Single moms are closest to the issues in the 2024 election. Here’s why we need to talk more about their voting power.
Single moms are often described as superheroes, but unlike fictional heroes, they work through real-world challenges—providing stability, security and support to millions of American families every day. In the 30 percent of U.S. households led by single mothers, moms don’t just do a lot—they do it all. More than just caregivers, they’re often sole providers and teachers, imparting everything from teaching us to tie our shoes to learning our ABCs, while navigating the pressures of work and family alone. And, in the upcoming 2024 election, they hold a unique power that often goes unrecognized: their voting influence.
For single moms, who represent a considerable portion of U.S. households, political issues aren’t distant debates; they’re urgent realities. As a result, single mothers’ votes are critical to shaping a future that supports their families’ success and stability.
Single Moms: The Constituency We’re Overlooking
Around 10 million U.S. households are led by single mothers with children under 18—a number that surpasses 15 million when including adult dependents. Yet despite their impact on family stability, single mothers are often underrepresented in political discussions.
Many face financial hardship, with about 30 percent living in poverty according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As such, the issues being debated in this election cycle—from childcare access and education to housing affordability and economic opportunity—are not abstract for these families; they’re foundational to their ability to thrive.
The Childcare Crisis
Childcare is one of the most pressing challenges facing single mothers today. The U.S. has been navigating a severe childcare crisis where both affordability and availability are critical issues. Many single moms find themselves in a catch-22: They either can’t work because they don’t have childcare, or can’t afford childcare because they’re unable to work enough hours. In some states, childcare now costs more than rent, putting additional strain on these families.
Student Debt and Economic Impact
Another critical issue for single mothers this election cycle is student debt. Nearly one in five college students are parents, and many are single mothers of color who face heightened economic challenges. Single mothers in college have twice as much debt as their non-parenting peers and often stay in school longer, accruing even more debt. Any decisions made about student debt relief will profoundly affect these women and their ability to secure financial independence for themselves and their children.
Building Support to Empower Moms’ Votes
For single moms, a voting plan that doesn’t include a meal plan, a transportation plan or a childcare plan is not a plan. It’s a wish.
Here at the Jeremiah Program (JP), a national nonprofit working to disrupt generational poverty two generations at a time, supporting single mothers’ voting efforts is woven into the organization’s mission. Voting is about more than casting a ballot; it’s about single moms having a say in decisions that shape their lives and their children’s future. This election cycle, JP is launching a nonpartisan get-out-the-vote (GOTV) initiative to help single moms exercise their right to vote.
Understanding that voting presents logistical challenges—especially for single mothers who balance work, education and childcare—means needing initiatives like these to create practical solutions. Because here’s what we know: For single moms, a voting plan that doesn’t include a meal plan, a transportation plan or a childcare plan is not a plan. It’s a wish. But this November, like every day, we’re making sure that every JP mom has the support she needs to show up and cast her vote, to influence the rules that will shape her family’s future. When moms win, families win. And when families win, our communities thrive.
Traditional GOTV campaigns frequently overlook single mothers, assuming time and flexibility many simply don’t have. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, being too busy or having a conflicting work or school schedule was the top reason people didn’t vote in 2022. For single moms who balance work, education and childcare, these conflicts are everyday realities. By addressing these challenges, initiatives supporting single mothers as voters are helping to build a more inclusive democracy—one that considers the needs of all its citizens.
Why Single Moms’ Votes Matter for Everyone
When single mothers vote, they advocate not only for themselves but also for policies that support affordable healthcare, stable housing, quality education and economic mobility—benefiting society as a whole. Single mothers bring an essential perspective on what it means to sustain families and communities amid adversity. Despite being the sole providers in their households, many single moms volunteer, organize community initiatives and pursue education to build better futures. Their engagement reflects the ideals of civic responsibility.
Single mothers’ voices could play a pivotal role in determining policy outcomes on issues central to family well-being. Their votes resonate through family networks, schools and communities, amplifying the impact of every ballot cast. Supporting single mothers in casting their votes empowers them as community advocates, multiplying the positive effects of their civic participation.
Moving from Advocacy to Action
For single mothers, the stakes of this election are high. Their lived experiences navigating complex social and economic systems make them experts on policies affecting families. Supporting their right and ability to vote is about more than GOTV campaigns; it’s about ensuring that every voice is heard in shaping a democracy that truly represents its people.
This election, one message rings clear: When moms win, families win, and when families win, communities thrive. Supporting single mothers in voting is not just about this election cycle; it’s about planting the seeds for ongoing civic engagement and social progress. By casting their ballots, single moms aren’t just participating in democracy—they’re building a more equitable future, one vote at a time.
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