Unmarried Women Voters

Ellen Whelan-Wuest, 28, was one of a record number of unmarried women who voted in the presidential election in 2008. Working and campaigning extensiv...

"Unmarried: Rose Ferlita has put her political ambition first and foremost, while her opponent is a dedicated family man with two children." So reads a mailer that's making news in the Tampa mayoral run-off.

The Fat Lady isn't singing yet. Women will make up the majority of the electorate on Tuesday and they will decide -- depending whether more married or unmarried women turn out -- who sings on Election Day.

According to the latest report from Women's Voices, Women Vote and the Center for American Progress, half of all American women are unmarried and the economy has them on the ropes.

Ninety years ago, women from all walks of life fought hard to give a voice to the voiceless and ensure that there was room for more views at the political table. Today, we need to fight to make sure everyone who has a voice is using it.

At a recent fundraiser and again during an interview with Talking Points , Phyllis Schlafly sent Democratic activists hurtling toward their moral indignation machines™.

The Rising American Electorate now constitutes a majority of the voting-eligible population in America. And it goes without saying that if they stay home in 2010, the chances for progressive reforms will drop.

Too many unmarried women are struggling to support themselves in the worst economy in a quarter century -- and about 10 million are single moms with young children at home.

The other side of the story is that 79 million eligible Americans did not vote. Forty-four million of these non-voters were not registered, and another four million were discouraged from voting.

Unmarried women's crucial role in electing Obama is underscored by the "marriage gap" between their political preferences and those of married women.