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July 15, 2015
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New U.S. Census Data and Unmarried Women

The U.S. Census Bureau released its latest information on U.S. Voting patterns.

The new data clearly demonstrates the growing political status of unmarried women from 1978 to last year.

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There were 27.7 million unmarried women of voting age in 1978 and 56.8 million in 2014—an increase of more than 29 million. In 2014, the percentage of unmarried women who registered to vote was 60.5%, or about 2 percentage points higher than in 1978, the Census Bureau reported. But the share of single women who voted declined in the non-presidential elections years, from 39.2% in 1978 to 35.6% last year. (In 2012, the last presidential year, the percentage of unmarried women who registered was 68.6% and the voting turnout rate was 57.8%.)

July 9, 2015
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Unmarried Women: An Electoral Profile

Unmarried women, people of color and millennials (age 18-35) now make up the majority (56.7 percent) of the U.S. population. Unmarried women make up one of the largest shares of this Rising American Electorate (RAE).

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Almost one of every two women is unmarried. By 2016, for the first time, the majority of women eligible to vote will be unmarried.

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Unmarried women are at least 25 percent of the eligible voters in every competitive state.

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There is a significant gap between the number of unmarried women who can vote and the number who do vote.

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About one in three unmarried women is not eligible to vote.

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In 2012, unmarried women and the entire Rising American Electorate overwhelming voted to reelect President Obama.

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If only married women had voted in 2012, President Obama would not have been reelected.

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Unmarried Women and the Rising American Electorate: A Deeper Dive
An in-depth demographic, economic and political look at unmarried women and the Rising American Electorate from Lake Research Partners.

July 9, 2015
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Statistical Profile of Unmarried Women: Florida

Our research team has compiled available data from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and other sources to put together this statistical profile of the demographic and economic circumstances facing unmarried women in the state of Florida.

Report updated May 2017

July 9, 2015
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Congressional Budget Resolution for FY2016

An analysis from the VPC research team on recent legal, demographic, and electoral developments surrounding the Congressional Budget Resolution for FY 2016.

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An analysis from the VPC research team on recent legal, demographic, and electoral developments surrounding the Congressional Budget Resolution for FY 2016.
July 9, 2015
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Voter Participation Research: Paid Sick Leave

An analysis from the VPC research team on recent legal, demographic, and electoral developments surrounding paid sick leave.

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An analysis from the VPC research team on recent legal, demographic, and electoral developments surrounding paid sick leave.
July 9, 2015
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Voter Participation Research: Family and Medical Leave

An analysis from the VPC research team on recent legal, demographic, and electoral developments surrounding family medical leave and the Family Medical Leave Act.

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An analysis from the VPC research team on recent legal, demographic, and electoral developments surrounding family medical leave and the Family Medical Leave Act.
July 9, 2015
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IWPR Report: The Status of Women in the States

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research has issued their annual report on The Status of Women in the States, and yet again, it’s bad news: there continue to be massive gender disparities in income, poverty rates, education, and overall opportunity, to the detriment of women in the United States. In fact, according to 2015’s report, we’re moving backward as a country; the status of women has worsened in 29 states over the past decade.

But despite the fact that we know the news isn’t going to be good, we always look forward to the IWPR’s report, because they always find great ways to make the data come alive—with things like interactive maps, great charts, and shareables that really bring home the grim story they’re telling.

One thing that struck us was this section on poverty by household type—and the sobering statistic that 43.1% of all households headed by an unmarried woman with children have income below the poverty line. That troubling number is one of the reasons we think it’s so important for unmarried women (and the Rising American Electorate as a whole) to become more politically involved and active—because we need a country that works for all of us.

We hope you’ll take the time to check out the data for yourself.

July 9, 2015
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Voter Participation Research: The Affordable Care Act

An analysis from the VPC research team on recent legal, demographic, and electoral developments surrounding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009, commonly known as “Obamacare.”

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An analysis from the VPC research team on recent legal, demographic, and electoral developments surrounding the Affordable Care Act.

Associated Posts

Rising American Electorate Research

Our research team has steadily been compiling statistics and profiles that speak to the Voter Participation Center's core demographics and core issues.