We want leaders in office who will advocate for survivors – and center them in policy choices. With election season underway, this is the year we exercise our power as voters to hold elected officials accountable to survivors.
It begins with these 12 questions. Before casting your ballot, ask candidates these questions to see where they stand on issues that directly impact survivor well-being.
Elected officials will prioritize survivors when we demand that they do.
Spread the word and tag your candidate
HAS YOUR CANDIDATE TAKEN ANY PUBLIC ACTION IN SUPPORT OF SURVIVORS?
If a candidate has never addressed gender-based violence issues or acted in support of survivors, it is unlikely they will prioritize survivors if elected.
Questions:
1. What policies in your platform are intended to support survivors?
2. What actions have you taken to support survivors in your past roles?
3. How will you center survivors in the policy-making process?
DO YOUR CANDIDATES UNDERSTAND THE COMPLEXITY OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE?
Leaders must understand that gender-based violence is a public health, economic, and systemic issue. Before, during, and after moments of crisis, survivors face many barriers to long-term financial stability, including debt, housing instability, employment disruption, health insurance gaps, and limited access to resources. Candidates should be prepared to advance policies that support survivors holistically and respect their agency.
Questions:
4. What would you do to end gender-based violence?
5. How have you supported or will you support survivors beyond moments of crisis?
6. Not all survivors can or feel safe enough to engage with police or courts. How will you increase survivors’ safety and well-being outside of the criminal justice system?
7. Survivors’ financial well-being is in the bottom 10th percentile for adults in the U.S. How will you ensure survivors’ daily basic needs are met?
DO YOUR CANDIDATES HOLD HARM-DOERS ACCOUNTABLE?
From #metoo to the Epstein files and beyond, evidence of elected officials and other leaders committing GBV continues to surface. Candidates who take this issue seriously must be willing to hold those in power accountable when they cause such harm.
Questions:
8. Have you called for accountability and investigation of individuals mentioned in the Epstein files?
9. How have you supported or will you support survivors impacted by the Epstein files?
10. Have you called for the resignation of elected officials who have been accused of gender-based violence? If so, when?
11. Have you taken any actions to hold elected officials accountable when they have been accused of gender-based violence? If so, when?
12. How have you supported or will you support survivors who come forward about harm committed by elected officials?
Additional Tips
→ Find more information by checking out each candidates’ …
✔ Campaign website
✔ Government webpage if in office
✔ Sponsored legislation
✔ Past press releases
→ Explore our Map and Scorecard for examples of survivor-centered policies candidates can support on the campaign trail and in office.
