Elections and Quotas

Choosing the type of electoral system is one of the most important institutional decisions for any democracy. Electoral systems can be classified into groups based on the processes by which they translate votes into seats. The three main groups are plurality/majority systems, mixed systems and proportional systems, as well as others that do not fit easily into these categories.

Different electoral systems and laws can result in different outcomes in terms of the representation of women. The type of electoral system is, therefore, a key variable in accounting for why some countries have higher levels of female representation than others do. This Web site contains documents explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different electoral systems and how they can be used in combination with quotas to increase the representation of women and facilitate their participation.

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Costa Rica: Elects first female president	Mrs Chinchilla will become the first woman to lead her country after securing a clear victory in the presidential election.	Costa Rica Elections and Quotas Electoral Systems and Laws Engendering Legislation/Budgets National Legislature/Parliament Political Parties The Americas World News
Occupied Palestinian Territory: Gender quota - A Palestinian woman enters politics	In May 2005 I was elected to be the first woman to join the Sinjel Municipality in the Ramallah district.	Advocacy & Lobbying Campaigns Candidate Selection Constitution and Legislative Reform Elections and Quotas Electoral Systems and Laws Engendering Legislation/Budgets Institution Building National Legislature/Parliament North Africa/Middle East Occupied Palestinian Territory Parliaments & Representatives Policy and Platform Development Political Parties Political Parties (general) Post-conflict Reconstruction Quotas Women’s Party Sections World News
Mauritius: Women in Mauritius demand greater political voice	Women human rights activists in Mauritius, under the umbrella Women in Politics (WIP), on Thursday asked political parties to field women as one-third of their candidates in the next general electi	Advocacy Advocacy & Lobbying Civil Society Organizations Coalition Building Elections and Quotas Engendering Legislation/Budgets Lobbying Mauritius National Legislature/Parliament Parliamentary Caucuses Parliaments & Representatives Political Parties Quotas Sub-Saharan Africa World News
Bolivia: Unprecedented Gender Parity in Cabinet	"My great dream has come true: half of the members of my cabinet are women, and half are men," said a visibly moved Morales when he presented his new team of ministers Saturday, the day after he wa	Advocacy & Lobbying Bolivia Cross-Cutting Issues Elections and Quotas Engendering Legislation/Budgets National Legislature/Parliament Parliaments & Representatives Quotas The Americas World News
Lebanon: 20 percent women's quota in polls 'not enough'	Following years of lobbying by civil-society organizations, Lebanon’s Cabinet on Friday approved the adoption of a women’s quota for the municipal elections.	Elections and Quotas Electoral Systems and Laws Engendering Legislation/Budgets Lebanon National Legislature/Parliament North Africa/Middle East Parliamentary Caucuses Parliaments & Representatives Quotas World News
Jordan: Jordanian Government seeking to increase women’s representation in Parliament	Minister of Political Development noted that the election committee is reviewing several suggestions that were presented by civil society and the women’s movement, including increasing the women se	Elections and Quotas Jordan
Sri Lanka: Many Sri Lankan Women Cast Votes to Select New President	The significance of the voting on Tuesday was that the active participation of women in voting. Females were seen waiting in long queues to cast their votes.	Asia and the Pacific Elections and Quotas Parliaments & Representatives Political Parties Post-conflict and Transitional Participation Sri Lanka Voter Education for Women World News
India: Deepen the reach of democracy: President Patil	President Pratibha Patil, who inaugurated the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Election Commission, said the impediments, lacunae and malpractices in the electoral process would have to be remo	Asia and the Pacific Civic Education Civil Society Organizations Coalition Building Elections and Quotas India Media and Message Parliaments & Representatives Political Parties World News
Sudan: Sudan extends deadline for election nominations	Sudan has extended the deadline for nominations in the first multi-party vote in 24 years after candidates said they did not have enough time to prepare.Elections would go ahead as scheduled on Apr	Elections and Quotas Sudan
Election: Madagascar		Cross-Cutting Issues Elections and Quotas Madagascar Media and Message Media and Message Parliaments & Representatives Sub-Saharan Africa
Election: Guinea		Elections and Quotas Guinea Media and Message Media and Message Parliaments & Representatives Sub-Saharan Africa
Election: Colombia		Colombia Cross-Cutting Issues Elections and Quotas Media and Message Media and Message The Americas
Election: Iraq		Election Observations Elections and Quotas Electoral Systems and Laws Iraq Media and Message Media and Message North Africa/Middle East Parliaments & Representatives Quotas Voter Education for Women
Election: Togo		Cross-Cutting Issues Election Observations Elections and Quotas Electoral Systems and Laws Parliaments & Representatives Quotas Sub-Saharan Africa Togo Voter Education for Women Working with men
Election: Sao Tome and Principe		Election Observations Elections and Quotas Electoral Systems and Laws Media and Message Quotas Sao Tome and Principe Sub-Saharan Africa Voter Education for Women

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