Although women consistently register and vote in higher percentages than men, 22 million women who were eligible to vote sat out the November 2010 midterm election. In 2008, 66 percent of women voters turned out to vote, but in 2010 only 46 percent showed up to the polls. In response to this, OWL launched a campaign in coordination with the Sewall Belmont House & Museum to encourage women to vote in the 2014 midterm elections. The campaign harnessed the effectiveness of personal social media messages to encourage women to vote, asking women to change their profile pictures on Facebook to note that they voted and to ask three friends to do the same.
“Women feel the impact of decisions made by Congress more than men,” says OWL Executive Director Bobbie Brinegar. “We have the most to gain and the most to lose when elected officials don’t think we’re paying attention. Voting in November is the best way to make sure they know that we are.” The Barbara Lee Family Foundation proudly partnered with OWL in 2014.