Voters for Choice

{{short description|Abortion rights political action committee}}

{{use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}

Co-founded in 1979 by Gloria Steinem and Kristina Kiehl, Voters for Choice was the United States's largest independent, nonpartisan, pro-choice political action committee.{{Cite book| title = Abortion: Decade of Debate| work = CQ Researcher by CQ Press| series = CQ Researcher Online| year = 1983| pages = 25–44| accessdate = 2020-05-26| url = http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1983011400}}{{Cite journal| issn = 0886-2567| pages = v| title = Almanac of federal PACs.| journal = Almanac of Federal Political Action Committees| accessdate = 2020-05-26| date = 1986| url = https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000863552}} Its mission was to raise money and promote policies to maintain safe, legal and accessible abortion services for all women, regardless of geographical location, age or economic status.{{Cite news| issn = 0190-8286| pages = –1| last = Mann| first = Judy| title = Woman Power| newspaper = The Washington Post | date = 1982-07-07| id = {{ProQuest|147461932}}}} Based in Washington, D.C., its main agenda was to elect candidates who support a person's right to make decisions regarding abortion, contraception, and child-bearing without government interference.{{Cite web| title = Collection: Voters for Choice records {{!}} Smith College Finding Aids| accessdate = 2020-05-26| url = https://findingaids.smith.edu/repositories/2/resources/728| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190908151122/https://findingaids.smith.edu/repositories/2/resources/728| archive-date = 2019-09-08| url-status = live}} {{Cc-notice|cc=by3}}

As part of this work, Voters for Choice testified for and against candidates for the Supreme Court of the United States and endorsed candidates for public office.{{Cite web| title = Kennedy Nomination Day 3, Part 4 {{!}} C-SPAN.org| accessdate = 2020-05-26| url = https://www.c-span.org/video/?10499-1/kennedy-nomination-day-3-part-4| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160218092137/http://www.c-span.org/video/?10499-1%2Fkennedy-nomination-day-3-part-4| archive-date = 2016-02-18| url-status = live}}{{Cite book| publisher = M.E. Sharpe| isbn = 978-0-7656-8022-8| last = Ness| first = Immanuel| title = Encyclopedia of Interest Groups and Lobbyists in the United States| date = 2000}} During the 1991–1992 election cycle, Voters for Choice gave $265,000 to pro-choice candidates, 89% going to Democrats.{{Cite book| publisher = UBC Press| isbn = 978-0-7748-5070-4| last = Young| first = Lisa| title = Feminists and Party Politics| location = Vancouver, CANADA| accessdate = 2020-05-26| date = 2000| url = https://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=3411971}} At their peak, they raised about $1.2 million per year.{{Cite web| last = Open Secrets| title = Voters for Choice/Frnds of Fam Planning Summary {{!}} OpenSecrets| accessdate = 2020-05-26| url = https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00109355&cycle=2004}}

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund merged with Voters for Choice for the 2004 United States Presidential election.{{Cite web| title = About| work = Gloria Steinem| accessdate = 2020-05-26| url = http://www.gloriasteinem.com/about| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191207051041/http://www.gloriasteinem.com/about| archive-date = 2019-12-07| url-status = live}}