Voting Rights

An Open Letter to Election Workers

Women make up 80 percent of the U.S. election workforce, and on this Election Hero Day, Nov. 4, we thank you for the essential role each of you plays in safeguarding our democracy. The right to a fair and accessible election is the foundation of our nation, which would not be possible without your commitment of time and service at election polling stations across the country.

Our Elections Are Not Fragile

Citizens can vote in 2024 with confidence. Despite the noise and lies and melodrama, voting will likely be uneventful for the vast majority of Americans.

But even as we grow more confident about Election Day, it is increasingly clear that partisans plan to disrupt the counting and undermine trust after the votes are cast.

Black Voters Prepare for Backlash Ahead of Election Day

Through her nonprofit Project Say Something, voting rights activist Camille Bennett urged city officials to remove a Confederate monument in front of the local courthouse in Florence. Throughout Trump’s presidency, as support grew across the country to topple and rename Confederate monuments, the former president continued to defend the racist remnants of the past. Organizers like Bennett say they can’t afford another Trump win. “The power belongs to the people,” said Bennett. “If we choose to mobilize and really lift our voices as a nation, we can get a lot done. And that’s the hope that I carry on—no matter what happens, we can’t be afraid.”

“Make no mistake about it, if [Trump] is reelected, this is going to further embolden his supporters to express their racial hostility, their racial grievances, and also continue to further inspire people to engage in hateful tactics,” said Emmitt Riley, president of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. “Some folks are sick of Trump, but this election is going to really be another test as to whether or not a nation who has lived under four years of chaos is ready to return to that dysfunction and chaos.” 

The Power of the Single Mom Vote

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.

Documentary ‘The Young Vote’ Introduces America to the Young People Shaping Its Future

The Young Vote is a powerful documentary by Diane Robinson, now streaming on PBS. The film highlights the stories of young changemakers.

One of the opportunities young people have to shape their future in the U.S. is the chance to participate in the democratic process and vote. Even where there are free and fair elections, voters need to increasingly navigate their way through fake news, AI-generated deep fakes, and a splintered and polarized media landscape where it’s more difficult than ever to know what to believe and who to trust.

The Road to My First Vote: Finding My Voice as a First-Generation Immigrant

I’m part of the 8 million youth who are now old enough to vote in 2024. It wasn’t until I noticed the inequities that existed around me that I realized the potential my voice could have on the ballot.

(This essay is part of a Women & Democracy multimedia package focused on Gen Z and student voters. The future envisioned by young leaders is bright—it’s built on reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, sustainability, freedom from violence and economic opportunity. Explore essays, a brand-new podcast, videos and more from some of your most loved [or soon to be!] influencers and writers, brought to you by Ms., DoSomething, the nonprofit that helps make volunteerism “cool,” and The Anthem Awards, the social impact arm of The Webbys.)

How to Prepare for Election Season

Over 41 million Gen Zers will be eligible to vote in this upcoming general election. That’s huge! It also means the face of our electorate is rapidly changing, and we need to ensure voters like you have all the necessary tools in your toolkit to claim our democracy. As a voter, your vote holds the key to deciding the future of our country. We know that elections can seem daunting and overwhelming, but we want to equip you with the knowledge to show up and take action at the polls this fall.

(This essay is part of a Women & Democracy multimedia package focused on Gen Z and student voters. The future envisioned by young leaders is bright—it’s built on reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, sustainability, freedom from violence and economic opportunity. Explore essays, a brand-new podcast, videos and more from some of your most loved [or soon to be!] influencers and writers, brought to you by Ms., DoSomething, the nonprofit that helps make volunteerism “cool,” and The Anthem Awards, the social impact arm of The Webbys.)

Keeping Score: Federal Judge to DeSantis, ‘It’s the First Amendment, Stupid’; N.Y. Woman Investigated for Pregnancy Loss; Abortion Is #1 Issue for Women Voters Under 30

In every issue of Ms., we track research on our progress in the fight for equality, catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones. We’re Keeping Score online, too—in this biweekly roundup.

This week: Abortion is the number one election issue for women under 30; a record-breaking 300,000 Georgians cast their ballots on the first day; equal pay trailblazer Lilly Ledbetter died at age 86; X (Twitter) fails to quickly remove revenge porn; less than 1 percent of U.S. abortions happen after 21 weeks; and more.