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Rhode Island Women: Don’t Forget October 7 Voter Registration Deadline

Women’s Fund Urges Female Voters to Overcome Barriers and Participate in
November Elections

PROVIDENCE- Women throughout Rhode Island are reminded that to vote in the November 7 elections they must be registered no later than this Saturday, October 7.

“The November elections include a number of issues of particular importance to women,” said Marcia Coné-Tighe, Executive Director of the Women’s Fund, which recently commissioned a survey of Rhode Island women about politics, volunteering and issues that concern them. “But you can’t vote unless you’ve registered, and the deadline is this Saturday.”

The survey found that a strong majority of Rhode Island women planned to vote in November. Those in Washington County (South County) were most likely to report that they planned to vote (77%), while those in Providence County intended to vote at the lowest rate (68%). “But from our experience, saying they’ll vote is not the same as doing it,” said Jennifer Berktold, Senior Associate at the polling firm of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner.

Berktold said that women in particular face barriers of information and time that can derail their intentions to vote.

Information is key
“Information is the biggest barrier,” said Berktold. “Women don’t familiarize themselves with the issues and are reluctant to vote because they feel uninformed.” Coné-Tighe urges women to read the 2006 Voter Information Handbook that was recently mailed to residents by the Office of the Secretary of State, and to actively research individual candidates. “Go to the candidates’ websites, call their offices for more information, attend functions where they will be speaking,” she said.

Access: not as hard as it seems
Access is another barrier to voting, Berktold said, but one that is easily overcome. You can print out a mail-in registration form from the Board of Elections website (computers are available free of charge at local libraries) at http://www.elections.ri.gov/registration/intro.htm. Or register in person in just a few minutes at most city and town halls, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and other locations throughout the state. For further information call the State Board of Elections: 401-222-2345.

Finding the time to vote
“This one is just an excuse,” said Berktold, noting that the recent survey found that 79 percent of women said that work and family get in the way of voting. “Women do have a lot of responsibilities between the office, home and children. But another obligation is to be an active citizen – and in fact 76 percent of respondents strongly agreed that voting is important.”

This November 7, polls are open well after work hours (until 9 p.m.) and children are allowed to accompany their parents into voting booths, according to a Board of Elections spokesperson.

Will my vote make a difference?
Another barrier to voting is called “efficacy” by pollsters– the doubt that your one vote has any effect. The recent poll showed that only 13 percent of women surveyed believed their vote has an impact nationally (47 percent believe their vote has the greatest impact locally). This is despite the critical role that the Whitehouse/Chaffee race will play in affecting the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.

“The bottom line in our democracy is that if you want your voice represented, you have to vote,” said Coné-Tighe. “We really need to keep working to motivate women, particularly younger women, to get out and do just that.”

Getting Rhode Island women more involved
Using the results of the August survey, The Women’s Fund is working on ways to increasingly engage Rhode Island women in political activity. The Fund is participating in voter-outreach phonathons later this month to educate women about the issues and is organizing a special event for women prior to the November 7 elections.

The Women’s Fund, founded in 2001 with the help of the Rhode Island Foundation, seeks to “advance equity and social justice for women and girls” by issuing grants, conducting studies, and organizing leadership and resources.

To obtain a copy of the poll results please send your request to pollresults@clarendongroup.net.