Whisper Campaign Urges Women to Vote Independently

Written by Samantha Phillips

Your Vote Is Yours: No One Needs To Know

SHHHHHHH.

What’s that sound?

Is that a whisper…or a toilet flushing?

And what’s that stuck to the tiled wall of a Women’s Room in Miami’s Dadeland Mall?

A sticky note with the words: NO ONE HAS TO KNOW HOW YOU VOTE!

These sticky notes are an empowering way to safely spread awareness for women’s rights in the privacy of public restrooms.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Florida politics, this note on the wall refers to Amendment 4, which would enshrine pro-choice rights in the Sunshine State.

Abortion rights initiatives are on the November ballot in 10 states this year. Though there are differences between them, most state initiatives seek to restore the Dobbs decision under Roe v. Wade – and updated under Planned Parenthood v. Casey – which ensures the right to abortion before the point of “fetal viability.”

Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, and Nevada will vote on measures that would guarantee the right to abortion until the point at which most experts agree that a fetus could possibly survive outside the womb, at around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Florida’s Amendment 4 would legalize abortion until viability, rather than the current 6 weeks, and requires 60% percent of voters to make it happen. Current polls indicate bipartisan support for the amendment stands at 58%.

The sticky note “whisper” movement began in August as a way to spread Amendment 4 awareness. Women are putting “Woman-to-woman” notes in private spaces where other women will see them. Notes have turned up in bathrooms in malls, universities, airports, truck stops, and train stations. The movement’s gained steam with posts on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

This sort of grassroots gorilla activism urges action on a number of fronts – human trafficking, domestic abuse – and promotes self-esteem. For example, Women’s room mirrors in universities are periodically covered with sticky notes offering handwritten encouragement: “Hi beautiful” – “You are enough” – “Your hair is already perfect.”

Voting one’s conscience also promotes self-esteem. The sticky note “whisper” movement highlights the fact that women can vote independently and privately. Fear of what a partner or family member might think should never accompany women into the voting booth.

Watch CNN reporter Dana Bash interview a participant in this “whisper campaign.” All it takes is a pen and a pack of Post-its, to communicate with a stranger.

@cnn
Women are sticking Post-it notes in bathrooms with a message about the presidential election. CNN’s Dana Bash talks to one volunteer for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign who has been leaving the notes “everywhere.” #cnn #2024elections #pennsylvania
♬ original sound – CNN

Or men, or non-binary people for that matter. Vote Blue or pro-choice sticky notes are showing in swing state Men’s and Single-Use restrooms.

The whisper campaign reminds us of the 2020 song, A Beautiful Noise, by Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile.

“I have a voice. It started out as a whisper and grew into a scream”

This article ends here on the final notes of A Beautiful Noise, “Now we have a choice, cause I have a voice.”

Take the message from the bathroom booth to the polling booth and vote on Tuesday, November 5th.