In Utah’s early history, women were highly engaged politically. In fact, Utah women were the first in the United States to vote under an equal suffrage law in 1870. However, in 2006 when only 36.8% of Utah women visited the polls, Utah plummeted to last place for women’s voter turnout. That downward trend has shifted, but Utah is still a long way from the 76% of Utah women who voted in the 1992 election, earning the top ranking in the nation for that election.
The Utah State University Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) recently published a research report, Voting and Civic Engagement Among Utah Women: A 2025 Update.
According to Susan Madsen, co-author of the report, director of the UWLP, and Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership in the Huntsman School of Business at USU, women’s civic engagement is absolutely critical to the well-being of Utah, its communities, and families.
While Madsen is glad to see a slow uptick in women’s voter turnout, she has concerns about challenges that disproportionately affect women and girls that are not improving.
“There remain a significant number of challenges, including the lack of public support for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as funding for the prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse,” she said. “Until women and girls have all aspects of their safety, security, health, and well-being met, and feel abundant levels of support and a sense of belonging, they cannot thrive.”
The following information can help Utahns understand the relationship between voting, civic engagement, and Utah women.
Women Voters: Utah women voted at rates lower than the U.S. women’s national average from 2006-2014. In 2016, Utah women nearly matched the national average, and in both of the most recent elections (2022 and 2024), Utah women’s voter participation slightly outpaced their national counterparts. Nationally, White non-Hispanic women are most likely to vote, and Latina or Hispanic women are least likely. Marital status has an impact as well, with the highest turnout among women who are married with a spouse present. In addition, as education increases, so does voter participation, with 82.6% of women with an advanced degree voting in the 2024 election.
Women’s Policy Priorities: Three recent surveys studied Utahn’s priorities and found multiple differences by gender.
- The 2024 Utah Foundation survey found that housing affordability and politicians listening to voters were the top priorities for both men and women, followed closely by government overreach and inflation. A notable difference was that men included immigration in their top 10 priorities, while women included homelessness.
- The Sutherlund Institute’s survey had similar results in terms of women and men aligning on policy issues, though taxes ranked as a slightly higher concern for men, and preservation of the Great Salt Lake was slightly higher for women.
- A UWLP analysis of Envision Utah’s 2021 data on priorities found widespread agreement by gender, with a few notable exceptions: women place higher importance on healthcare, disaster preparation, inclusion, climate change, and arts and culture – issues more closely linked with overall quality of life. In reviewing perceptions of Utah’s performance in 17 priorities, women rated Utah’s performance lower than men on 14 of the 17 issues, with the greatest gaps in inclusion, housing, and cost of living. These differences emphasize the need to improve quality of life for women.
Volunteering and Civic Engagement: One vital aspect of civic engagement, where Utah truly shines, is volunteer work and community service. According to the Census Bureau and AmeriCorps, Utah had the highest rate of residents engaged in both types of volunteering. In 2023, 68.2% of Utahns volunteered informally (compared to the national average of 54.3%), while 46.6% volunteered in a formal setting (national average 28.3%). In addition to time, Utahns also share their money. According to the Cicero group, Utahns donate three out of every five dollars to nonprofits within the state, which demonstrates deep understanding of needs through targeted donations.
“Perhaps the highest form of civic engagement comes from running for and holding public office,” says Corinne Clarkson, a report author. “However, the 2025 UWLP brief on the status of women in Utah politics shows that though Utah women are running for office, they remain underrepresented in statewide elected office, the state legislature, county commission and council seats, mayoral offices, and city councils.”
Research continues to support the fact that organizations, governments, and communities thrive when men and women work equally together to represent and serve their communities, Clarkson said.
“Local government shapes our daily lives, from roads to schools to public safety, so more women should be at the table helping make the decisions,” she said.
Though women’s respresentation in elected positions has slightly improved in recent years, both Madsen and Clarkson believe Utahns will benefit from doing more.
“Women’s representation is within reach, and it’s in our hands,” Madsen said. “With many city council seats opening across Utah this year, now is the time for women to step up and run. And just as importantly, we must show up and vote for them. Local elections are often decided by only a few votes, making every ballot even more powerful. Real change begins at the local level, and it starts with us.”
Kolene Anderson is a third report author.
The “A Bolder Way Forward” initiative provides opportunities for Utahns to learn and contribute to meaningful change across 18 areas, including Political & Civic Representation. For more information, visit the UWLP website at utwomen.org. The UWLP is also affiliated with USU Extension.