Market women make up a large and important voter demographic in states across Africa, and yet there is very little research that examines their participation in electoral politics. Drawing on research conducted in Freetown during the 2018 Sierra Leone elections, this paper looks at ordinary women and their association with political parties. I explore how both how the market itself acts as a space for political exchange of ideas, as well as how market women’s experiences and opinions circulate and influence other voters. In addition, analysing various types of power relations within the markets – notably market committees and their relations with both market women and street traders – illustrates how different market statuses also influence political affiliations. By exploring these different dynamics within markets and amongst different women, the paper aims to refute two key tropes central to African politics: neo-patrimonalism and ethnic politics. Rather, this paper argues that everyday experiences in the market have a substantial influence on political affiliations, both for traders and sellers, as well as Sierra Leoneans more generally.