LPAC Action Network Polling – LGBTQ Women's Voter Turnout Opportunities

2022 LPAC Action Network Polling Overview

This summer as the 2022 Midterm Elections approached, LPAC Action Network understood it would be important to conduct research on LGBTQ women’s electoral engagement this election cycle. With Roe’s reversal and LGBTQ rights under attack, Team LPAC knew it would be critical to understand how the political environment shapes queer women’s political participation.

In July, LPAC Action Network and Lake Research Partners conducted polling that shows there is major opportunity in turning out LGBTQ women voters. This can be done without expensive targeting by incorporating simple messages into general communications.

Key Opportunity:

LGBTQ women are very Democratic. They favor Democrats in the generic Congressional ballot by a 43% margin. Even at the height of President Biden’s unpopularity this summer, a majority of LGBTQ women had a favorable impression of him – by a 27% margin.

75% of LGBTQ women are likely to vote, of those 51% say they are almost certain to vote. Making sure the 24% who will probably vote actually go to the polls will boost Democratic vote margins. 

Recommendation:

Tweak communications like GOTV scripts, mail, walk lit, and digital ads to talk about the issues LGBTQ women care about. Mention a candidate’s stance on abortion rights and the slippery slope of Roe’s reversal on LGBTQ rights, voting rights, and civil rights. Tell voters what a candidate is going to do about it.

This will boost turnout among LGBTQ women without alienating other targets and can provide a real benefit to overall turnout efforts.

More detailed findings and data, with takeaways and recommendations, can be found below. You can view a comprehensive research deck here.


Electoral Findings

The Opportunity – Partisanship and Political Advantage

LGBTQ women are Democratic and progressive in their outlook – significantly more so than straight women.

In the generic Congressional ballot:

  • 63% of LGBTQ women would vote for a Democratic candidate, compared to 20% for a Republican – a 43% margin in favor of Democrats.

  • 52% of straight women reported that they would vote for a Democratic candidate, compared to 40% for a Republican – a 12% margin in favor of Democrats.

When asked about the country’s leaders and political parties, LGBTQ women are more likely to report favorable views towards Democrats. This is important given that the survey was conducted when President Joe Biden’s approval numbers were near-record lows among the general voting population.

  • 61% of LGBTQ women have a favorable impression of President Joe Biden, 34% have an unfavorable view – a 27% margin in favor of Biden.

  • 45% of straight women have a favorable impression of Biden, 51% have an unfavorable view – a 6% margin against Biden.

  • 62% of LGBTQ women have a favorable impression of Democrats in Congress, 30% have an unfavorable view – a 32% margin in favor of Democrats

  • 46% of straight women have a favorable impression of Democrats in Congress, 43% have an unfavorable view – with rounding a 2% margin in favor of Democrats.

Takeaway: LGBTQ women are strongly Democratic, much more so than straight women.


Voting Propensity

LGBTQ women are paying attention to the election. A strong majority believe that their political participation matters now more than ever to influence the direction of our country. 

LGBTQ women and straight women report similar overall propensity to vote. However, LGBTQ women are less likely than straight women to say they are almost certain to vote. Given the partisan makeup of LGBTQ women, there is significant opportunity in making sure those who report they will “probably” vote cast a ballot.

  • 75% of LGBTQ women are likely to vote, of those 51% say they are almost certain to vote.

    • Younger LGBTQ women (under the age of 50) are more likely than older LGBTQ women to say they are almost certain to vote – 55% to 42%.

  • 78% of straight women are likely to vote, of those 64% say they are almost certain to vote. 15% will probably vote.

When it comes to motivation to vote in state and local elections, LGBTQ women and straight women are similarly motivated.

  • 86% of LGBTQ women are motivated to vote, 54% of those are very motivated.

    • Younger LGBTQ women have more intensity than older LGBTQ women, 56% to 50%.

    • LGBTQ Latinas are the most motivated, with 57% saying they are very motivated.

  • 82% of straight women are motivated to vote, 56% of those are very motivated.

LGBTQ women are more likely than straight women to vote by mail.

  • 45% of LGBTQ women plan on voting by mail, 47% say they will vote in person.

  • 36% of straight women plan on voting by mail, 55% say they will vote in person.

Takeaway: LGBTQ women are less likely to say they are “almost certain” to vote compared to straight women. Making sure LGBTQ women who will “probably” vote cast a ballot is an opportunity to win votes with minimal effort. 


Key Issues to Incorporate in Turnout Programs

LGBTQ women care about a connected set of issues. Explicitly drawing connections between these issues can further energize and motivate LGBTQ women to participate in the upcoming election.

  • The top two issues LGBTQ women would like to see elected officials address are LGBTQ equality and abortion access – these are tied as the most important issues for politicians to address.

The results from our survey show that LGBTQ women, especially younger LGBTQ women, are intensely concerned about both abortion and LGBTQ rights and are hyper-aware of how the two issues are linked. In the wake of Roe being overturned over half of all LGBTQ women are very concerned about all potential outcomes we tested – a very high level of acute concern. The top concerns:

  • 64% of LGBTQ women are very concerned that all abortion will be banned, including in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the mother’s life.

  • 62% are very concerned that LGBTQ marriage will be banned.

  • 61% are very concerned that same-sex intimacy will be criminalized.

  • 61% are very concerned that nondiscrimination protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations will be overturned.

LGBTQ women’s key issues translate to the most important traits they consider when deciding for whom to vote for in Congressional and Senate races:

  • The most-important trait LGBTQ women look for when deliberating whom to vote for is a candidate who stands up for LGBTQ rights.

  • LGBTQ women say a candidate who can get things done and bring about change is also important, and these are the most-important traits straight women look for.

  • A candidate’s stances on key issues also factor prominently. LGBTQ women say it is important that a candidate address gun violence and support abortion.

Recommendation: LGBTQ women know that abortion and LGBTQ rights are linked and want to hear about both issues. Communications, including digital ads, direct mail, walk lit, etc. should mention a candidate’s stance on abortion and the slippery slope of Roe’s reversal on LGBTQ rights, voting rights, and civil rights. Candidates need to tell voters what they are going to do to address these concerns.

Methodology

This research project consisted of a 13-minute nationwide survey reaching 1,637 registered voters. Survey samples included a base of 800 LGBTQ women and oversamples of LGBTQ women of color, transgender women and nonbinary people, straight women, and straight women of color. Oversamples were weighted into the base to reflect the proportion of the population they represent. The margin of error for the base sample is +/- 3.5%. The survey was in the field from July 7-18, 2022.

Team LPAC