Moms Get Things Done: The Power of the Single Mom Vote

Let’s pause for a moment and give moms some love because they do so much for the next generation: Mothers get everyone up in the morning, feed the kids, do carpool, check homework, and read bedtime stories. Moms are often our first teachers, from guiding our literal first steps and teaching us to tie our shoes to helping us learn our ABCs and good manners.

In the 30% of U.S. households led by single mothers, moms don’t just do so much — they do it all. They are, hands down, the most influential people in their children’s lives. They hold a great deal of power when it comes to modeling what it means to be part of a community, including the importance of voting.

At JP, every mom we partner with is a single mother pursuing a college degree and economic mobility for her family. While we recognize that education alone isn’t the solution to inequity, it is a critical factor in achieving long-term economic mobility. By voting, JP moms are advocating for policies that support education and essential services that empower women and families to thrive. Their votes are about more than this election — they’re about securing a future where every mom can win and every child has the chance to succeed.

Women, especially moms, have always been at the forefront of change. They are leaders in their families, their communities, and our democracy. Single moms in particular, most of whom live on the financial margins, are closest to the most pressing issues of the day. As we approach the 2024 elections and beyond, their voices matter in shaping policies that impact access to education, affordable child care, climate action, crime prevention, housing, and economic opportunities for families across the country. 

Single Moms: The Constituency No One Is Talking About

About 10 million U.S. households are led by single mothers of children under 18 — that figure extends past 15 million when you count dependents over 18 — and 30% of those families are experiencing poverty. Several of the issues at the heart of this election, then, deeply impact these families’ daily lives. Single moms’ votes are critical.

Take child care. For the last several years, the U.S. has been navigating a severe child care crisis of both affordability and availability that leaves many single moms in a dire Catch-22: They either can’t work because they don’t have child care, or they can’t afford child care because they can’t work. In many states, child care increasingly costs more than a family’s rent.

Student debt is a huge issue this election cycle that disproportionately affects single moms. Of the 1 in 5 college students who are parents, the majority are single mothers of color.

On the topic of rent, rates have been skyrocketing for years, taking up more than 30% of nearly half of renters’ incomes. If we disaggregate that data by race, gender, and marital status, the financial burden becomes even more complex. Now, if child care is taking up more than many families’ rental costs, how much income do you imagine is left for food, clothing, and other necessities — especially when there’s only one income?

Student debt is another huge issue this election cycle that disproportionately affects single moms. Of the 1 in 5 college students who are parents, the majority are single mothers of color. Student parents have twice as much debt as their non-parenting peers, and it’s even worse for single moms, who generally lack the support of other students and stay in school longer, accruing more debt.

Each of these issues affects Jeremiah Program moms: 100% single moms experiencing poverty, 100% parents in pursuit of a college degree, and 80% identifying as people of color. At Jeremiah Program, we understand that voting is one of the most powerful tools a single mom has to transform her frustrations into advocacy, allowing her to shape the future she wants for herself, her children, and her community at all levels, from school boards to federal offices. Single mom voters matter.

How Jeremiah Program Is Supporting Single Moms as Voters

We believe that every single mom deserves the opportunity to redefine what is possible for herself, her family, and her community. Our two-generation approach to family support recognizes that when single moms win, families and communities win too.

The same belief applies to our support of JP moms as voters. That’s why we are undertaking a nonpartisan “get out the vote” (GOTV) campaign for our moms.

We will engage JP moms as voters and as trusted community advocates, addressing the fact that traditional GOTV campaigns have often overlooked them. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, being too busy or having a conflicting work or school schedule was the most common reason people didn’t vote in 2022. JP moms are all too familiar with these conflicts on a given day, let alone on Election Day. JP’s GOTV campaign builds on our commitment to centering the identities of single moms and addressing the unique challenges they face in getting out to vote, such as child care, transportation, and meals for their children, supporting their ability to fully exercise their power.

In addition to capitalizing on moms’ regular bi-weekly, hour-long coaching sessions to learn about and engage with the issues that matter most to them, we’ll also do the following:

• Lead by Example: Moms have powerful influence within their families and communities. We will encourage JP moms to create a voting, child care, and meal plan and to share it with other moms and encourage them to do the same. By leading by example, JP moms will inspire others to recognize the importance of their voices in shaping our collective future.
• Encourage Participation: We will work to ensure that JP moms and other eligible single mom voters in our nine communities are informed, registered, and prepared to vote — with a voting, child care, and meal plan on Election Day, as well as resources related to early voting.

JP has always understood that our work is a “yes and” — providing direct support while also helping to change the systems that make economic mobility elusive for so many families. As women and moms, their voices are essential in this fight. The future we want for all children depends on the actions we take today, and voting is one of the most powerful ways to advocate for that future.

By participating in this GOTV campaign, JP moms are using their voices to create lasting change. Together, we will show the world the power of single moms, women, and families at the voting polls and build a stronger, more just community for all.

Did this story resonate with you? A monthly gift goes further to support JP families.