Next week, you have the opportunity to vote, and when you cast your ballot, you will help determine the future direction of our communities, states, and the nation. According to the Center for American Progress (CAP), “votes have impacts beyond the election in which they are cast…elections help determine the course the country takes on the economy, domestic and foreign affairs, whether Americans have access to affordable health care, the role of law enforcement in communities across America, the quality of the air Americans breathe and the water they drink, how children are educated, and everything else in between.” This election matters. It not only shapes the tone of our future and standing in the world, it is also the perfect opportunity to step up and support candidates who support gender equality.
The ERA Coalition contends that every election is critical to ensuring that our elected officials and those in positions of power at the state and federal level are pro-equality and agree that there is no time limit on equality. Through the ERA Coalition’s Elect Equality initiative, they have created an interactive tool that allows voters to be informed about where their candidates stand on the ERA before heading to the ballot box with the click of a button.
A checkmark is awarded to candidates who indicate their support of the ERA through voting records or questionnaire responses by the ERA Coalition. However, the ultimate designation is the ERA Coalition Certification, an exclusive classification awarded to candidates who demonstrate a commitment to substantive gender equality through their voting records, public statements, and questionnaire responses on the ERA and related gender equality issues.
- Recognizes the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as fully ratified and advocates for its publication on the campaign trail and when in office.
- Incorporates the ERA into campaign policies, messaging, and talking points.
- Speaks up in favor of the ERA in public events, with the media, and on all social platforms throughout the campaign.
- Publicly and proudly shares that they are ERA Certified.
Carol Jenkins, ERA Coalition Chair, says, “Elect Equality asks, and answers, the definitive question for voting in Election 2024: Does your candidate believe in equality in all of its forms? Does your candidate believe in you?”
Before heading to the polls, go to ERACoalition.org/ElectEquality to see where your candidates stand. There, you can find a rundown of every state and a list of its candidates for Senate and House seats—each with one of the following designations:
- ERA Certified
- Supporter Survey
- Supporter Public Info
- Non-Supporter Survey
- Non-Supporter Public Info
“In my 30 years in Congress, we have never been closer to recognizing the ERA as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. With the Dobbs, Chevron, Idaho, and Mifepristone efforts at the Supreme Court to roll back our rights, it has never been more important,” said former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. “If they can roll back our right to choose, they can roll back all other rights. The only way to protect women is to place them in the Constitution where they belong. Voters need to know where candidates stand. The ERA Coalition’s Elect Equality Campaign certifies where candidates stand on the ERA. This will allow voters to ELECT EQUALITY up and down the ballot.”
“Publishing the ERA is the ONLY action that would explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sex and gender,” Zakiya Thomas, President and CEO of the ERA Coalition, added. “The Elect Equality campaign gives voters a chance to see their candidates’ positions on the Equal Rights Amendment. Our interactive tool helps voters stay informed before they head to the polls.”
The League of Women Voters reminds us, “Elections affect every area of our lives, from health care to jobs to racial justice. When we choose our leaders by voting, we’re choosing the people who will make decisions that shape the direction of our country and our communities.” Remember that the ERA is essential for safeguarding our fundamental rights from the whims of political change. The deadline to elect equality is now. To learn more, go to ERACoalition.org/ElectEquality.