Summary
The election management body should include women.
Obligations
Election Parts
Issues
Quotes
- States should foster citizen participation in the electoral process by] introducing in their electoral legislation mechanisms to promote the balanced representation of women and men in elected bodies at all levels as well as encouraging political parties to introduce internal regulations, policies and affirmative action so as to promote the participation and representation of women in politics.
- Legislation ensuring women’s participation in election commissions should be considered, since women are heavily underrepresented in election management bodies in many countries.
- The composition of the EMB should be representative of the society, and the body should comprise at least 30% women.
- Women’s presence in EMBs – in all capacities, including leadership positions – is critical to ensuring that the institution and its work meet gender equality targets and obligations. There are several ways that women’s presence can be secured, including through the adoption of TSMs, such as gender quotas for the appointment and recruitment of commissioners and secretariat staff. Developing equal opportunity policies and gender-sensitive recruitment and promotion practices, such as those that allow for the preference of women over men for promotion where both candidates are of equal qualification, may result in greater gender balance among staff.