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Encyclopaedia   Gender and Elections   SUPPORTING LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORKS FOR MEANINGFUL GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS   The impact of legal frameworks on gender equality and women’s participation in the electoral process   Domestic legal frameworks and provisions on gender equality and women’s participation in the electoral process  
Electoral laws

“The election law should be clear, comprehensive and transparent. It should ensure that no element of the electoral process disadvantages women either directly or indirectly. For example, election laws requiring candidates to post large monetary deposits can work against women. Literacy or education requirements may give men an unfair advantage over women. Laws creating too few polling stations can lead to long lines and discourage voting by women with small children. In contrast, gender-sensitive election laws can create an environment in which these and other problems may be avoided, and may even include special positive measures to ensure that women are elected to office. It is important to ensure conformity between the election law and any other national laws on non-discrimination or the equality of women and men.”[1]

 



[1] United Nations (2005): op. cit., p. 22.