Why your vote matters more than your to-do list
The historical weight we carry
When you glance at your ballot sitting on the kitchen counter—sandwiched between grocery lists and permission slips—you hold something generations of women died fighting for, the 19th Amendment. Black women battled discriminatory tactics until the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and Latina and Asian American women faced language barriers until 1975.
That represents 104 years of struggle, sacrifice, and persistence for you to have the right to vote.
Despite obstacles, women do vote
In every presidential election since 1984, women have voted at higher rates than men, yet, according to the League of Women Voters, they still face disproportionate barriers.
Everyday obstacles—such as lack of childcare, inflexible polling hours, and running a household—mirror the challenges women face both as candidates and voters. That has serious implications for our democracy, because when women vote, different priorities emerge in legislative agendas.
States with restrictive abortion laws often restrict voting
Troubling patterns emerge in recent academic analysis. States that impose the most restrictive abortion policies frequently construct the greatest voting barriers. This isn't coincidental—it represents systematic efforts to limit women's civic power while constraining reproductive autonomy. And these policies disproportionately impact women of color, who have to combat limited polling locations, strict identification requirements, and reduced early voting periods.
Beyond personal choice: Collective power
Individual votes do make a difference. When votes are aggregated, they build electoral power. Women who vote influence equal pay, parental leave policies, healthcare access, education funding, and gender-based violence prevention. And they do this under the constraints of “time poverty” (aka overburdened with responsibilities at home). And when women don’t vote, legislative priorities shift away from issues important to women and families. [PDF]
However, when women do vote, recent electoral analysis shows a correlation with policy advances in reproductive healthcare, workplace protections, and economic security programs benefiting families. That’s kind of a “duh,” but still well worth noting. [PDF]
The bottom line
Academic research from Rutgers-New Brunswick Eagleton Institute of Politics confirms what suffragists understood intuitively: Women’s votes matter because their lived experiences and priorities often differ from men’s, bringing essential perspectives to policymaking.
We need input from all citizens—women, men, and people of all gender identities. Representative democracy functions when all citizens participate.
Yes
Your busy schedule is real. Yes, your responsibilities are legitimate. Yes, your time is valuable.
So is your democracy.
The chores will be there tomorrow. The candidates on this ballot won't.
Fill out your ballot.
Drop it off.
Change our world.
Struggle, sacrifice, & persistence. Library of Congress photo.
“Women voters face barriers, including overburdened responsibilities. Yet, their participation is critical to democracy and policy affecting gender equality.”
SW Washington Voting Locations
Clark County
Vancouver Mall - SE of Macy's near C-Tran Vine Station
WSU-Vancouver - 14204 NE Salmon Creek Rd
Clark County Elections Office - 1408 Franklin St, Vancouver
Thomas Jefferson Middle School - 3000 NW 119th St
Battle Ground City Hall - 109 SW 1st St
Camas Post Office - 440 NE 5th Ave
Cowlitz County
Longview Post Office - Broadway St
Kelso Admin Building - 207 N 4th Ave
Castle Rock Library - 137 Cowlitz St West
Kalama Post Office - North 1st St
Woodland City Parking - Davidson & 2nd St
Skamania County
Skamania County Courthouse - 240 NW Vancouver Ave, Stevenson
North Bonneville City Hall - 210 CBD Mall Drive
Carson Transit Station - 11 Carson Frontage Rd
Wahkiakum County
Wahkiakum County Courthouse - 64 Main St, Cathlamet
Johnson Park - 30 Rosburg School Rd, Rosburg
Klickitat County
White Salmon Pioneer Center - 501 NE Washington St
Wishram Park Place - North of Historic Locomotive
Complete list of ballot drop box locations at sos.wa.gov/elections