--- title: "What Today's Election Means for Women" date: 2012-11-06T21:56:50-05:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/what-election-means-for-women" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# What Today's Election Means for Women By Christine Cupaiuolo • November 6, 2012 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. [![National Women's Law Center voter education](https://assets.ourbodiesourselves.org/images/blog-archive/doyourduty_voter-ed-poster-213x300.jpg "doyourduty_voter-ed-poster")](http://www.nwlc.org/our-issues/a-women%27s-agenda/voter-education) Health care reform. Access to contraception. Increased protections for women against violence. Equal pay. [A lot hangs on this presidential election](http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/11/06/1145591/top-ten-issues-women-2012-elections/?mobile=nc "The Top Ten Issues At Stake For Women In Today’s Election"). On the state level, personhood amendments that grant fertilized embryos all the rights of a born human didn't make it onto any ballot, but two states, [Florida and Montana](http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/11/06/abortion_ballot_initiatives_montana_and_florida_vote_on_restricting_the.html "Florida, Montana Voting on Abortion Rights Today"), have put restrictive abortion initiatives before voters. The National Women's Law Center has published a [voter education section](http://www.nwlc.org/our-issues/a-women%27s-agenda/voter-education "NWLC voter education") with a number of useful links, including fact sheets on issues affecting women and great images to share -- like the one on the left by Jen Sorensen. For more on the election and the importance of women voters, visit [Women's Vote Watch 2012](http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/fast_facts/voters/wvwatch/wvwatch_2012.php "Women's Vote Watch"), a project of the Center for American Women and Politics that tracks and analyzes polling data. Here's a section on the [gender gap](http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/fast_facts/voters/gender_gap.php "Gender Gap in Voting") and voting. Finally, if long lines get you down, just think of Galicia Malone of Dolton, Ill., who stopped to [vote this morning on her way to give birth](http://thegrio.com/2012/11/06/pregnant-woman-votes-en-route-to-hospital-to-give-birth/ "Pregnant woman votes en route to hospital to give birth"). > The clerk’s office said Malone’s water had already broken when she made the stop to vote in her first presidential election. > > > > “If only all voters showed such determination to vote,” \[Cook County Clerk David\] Orr said. “My hat goes off to Galicia for not letting anything get in the way of voting. What a terrific example she is showing for the next generation, especially her new son or daughter.” **And remember, no matter who wins, we still have to work on [educating Congress about women's health](http://www.indiegogo.com/educate-congress "Send "Our Bodies, Ourselves" to Congress") ...** --- #### 0 Response Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Activism & Resources](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/activism-resources) - [Politics](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/politics) - [Public Policy](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/public-policy) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)