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Tomorrow is the day; the day you can make a
difference in how the next four, possibly
eight, years will unfold. We know you have
heard all of the stump speeches, seen the
commercials and participated in the
discussions surrounding this historic
election, but with such an important decision
on the line it's essential to follow through
and VOTE.
Unmarried women have been called the "holy
grail" in this election - for both parties -
because in 2006 20 million of them did not
vote. This makes unmarried women the largest
demographic of people to "opt-out" of the
electoral process, but more importantly these
women have a chance to make a dramatic impact
on the outcome tomorrow.
That being said, we should also note that
young women voted at higher rates than young
men in 2004 according to the Center for
Information and Research on Civic Learning
and Engagement, and we have increased our
voting by 12 percentage points since 2000.
We want younger women to have a voice in how
this country is run, and one of the most
important ways to do this is to vote - so
tomorrow, on November 4, whether married or
unmarried, man or woman, express your choice.
This entire issue is dedicated to voting.
Take a look at the "10 Reasons to Vote"
piece, the historic candidacy of Victoria
Claflin Woodhull, the youth voter guide, and
how to protect yourself on election day.
Republican, Democrat or Independent, we hope
you enjoy this newsletter and Election Day.
Happy Voting,
Alison, Shannon, Kelly
and, as always, the entire YWTF Coordinating
Board
| Hit the Streets for America! |
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From
Redbook
Or pick up the phone. Or get behind the
wheel. All of these activities - and more -
are essential in getting as many Americans as
possible to vote on November 4. Sixty-four
percent of U.S. citizens age 18 and over
voted in the last Presidential election;
offer a little or a lot of your time and you
could help boost that statistic to include
everyone
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| The First Woman to Run for President |
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From
Newsweek
By Charles Euchner
Everything about the first woman to run for
president-her youthful radicalism, her
defiance, her willingness to attack and her
ability to absorb criticism-caused followers
to flock around her like a prophet.
Supporters cheered when she decided that the
most famous black man in American would be an
ideal running mate, even when he showed no
interest in being No. 2.
Critics reviled her for questionable
investments, her attitude about extramarital
affairs and her assault on one of the
nation's most politically active religious
leaders. They also hated her radical ideas on
the nature of the family. Mostly, critics
reviled her gall to anoint herself a
candidate for the White House.
When Victoria Claflin Woodhull ran for
president in 1872, she knew she had no chance
to win. At the age of 34, she was a year shy
of eligibility for the Oval Office. And women
did not even enjoy the right to vote.
The long and colorful life of Victoria
Woodhull offers intriguing clues about the
challenges facing women in American politics,
including Hillary Clinton. Both Woodhull and
Clinton joined the national conversation by
taking radical stances on family, labor and
women's issues. Both made a lifelong project
of finding new ways to communicate with the
public. Both got caught in charges and
countercharges about sex scandals, were
mocked for their spiritual values and were
patronized for their maneuvering in a man's
world. Through it all, both changed the
possibilities for women everywhere.
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| Summer Voter Drives Target Younger Women |
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From
WomensENews
(WOMENSENEWS)--Some women's groups with
campus affiliations have been keeping busy
through the summer break.
Ahead of the November presidential elections
they are mobilizing registration drives,
planning fall events and raising awareness
about what's at stake in state ballot
propositions on abortion laws.
"In 2004, 20 million unmarried women did not
vote, and 15 million of that 20 were
unregistered," said Page Gardner, president
of Women's Voices, Women Vote, a
Washington-based group that works to increase
unmarried women's voting rates. The group
aims to spur 7 million new voters to the
polls in November with its "You Count. Be
Counted!" registration campaign.
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| Know Your Rights |
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From New
Voters Project
When you go vote you may find unfamiliar
voting machines, new ID requirements, etc.
If you have any problems when you go to vote,
call 1.866.OUR.VOTE to report your problems
and get advice on what to do.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you
go vote:
Take ID To the Polls
Different states have different laws on who
needs to show ID and what type of ID is
acceptable. To be safe, take ID to the polls
with you. Take your driver's license, or a
paycheck, utility bill or government document
that includes your name and street address.
To check on requirements in your state, you
can call your election official in advance.
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| How Important is One Vote? |
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From ActiVote
In 1920, One Vote gave women the right to
vote. Women's right to vote in the United
States in 1920 was decided by a single vote
cast in the Tennessee legislature
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| Youth Voter Guide for Ballot Initiatives |
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From Feministing
This year many states are facing a variety of
ballot measures. We've heard a lot about the
CA gay marriage initiative, and there are
initiatives in 14 different states that could
affect reproductive freedom, affirmative
action, economic security, transportation,
education, health care, energy and security
(to name a few).
Choice USA, Campus Progress Action and
Progressive Future have teamed up with the
Ballot Initiatives Strategy Center to create
this awesome guide to all these ballot
measures, what they would really mean, and
how you should vote on them
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10 Reasons Why Younger Women Need to Vote |
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10. It's your right.
Women have fought hard for the right to vote.
Today, there are still countries where people
are dying for the right to vote.
9. Representation.
Congress is made up of only 16% of women.
Want to see that change? Vote!
8. More federal money for the causes you
care about.
Where do the candidates stand on the issues
you care about? Find out and make sure your
concerns are
their concerns.
7. Every vote counts.
Women won the right to vote by one vote. And
we saw again in the 2000 election how
much each vote really counts.
6. To cancel out someone else's vote.
If you disagree with a friend or family
member politically, vote to counter their vote!
5. It's your job.
Elected officials affect hiring practices,
workplace safety and minimum pay rates. They
also issue permits and licenses to businesses
and provide tax incentives to companies that
bring new jobs to our communities.
4. It's our environment.
Elected officials set the standards for air
and water quality and appoint the regulators
to enforce these standards.
3. It's your health care.
State and federal
lawmakers affect our access to health care
and the costs of those services.
2. It's your tax money.
Elected representatives decide how much tax
you pay
and how much each government agency and
public department receives.
1. It's your voice! If you don't
vote, you don't have a
voice.
Show your elected representatives how you
feel by voting for people who take action. Be
a part of the solution.
The top three worst excuses we've heard
someone give for not voting
1) I don't have any way to get to the
polls.
You can call your local political party and
ask them to provide you a ride to your voting
place. Few people know about this option,
but almost every local club organizes rides.
2) I don't have time to vote.
The policies that the elected officials make
will affect you a lot longer than the time it
took you to vote!
3) I hate politics and all of the negative
campaigning.
Then vote against the candidates whom you
think are the worst offenders. Refusing to
vote won't stop anyone from campaigning
negatively.
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Brought to you by the Younger Women at YWTF
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