Pivotal Ventures’ Post

Vote indeed holds significant power in shaping the future of a nation. Today, the Executive Director, Ms. Rizwana Patel, and Program Manager, Ms. Salma Bhutto, of Pakistan Legal United Society (PLUS), were honored to be invited by FM 101 for a crucial discussion on women's participation in the upcoming 2024 elections. During the conversation, the focus was on the awareness-raising campaign led by PLUS in collaboration with Coalition for inclusive pakistan(CIP), aiming to encourage women to actively participate in the electoral process. Emphasis was placed on the need to ensure the inclusion of women in the elections, with the hope of boosting their turnout. According to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), it was reported, that the women voter turnout in the 2018 general elections stood at 40 per cent with 21 of 46 million registered women voters participating in polling, Encouragingly, this year has seen a positive shift, 44.79% women in Sindh and 55.21% men in Sindh indicating an increase in turnout. The discussion emphasized the importance of motivating women to come forward and exercise their right to vote. Ms. Rizwana also took the opportunity to explain the voting process, shedding light on the steps involved. Additionally, the conversation touched upon the challenges faced by disabled women and those incarcerated, As per section 17 of Sindh Empowerment of ‘Persons with Disabilities Act 2018, which gives differently abled persons to political participation underscoring the need for inclusive measures to ensure that every woman has the opportunity to participate in shaping the future through the electoral process. The commitment of PLUS towards fostering a more inclusive and participatory democracy was evident throughout the discussion.

The journey for women to secure the right to vote in the United States was a long and arduous battle, culminating in a significant victory with the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on August 18, 1920. This historic amendment, which granted women the right to vote, marked the end of almost a century of protest and activism, beginning in earnest with the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. The struggle spanned 72 years, a testament to the resilience and determination of the suffragists. Protecting the right to vote is crucial for maintaining the foundation of democracy. Voting is not only a fundamental democratic right but also the primary means by which citizens participate in their government, influencing policies and decisions that affect their lives. By ensuring that this right remains protected, we honor the struggle and sacrifice of those who fought for suffrage, acknowledging the high cost of activism which often involved imprisonment, force-feeding, and societal ostracization. Safeguarding the right to vote continues the legacy of the broader struggle for equality and inclusion. It is essential to prevent regression into inequality and disenfranchisement, as history has shown that rights can be eroded if not vigilantly protected. The ability to vote empowers individuals, allowing for representation that addresses the needs and concerns of all citizens, including women who have historically been underrepresented in political spheres. The right to vote is a tribute to those who fought tirelessly for this fundamental democratic process. It is our responsibility to future generations to maintain and expand access to voting, ensuring that democracy remains vibrant and representative. Protecting this right ensures that all voices are heard, respected, and counted in the shaping of our society, a continuous reminder of the ongoing fight for justice and democracy. #WomensRights #Vote

Did you realize: Even as the U.S. overall saw a record number of women elected to statehouses last year, in legislatures across the Southeast, women are fewer than one in five state lawmakers. As reported by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, and as visualized by VRL's StateOfMyDemocracy.org : Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee all have fewer than 20% women's representation. Further, West Virginia has the lowest percentage of any state, with less than 13% female legislators. (https://bit.ly/3O97WOh) This new ProPublica article (https://bit.ly/4aWQRAV ) makes a hugely compelling, fully humanized argument for exactly why this underrepresentation is disastrous (even deadly) for millions of American women. Its stories and statistics underscore Vote Run Lead Action's mission: Empowering women to run for office and win, with a laser focus on achieving 51% representation in all our statehouses nationwide. Vote Run Lead Action trains candidates and campaign managers from every community and demographic to run as they are, unapologetically, and to govern from their distinct points of view. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ddaC9HiG Women deserve for policy to be made with empathy and understanding. We cannot allow this egregious underrepresentation to stand, and we can’t wait for incremental progress. VRLA research shows that reflective democracy is possible within just a few election cycles — we can see a path to women’s legislative majorities and we will be sharing it soon!

It's time to vote yes. Vote yes to a New York ERA. For our NY colleagues, pay attention. Those of you who live in NY, those who work in NY and those who care about the treatment of people of all genders, abilities, age and cultural background, pay attention. That's all of us. At a moment in time when policy makers and courts are narrowing and rescinding rights, New York is leading by clarifying and expanding rights. These legal protections go above and beyond the protections of the federal constitution, and insulate New Yorkers from state political winds that seek to eliminate or narrow existing legal protections. The New York State ERA is an amendment to New York’s State Constitution that adds explicit protections for people who experience discrimination. At a moment in time when we are seeing state governments and courts walk rights backwards, this proposal embeds explicit protections within our state constitution. Adding to existing enumerated protections against discrimination based on race and religion, this amendment would explicitly prohibit discrimination based on a person’s ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex—including their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, reproductive healthcare and autonomy. New York State Constitutional amendments must pass in two consecutive legislative terms and then approved by voters in a ballot referendum. The ERA was voted on by the New York Legislature in 2022, following the Dobbs v. JWHO decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, and again on January 24, 2023, to mark the 50th anniversary of that landmark decision. New Yorkers will have the opportunity to vote on the Amendment in 2024. If voters approve it, the ERA will be added to New York’s State constitution. https://nyequalrights.org/ New Yorkers will vote on this in 2024. Make sure you are registered to vote and that you have a plan to get to the ballot box. And start working on your neighbors, colleagues and friends.

