Women's Votes and Their Effect Upon Elections
Beginning with the first primary Caucus in Iowa, to the elections on Super Tuesday, women have demonstrated that they are the heart and soul of the Democratic Party and that they will take our Party to the White House. Exit polling and studies reveal that women are voting in numbers significantly larger than men to the point that even the media is finally taking notice of women and their role in effecting the outcome of elections.
Women not only make up the majority of voters, but they are voting for Democrats at higher numbers than ever before and their enthusiasm cannot be squelched. Starting with Iowa and then New Hampshire, women made up 57% of the Democratic voters. In Nevada women were 59% of the voters and in South Carolina they were a huge 61% of the voters. Single women in particular are demonstrating their clout. There are approximately 53 million single women in the U.S., reaching parity with the number of married women, and comprising more than a quarter of the electorate. In Iowa, 28% of the voters were single women which is larger than their 22% portion of that state's population.
Republicans on the other hand cannot claim the women's vote, especially given how much they have dismantled women's hard fought rights. The economic and social policies of the Bush Administration and the Republicans in Congress have brought women down by dismantling important programs to assist them and their families. Women and men are both struggling more each day to stay afloat, feed their families, keep the roof over their heads, find and pay for child care, health care, college, and maybe even take a short vacation.
Recent polls demonstrate that women are most concerned about the economy, health care and education, along with ending the occupation of Iraq by bringing our troops home. Only the Democrats are speaking about these issues in any meaningful and serious way that will lead our country out of recession and war. Democrats are willing to make the changes necessary that will safeguard our nation without sacrificing the liberties upon which this country was founded and without looking for scapegoats.
This strong display of support for our Democratic candidates by women of all backgrounds and generations will see its reward in November, when a Democrat wins the General Election. Until then, women will continue to make their voices heard in every voting booth across America. Just look at what women can accomplish when they are organized!
This piece was written by Sharon Grosfeld, with the assistance of Luciana Salinas, WLF intern.
