Race

2008-11-06T15:49:00Z

WASHINGTON, DC – According to an election survey, unmarried women of North Carolina were more likely to support Democrat Kay Hagan over long-time incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole by 30 point margin. In the Presidential election, North Carolina unmarried women were more likely to support Barack Obama by 30 points.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6

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

Record Marriage Gap Across the Country and in North Carolina – Unmarried Women Key Pillar of Support for Hagan

“The overwhelming support of unmarried women in North Carolina delivered stunning victories for both Hagan and Obama,” said Page Gardner, Founder and President of Women’s Voices. Women Vote.

Unmarried women backed Democrat Kay Hagan by 53 percent to 44 percent over incumbent Republican Elizabeth Dole, and provided Barack Obama an overwhelming victory over John McCain (68 percent Obama, 32 percent McCain).

The economy was the driving issue agenda impacting the vote of women in North Carolina, with rising health care costs their most pressing concern. Rising health care costs were the most important economic issue determining their votes (19 percent), followed by higher taxes (15 percent), the federal budget deficit and national debt (12 percent), lack of jobs that pay a family-supporting wage (10 percent), a secure retirement (8 percent), daily expenses like food or child care (8 percent), the possibility of losing one’s job (6 percent), and the rising cost of gasoline and fuel (5 percent).

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.

Single Women Prove Decisive Political Force

2008-11-05T18:54:00Z

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. Unmarried women – women who are single, separated, divorced, or widowed – also gave strong support to Democrats in House races, splitting 64 to 29 nationally for Democratic candidate. All numbers come from calculations based on the CNN national election pool conducted by Edison/Mitofsky.

Single Women Prove Decisive Political Force:
Vote 70-29 for Obama;
Married Women 47-50 for McCain

Record Marriage Gap Across the Country –
Unmarried Women Key Pillar of Support for Obama

Unmarried Women Back Democrats in the House, 64-29

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“Unmarried women have changed America, and they are an influential part of the new electorate. This year we can say, unmarried women were heard loud and clear. They voted for change. Now its time for the new Administration and the Congress to listen to these women in public policy debates,” said Page Gardner, President and Founder of Women’s Voices Women Vote. “WVWV has registered and turned out more unmarried women than any other group and provided that community with resources they did not have before,” Gardner stated.

Currently, Obama has a 7.2 million vote margin. With unmarried women, he had a 12-million-plus vote margin. If unmarried women voted like married women, he would have lost by 5 million votes. In 2004, John Kerry won among unmarried women, 62-37, a 7 million vote margin.

Since 2004, Women’s Voices Women Vote has worked to register unmarried women – an historically underrepresented demographic – and has generated over one million voter registration applications to date, including over 900,000 this cycle alone. WVWV has also worked to ensure unmarried women get out and vote through efforts including mailing approximately one million vote-by-mail applications to unmarried women in Colorado, Ohio, Iowa, Montana, and Nevada; calling over one million women asking them to “Promise” to vote; mailing voter information packets to unmarried women in eighteen states; sending same-day registration packets to women in Wisconsin and Iowa; and placing a Public Service Announcement on national talk radio, in which Barbra Streisand urges women, particularly unmarried women, to vote.

Gardner reacted to the increased interest in this election: “Unmarried women, previously silent and underrepresented, will be heard and will be an enormous part of ensuring that there is a new day in America.”

Full poll available at www.wvwv.org. Streisand PSA available at http://www.wvwv.org/media-room/video-public-service-announcements.

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. - WVWV Press Releases

Report Finds Declining Economy Disproportionately Impacts Unmarried Women

For Many, Tremendous Obstacles Remain in Accessing Democracy

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

WVWV Applauds Passage of American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan Signed today by President Obama

Women's Voices. Women Vote Urge Senate Passage of American Recovery & Reinvestment Plan as Critical for Unmarried Women

New Poll by WVWV shows overwhelming approval for the package

Statement by Page S. Gardner, President, Women's Voices. Women Vote (www.wvwv.org):

Statement by Page S. Gardner, President, Women’s Voices. Women Vote, on today’s unemployment numbers and the impact on unmarried women

Statement by Page S. Gardner, President,Women’s Voices. Women Vote, on the passage of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Legislation

U.S. Senate Passage of State Children's Health Insurance Program Legislation Vital for Unmarried Women

Lilly Ledbetter Act Passage Vital to Fight Discrimination - Especially for Unmarried Women

Women’s Voices. Women’s Vote Hails Passage of Economic Stimulus Package As Critical for Unmarried Women

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

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

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

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

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

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

Record Marriage Gap Across the Country and in New Hampshire– Unmarried Women Key Pillar of Support for Shaheen

Unmarried Women Prove Decisive Political Force in North Carolina US Senatorial Race

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

Single Women Prove Decisive Political Force

Single Women Prove Decisive Political Force: Vote 70-29 for Obama; Married Women 47-50 for McCain

Record Marriage Gap Across the Country – Unmarried Women Key Pillar of Support for Obama

Unmarried Women Back Democrats in the House, 64-29

Single Women Prove Decisive Political Force:
Vote 70-29 for Obama;
Married Women 47-50 for McCain

Record Marriage Gap Across the Country –
Unmarried Women Key Pillar of Support for Obama