Women Set Election Records

Today marks the U.S. Presidential Elections.

As you’re busy rushing to the polls last minute, you might be interested to know it’s been 92 years since women won voting rights, but the number of women in office remains under 20 percent.

For the 2012 elections, 18 women are running for Senate and 166 women for the U.S. House of Representatives.

That’s more women on the ballot than ever before.

But, not all is rosy. The Women & Politics Institute concludes that even if most of these women win, there will only be a maximum two percent increase in Congressional seats held by females.

How to get more women to run? It requires party leadership and citizens to encourage women they know to run for office. Plus, continuing to have programs that educate women about the political system. That’s according to Victoria Budson, Executive Director of Harvard Kennedy School’s Women and Public Policy Program.

“People make decisions out of their life experience,” says Budson. “We need people with diverse life experiences in order to have a well-balanced government.”

Most of all, Budson hopes your vote will help the representation of the smart, capable women running for office. “If we’re going to tackle the problems in the 21st century,” she says, “we need to use all of our talent.”

Bonus PINK Link: What’s it like to be a woman in office? Read our profile on Condoleezza Rice here.

Would you ever run for office?

By Sarah Grace Alexander

“There never will be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.” Susan B. Anthony