Young Republican women believe Donald Trump should be debating his challengers about the issues that affect them most. But do other voting blocs agree? See the latest results from The American Survey, powered by What If Media Group! Want to speak directly to the American people? We can make that happen. Click here to get started today: https://lnkd.in/eruFA6SH #WhatIfMediaGroup #TheAmericanSurvey #PerformanceMarketing #RepublicanDebate #NikkiHaley #LevelUp

⚖️ Our special Legal Elite NOTABLE publication featuring Women Leaders in Law is out! See 92 profiles of women leaders across the state. https://lnkd.in/gKfQnkEQ #WomenLeaders #WomenInLaw #WomenLawyers #LegalElite

On this day, 6th February 1918 - a pivotal moment in British history as voting rights are granted to women... ... over 30, who owned a property, or whose husband did. 👩🔧 In 1919, 52% of the population of England and Wales were female. 👩💼 Putting this into perspective, 55% of Park Avenue Recruitment are female, and 100 years ago only 2 of us would have been able to vote. Food for thought for a dreary Tuesday and a reminder to celebrate how far we have come in a relatively short space of time, and the achievements of activists who made this historic bill in 1918 possible. However there's still a long way to go for representation else where- I couldn't find 2024 stats, but in 2022 Women in Local Government reported that despite making up 78% of the local government workforce, women account for only 17% of local authority leaders and 33% of council chief executives. What is it about the system as it stands that means women aren't being appointed to leadership positions for our communities? #womeninleadership #localauthority #localgovernment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 11, 2024 / Biden/Harris Talking Points - Trump’s Project 2025 Makes Headlines in the Battlegrounds Voters across the battlegrounds sounded the alarm this week on Trump’s Project 2025, a dangerous agenda for Donald Trump and his MAGA loyalists that would roll back Americans’ rights and freedoms, hurt the middle class, and threaten our democracy by giving Trump power like no president has ever had over our daily lives. Trump’s Project 2025 agenda would ban abortion nationwide, raise taxes for the middle class, cut Social Security benefits by raising the retirement age, and gut democratic checks and balances to give Trump virtually unchecked power to exact revenge on his enemies. And it isn’t just deeply harmful. Trump’s agenda is also deeply unpopular. According to new polling out Tuesday, two in three Americans believe Project 2025 would have a negative impact on the LGBTQ+ community, women, and seniors. See coverage below: In Wisconsin: WQOW (ABC - La Crosse, WI): Reporter: “Vice President Kamala Harris is focusing her attacks on former President Donald Trump and Project 2025 on the campaign trail. President Joe Biden posting a cryptic message on social media telling voters to ‘Google Project 2025.’ The controversial document they're referring to was written by conservatives as a blueprint for how Donald Trump would carry out an extreme policy, extreme policies, if he wins a second term.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Think tank behind Project 2025 conservative blueprint signs on as RNC convention sponsor [Lawrence Andrea, 7/9/24] As former President Donald Trump distances himself from a conservative group’s blueprint for a future Republican governing agenda, he will have at least one unavoidable connection to it: the Republican National Convention. The Heritage Foundation, the D.C.-based think tank that produced Project 2025 — a series of policy plans to overhaul the federal government — is among the sponsors of the convention in Milwaukee next week. The group is touted as a convention partner on the RNC host committee’s website. And Heritage plans to hold a day-long “policy fest” in downtown Milwaukee on Monday, the opening day of a convention in which Trump will officially receive the Republican nomination for president. In Pennsylvania: Keystone Newsroom: Pennsylvania seniors would pay more for prescription drugs under Project 2025 [Isabel Soisson, 7/9/24] Project 2025 calls for repealing the Inflation Reduction Act, which would cause millions of American seniors to pay more for their prescription drugs. [...] In Pennsylvania, an estimated 76,000 Medicare Part D enrollees could pay more for their prescription drugs without the Inflation Reduction Act’s $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap. An even higher number of Pennsylvania seniors and others on Medicare ###

The number of women in the state Senate and Assembly is already a record 50 of 120 after the 2022 election. And based on the primary results so far, it’s expected to increase to at least 55 women after the November election.