Questions to Ask Candidates About Issues Affecting Women

The questions below are designed for town halls, candidate forums, campaign events, debates, local meet-and-greets, and other opportunities where voters may be able to ask candidates directly about issues affecting women.

The “Listen for” prompts are not endorsements or preferred answers — they simply highlight topics candidates may address in their response.

Healthcare & Reproductive Policy

1. What healthcare issues affecting women do you see as the biggest priority right now?
   Listen for: maternal health, abortion access, healthcare affordability, mental health, fertility and family planning, rural healthcare access, preventive care, violence prevention services
2. What role should the government play in reproductive healthcare and family policy decisions?
   Listen for: state versus federal authority, personal privacy, physician decision-making, healthcare regulation, religious or moral considerations, contraception access, parental involvement laws, pregnancy and family support policies

Workplace & Economic Opportunity

1. What workplace or economic issues affecting women do you see as the biggest priority right now?
   Listen for: pay equity, childcare affordability, paid leave, workforce participation, caregiving responsibilities, workplace flexibility, economic security, leadership opportunities
2. What role should government and employers play in supporting women balancing work and caregiving responsibilities?
   Listen for: paid leave, childcare support, workplace flexibility, employer responsibility, caregiver support programs, public funding, small business concerns, private-sector solutions

Education & Student Protections

1. What education issues affecting girls and young women do you see as the biggest priority right now?
   Listen for: student safety, academic opportunity, Title IX, mental health, bullying and harassment, athletics, parental involvement, curriculum decisions, access to educational resources
2. How should schools balance student protections, parental rights, and evolving policies involving sex and gender?
   Listen for: Title IX enforcement, athletics participation, privacy concerns, anti-discrimination protections, school guidance policies, parental notification, student wellbeing, legal compliance

Voting, Representation & Civic Participation

1. What role do voting access and political representation play in shaping policies affecting women?
   Listen for: voting access, district maps, representation, election administration, civic participation, local versus federal decision-making, political influence, community priorities
2. How should redistricting decisions be handled to ensure communities are fairly represented?
   Listen for: independent commissions, court oversight, partisan influence, minority representation, transparency, public input, local representation, legal standards

Safety, Rights & Public Spaces

1. What policies do you support to improve women’s safety and legal protections in your state or community?
   Listen for: domestic violence prevention, sexual assault investigations, victim services, prosecution priorities, restraining orders, public safety resources, survivor support programs
2. How should policymakers approach situations where sex-based protections and gender identity policies may conflict?
   Listen for: school policies, athletics, privacy and safety concerns, anti-discrimination protections, parental involvement, legal definitions, balancing competing rights and interests