This is a BIG election year, given the Presidential election and Congress, where all 435 House seats and 33 Senate seats will be decided.

But did you know that this is also a critical year for deciding the future of state and local governance, too? A whopping 5,793 – that’s 78% of all seats in state legislatures – in 99 chambers will be decided along with governors, attorneys general, secretaries of state, mayors, and more.

Why Does It Matter?

Our daily lives depend on it. Our votes will determine the direction and values of our nation for years to come. Whether it’s the President, Congress, state legislators, or state executives – such as governors and attorneys general – each office holds a great deal of power. From the kinds of medical care we can access to how our federal and state governments invest in child care, victims' services, and so much more, this election's results will directly impact our day-to-day lives.

All voices deserve to be heard. At YWCA, we’re deeply invested in ensuring that everyone who can participate in the hard-won right to vote does – especially women, including young women, women of color, and those in communities that have long been overlooked due to deeply entrenched legacies of gender and racial discrimination in our social structures and institutions.

As the YWCA network continues to work on Congressional priorities that will help us meet our mission of empowering women and eliminating racism, it is equally important to make sure that we Get Out the Vote (GOTV) to ensure that all of our voices are heard.