• No other sizeable and growing voting bloc in America cuts across all demographic and geographic lines—race, age, education, income and location—like women business owners. Women business owners represent 10 percent of the expected total electorate in 2004.

• The women business owner voting bloc will likely outnumber other popular voting blocs.

• No political party currently has an advantage with women business owners, thus making women business owners a decisive and powerful swing voting bloc. Of those surveyed, 38 percent described themselves as Independent, 30 percent Republican and 27 percent as Democrat.

• Women business owners are active voters: More than half have voted in every election over the past several years.

• Women business owners cite the economy and jobs as the most important factors in deciding their presidential vote, followed by moral values, taxes and health care.

• A presidential endorsement by women business owners carriers a significant amount of weight, more so than endorsements by environmental groups, labor unions or the chambers of commerce.

The survey was commissioned in late 2003 by Women Impacting Public Policy, www.wipp.org.
 

What You Can Do


Political clout is a powerful force for negotiating change. It opens doors and lets voices be heard. Women business owners who want to flex their political muscle can get involved with a few simple steps:

• Get informed about the issues and the candidates. That’s easier than used to be, thanks to instant access provided by the Internet.
  
  For instance, you can go to the Legislative Action Center sponsored by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) at http://advocacy.nase.org. Just enter your ZIP code to find the names and contact information for your elected officials. You can send an e-mail or craft a letter right at the Web site and send it with the click of your mouse.
  
  The site also lets you review how legislators voted on recent bills. Plus, you can read about pending legislation and issues surrounding small business.

• Voice your business concerns. Legislators are keenly aware of the emergence of women business owners as a powerful political force. Seize that opportunity to voice your stance on issues—from access to capital to federal contracting.

• Tell your business story. Nothing opens eyes like hearing a story firsthand. Tell your elected officials how the policies they enact and the laws they pass impact your business on a daily basis. Show them what helps and hurts your business, and why.

• Join forces. The more women who speak out, the louder the call to action. Find a national, regional or local group of small-business owners that actively advocates for legislative change. Participate by contributing your time, your money or both.