What is Empower Her Vote?
Empower Her Vote is a civic and voting engagement initiative that doesn’t just focus on elections – it focuses on the role of government and the impact of elections.
Have you heard the saying “elections have consequences”? It is true! Every single election (elections occur twice a year EVERY year here in Pennsylvania!) has consequences – not just on gender equity, but on every facet of life. Because of the broad impact of government and elected officials, it is critical that each and every one of us get involved – first by voting, then by holding elected officials accountable between elections.
The goal of our Empower Her Vote initiative is to make civic and voter engagement not only accessible to all, but to take away the mystery and provide valuable information and resources so that everyone can meaningfully participate in our democracy.
How are we working on Empowering Her Vote?
It starts with nonpartisan education! Knowing what is on your ballot is a critical step – that includes what each position does, and how to find the information you need to make informed decisions. As a nonpartisan nonprofit, we will never tell you who to vote for. We want to make sure you know not only about what you are voting for, but how to engage elected officials and policy makers year-round. Elections in PA are twice a year, but your government works for you 365 days of the year. Leading up to each election, we will make resources available to help you understand what positions are up for election, what those positions do, how to find your sample ballot, and more.
In between elections we will share how to reach out to your elected officials, what laws and ordinances affect gender equity, and continue to break down the complicated system that we all need to engage on - “we the people” will only mean every single person when we all actively take part in the system.
Our next election in PA will be May 19th, 2026! This is a primary election. What does that mean?
In Pennsylvania, primary elections are held on the third Tuesday in May, except during presidential election years, when they take place on the fourth Tuesday in April. During a primary, registered Democrats and Republicans choose the candidates they want to represent their parties in the November general election. Because Pennsylvania uses a closed primary system, voters may only cast ballots for candidates within their own registered party. The candidates who receive the most votes move on to the general election.
Important dates:
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May 4th, 2026 – Last day to register to vote
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May 12th, 2026 – Last day to apply for a mail in ballot
Check your registration status HERE.
Find out more about the next election HERE.
“You'll never know everything about anything, especially something you love.” - Julia Child
Why do we choose to work on this?
Because so many issues that affect women and girls are at stake. By voting, we can fight for gender equity, ensuring that policies and laws reflect the needs and aspirations of everyone, not just a select few. Voting is the most powerful tool we can use to ensure our democracy and meaningful representation. It enables us to champion issues like healthcare, education, reproductive rights, and workplace equality.
By voting, women honor the legacy of those who fought tirelessly for their right to participate in democracy, and those who are still fighting. Each vote is a step toward a future where women’s perspectives are integral to decision-making, inspiring generations to come and ensuring that progress continues. Your vote is your power—use it to create the world you want to see for women and girls in Chester County and beyond.
To learn more about the history of voting and current issues, click HERE.
Beyond voting are the impacts of elections. Once elected, legislators have the ability to pass laws – these laws can be helpful or harmful to gender equity and women’s rights. To make informed voting decisions and engage elected officials about the issues that impact us, we must understand what has already happened or what might happen. One issue that The Fund is currently tracking is the affects of HR1 (better known as the “Big Beautiful Bill”). Did you know that many of the components of that bill did not start upon its passage on July 4th, 2025?
For more information about HR1 click HERE.
What can
YOU do?
The best thing anyone can do is continue learning – civic and voter engagement is no exception. Elections and government are complex – the rules and laws guiding processes vary state by state, sometimes municipality by municipality. To meaningfully engage in the systems that impact us, we need to understand them. The second-best thing we can do is to help those around us continue learning as well. By providing nonpartisan resources that make break down the complexity of these systems, The Fund strives to ensure that no one feels overwhelmed by the process of voting or engaging with elected officials.
If you are interested in getting more involved with Empower Her Vote, click here to contact our Director of Advocacy & Policy, Blake Emmanuel.