Protect Your Rights: Why Voting in the Midterm Elections is Crucial for Women’s Future

Are you comfortable with the thought of losing your fundamental right to safe, legal abortion, or with seeing access to affordable reproductive healthcare disappear? If these concerns resonate with you, then registering to vote and participating in the upcoming midterm elections is not just important—it’s absolutely essential. As the Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan and Editorial Director of Women’s Health, I’ve had the immense privilege of witnessing young women harness their collective power with incredible force over the past few years. From taking to the streets for the Women’s March, to championing gun control on social media, and spearheading a long-overdue reckoning with the #MeToo movement, women’s voices have been undeniably impactful.

However, despite this growing momentum, there’s one critical arena where our voices still aren’t being heard loudly enough: the United States government. Women constitute over 50 percent of the nation’s population, yet we hold a mere 30 percent of elected offices. This stark underrepresentation is not only unacceptable but also deeply threatening to our safety, well-being, and future. When women are underrepresented in power, policies that directly affect our lives—from reproductive freedom and access to affordable birth control to the persistent gender wage gap—are constantly vulnerable to attack. Our bodily autonomy is under siege, essential healthcare services are in jeopardy, and the economic disparities that hold women back remain a frustrating reality.

It’s truly astonishing that in this day and age, we are still confronting these foundational issues. I vividly recall my own journey decades ago, navigating reproductive health decisions as a highly independent high school student. My divorced mother was incredibly busy, balancing a full-time job with pursuing a master’s degree to improve her teacher’s abysmally low salary. In that environment, I learned to manage many aspects of my life independently, and obtaining birth control was one of them. While my mother and I weren’t particularly close during that period, and I likely wouldn’t have confided in her even if she had more free time, my experience at a local Planned Parenthood clinic was foundational.

I remember the visit clearly: I went to the clinic in a neighboring town, spoke with a compassionate doctor who thoughtfully discussed my options, emphasized the importance of practicing safe sex, and ultimately dispensed the Pill. For years, I continued to rely on that clinic for refills and crucial routine health screenings until I moved away for college. That early experience instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility regarding my reproductive and sexual health—a responsibility I’ve carried throughout my adult life. It underscored the vital role accessible and non-judgmental healthcare providers play in empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures.

Now, fast-forward to the present, and the landscape of reproductive healthcare is under unprecedented threat. The Trump-Pence Administration, for instance, proposed a “gag rule” designed to prevent healthcare providers in federally funded programs, like those under Title X, from offering comprehensive and accurate information to patients about their full range of reproductive options, including legal abortion and contraception. This rule, had it been fully implemented, would have severely limited patient-doctor communication, forcing medical professionals to withhold critical information. The people disproportionately affected by such policies are, invariably, women and those living below the poverty line, who often rely on these clinics for their primary and preventative healthcare needs.

One must ask: why is it considered acceptable to attempt to control people’s destinies, their economic security, and their family planning choices in such a restrictive manner? The answer is simple: it’s not. It is a profound infringement on personal liberty and autonomy. This is why the prospect of losing access to affordable reproductive healthcare—among other fundamental human rights—is so deeply unsettling. The very idea that they would seek to control access to information itself, preventing individuals from receiving comprehensive guidance, is alarming. After all, information truly is power, and it seems some forces are intent on denying women that power. Such policies are not just unfathomable and unnerving; they are fundamentally unacceptable and fly in the face of modern medical ethics and human dignity.

But we cannot afford to retreat or hide. We are far too intelligent and resilient to stand idly by and accept this erosion of our rights. The most effective way to combat this legislative lunacy and protect our hard-won freedoms is to actively work towards electing more women to public office. This conviction is precisely why Cosmopolitan published its award-winning guide, “How to Run for Office,” providing practical, actionable advice for women aspiring to political leadership. Our efforts, coupled with the powerful initiatives of dozens of other organizations dedicated to empowering women, are having a tangible impact. Since the 2016 general election, we have seen a record surge in women signing up to run for office across the country.

Consider the inspiring example of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a young Democrat who, in a stunning upset, unseated a long-serving older white male incumbent in Queens, NY, on her path to the U.S. House of Representatives. (And in case you missed it, her victory underscored the transformative power of grassroots movements and diverse representation.) This is not an isolated incident; it’s part of a larger, burgeoning movement. More than 40,000 impassioned women have contacted our allies at Emily’s List about becoming candidates since Donald Trump’s victory—a truly monumental increase compared to the mere 920 who inquired in the entire election cycle prior to that. This dramatic shift signals a potent desire for change and a growing understanding that women need to be at the decision-making tables.

Now, it’s your turn to do your part, and the most direct way is by *voting* for these transformative candidates. This isn’t just about presidential election years; it’s crucially about participating in the more frequent primaries and midterm elections. Cosmo’s #VoteTwice campaign is specifically designed to galvanize young women to exercise their electoral power twice in 2018: first in state primaries, which are absolutely crucial for selecting quality candidates who truly represent our values, and then in the general midterm elections this fall. I understand—midterms often aren’t perceived as “sexy,” and you might not be familiar with many of the local and state candidates. But if this past year has taught us anything, it’s that seemingly far-fetched and unthinkable things—such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion nationwide—are now frighteningly within the realm of possibility.

Therefore, what happens in your state matters more now than ever before. For example, do you live in one of the 22 states where abortion could instantly become illegal if Roe v. Wade is overturned? This stark reality underscores the critical importance of electing local and state representatives who, at a minimum, are committed to preserving women’s healthcare access, advocating for economic empowerment, and legislating for robust gun safety measures. This isn’t just an abstract concern; it’s a matter of life and death, particularly for women. It’s a sobering fact that more women are killed by firearms in domestic violence situations than in mass shootings, highlighting the urgent need for responsible gun legislation that protects vulnerable individuals within their own homes.

And speaking of gun safety, let’s not even begin to discuss the utterly terrifying news that the State Department was at one point poised to allow the blueprints for 3D-printed guns to be published online, a move only halted by a court ruling. The implications of this are chilling: untraceable and undetectable firearms would be accessible to anyone with a 3D printer. Domestic abusers, terrorists, and other dangerous individuals would have a field day, with virtually no way to put the bullet back in the chamber once these plans go live. The potential for catastrophic violence and a complete breakdown of public safety is immense and downright terrifying.

Another deeply alarming statistic is that a whopping 80 percent of young voters skipped the last midterm elections. This widespread disengagement allowed policies and politicians hostile to women’s rights to gain power unchallenged. However, there’s a beacon of hope: an exclusive poll conducted by Cosmopolitan in partnership with SurveyMonkey revealed that 68 percent of respondents are definitely planning to vote in the upcoming elections. If this promising intent translates into action—if you and your peers follow through—we have the collective power to not only thwart the regression of women’s rights but to actively charge forward, securing a more equitable and just future for all. There are simply no excuses left. It’s time to get out there and make your voice heard!

And if you’re not yet registered to vote, there’s no better time than now. You can complete your registration right here, with HollywoodLife.com’s easy-to-use register to vote module embedded below. HollywoodLife.com has proudly partnered with Rock The Vote to make the registration process as seamless and straightforward as possible. So, take action today: register now and prepare to cast your ballot in the critical midterm elections on November 6th!

Michele Promaulayko is the Editor-In-Chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, the world’s largest magazine for young women. She also serves as the Editorial Director of Women’s Health.